March 30, 2008
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What Accent do you have?
Someone brought up accents. Everyone has an accent. What is yours?
Mine is Pennsylvania Dutch. Yes, I admit it.Deitsch iss en
dialekt von deitsch aus Deitschland. (Deitsch is a dialect of
German from Germany.)
It is a West Central German variety spoken by 150,000 to 250,000 people in North America. It is traditionally the language of the Pennsylvania Dutch community. The Pennsylvania Dutch (perhaps more strictly Pennsylvania Deitsch or Pennsylvania Germans or Pennsylvania Deutsch) are the descendants of German immigrants who came to Pennsylvania prior to 1800.Today, the majority of speakers are either Amish or Mennonite.
Examples of Pennsylvania Dutch pronunciation: house=haus (or hoss); once=vunc; you=yuh or du; why=vie; will-vill; the=the or de.
Many of the people who grew up here speak with an accent that is similar to
a German accent. W’s are pronounced like v’s, and v’s like w’s. A “b” at
the end of a word is often pronounced like a “p”; as in “Vorld Vide Vep”
(and hence the name “Bop” (bob) or “Boppy.(Bobby)”)
J’s are pronounced like ch’s as in “now wait chust a minute.” Often we
append an “ah” to a word; for example the word “no” is pronounced “noah.”
And often we append the word “once” to a sentence, and place a “t” at the
end of it. As in “Jakie, come here onct.”You know you’re Pennsylvania Dutch, if …
- You’ve ever sat down to eat a meal at one of those restaurants inside
the Green Dragon. - You sometimes like to have pig stomach for your Thanksgiving dinner.
- You step outside in the Spring time and don’t notice an aroma.
- You know what a “wunnerfitz” is … and a “schnickelfritz.”
- You never tell people that rain is in the forecast; you tell them
“they want rain.” And a torrential downpour is “really makin’ down”. - Before going outside you ask “what’s it like outside?”
- You never clean your place. You “ret it up” instead.
- You always order your fasnachts ahead of time.
- When going somewhere you ask people if they want to “go with.”
- When you run out of brown sugar, you say “the brown sugar is all.”
- You reach for the salt and pepper before tasting your food.
- You put ketchup on your eggs.
- You know what’s in scrapple, and you eat it anyway. Yum yum!
- You save bacon fat in an old coffee can for later use in frying.
- You mix your pot pie dough with your hands.
- Molasses is the main ingredient in your pies, baked beans and medicinal
potions. - You put gravy on your pancakes …. and french fries.
- You know about the hazards of electric fences!
- Your kids get grexy now and then.
- You scold you children by saying, “You daresn’t do that!”
(The Lord’s Prayer in Pa Dutch)
Unser Fadder im Himmel,
dei Naame loss heilich sei,
Dei Reich loss kumme.
Dei Wille loss gedu sei,
uff die Erd wie im Himmel.
Unser deeglich Brot gebb uns heit,
Un vergebb unser Schulde,
wie mir die vergewwe wu uns schuldich sinn.
Un fiehr uns net in die Versuchung,
awwer hald uns vum Iewile.
Fer dei is es Reich, die Graft,
un die Hallichkeit in Ewichkeit.
Amen.Come here “onct” AMOHL
It hurts me so in the BAUCH (belly, stomach)
Mind you-he went out BAWR-FEESICH (barefooted) in “Chanuary. (January)”
Give me just a little piece of BENDLE (string).
When you get done with your BIGGLA (ironing) let’s go in to town.
This country is full of dirty BISCOTZA (skunks).
Come here once just a BISSEL (little; short while), I want to talk with you.
That little fellow is the darndest BLABBERMAUL (talkative)-he sure takes the cake.
Good BREE (gravy, or juice) I always like on my bread.
The dear little BUBBELLY (baby) is so sweet-like; she is so nice-behaved.
Oh, boy, what I would give to have a BUSS (kiss) from her!
He’s always at the BUTTLE (bottle).
BUTZ (clean off) your “gums” (rubbers, or overshoes) before you come in the house.
My husband is getting so CRITTLICH (crabbed) of late.
It takes a lot of CROOSHT (crust) to “sponge” on your relatives all the time.
The little fellow is such a CROTTLER (climber).
You are so darn DOBBICH (or “doplich;” awkward). Du bisht so dobbich.
A person gets DORMLICH (“giddy, or dizzy) when he looks up or down the big buildings in the city.
We can be DONKBAWR (thankful) that we live in a great “countery” like the United States.
I never saw such a DRECKICH (dirty) child.
You are such a DUMMKUP (dumb, idiotic); why don’t you watch out where you’re going?
Some people like to DUNK (dip) their doughnuts.
It seems like such an EAWICHKEIT (eternity) ’till the doctor comes. You never seen anything get FAERTICH (finished) so quick.
Children soon get FERDARVA (spoiled) when you give them everything they want.
You are such a FERGESSLICH (forgetful) person -if your head wasn’t
fast to your body, I guess you would forget it sometimes, too.
The boy is too young yet, and he gets all FERHOODLED (tangled, or mix-up). D’r bu iss nuch tzu yung, und ar wart al ferhoodled.The bed clothes are so FERROONTZLED (much disheveled, wrinkled, mussed).
She is a very good-looking FRAU (wife).
Ei, such a big FREUNDSCHAFT (relationship).
Them kids FRESS (eat) just like hogs.
When you get to know them right they are such FREINDLICH (friendly, affectionate) people.
I was clean GABOOTZT (cleaned “clean”) when I went to that house.
I’m nearly GABUT (exhausted; very tired).
Think, man-think; where are your GADONKA (thoughts)?
Stop! don’t give me any more; I have GANOONK (enough)!
Such talk at the table GREISLES (sickens) me; it would make you too.
There were so many people killed and hurt-it was GREISLICH (horrible).
You needn’t GREX (grunt) so; it ain’t that heavy.
My man G’SHNORRIX’D (snored) so loud he waked up everybody.
He just G’SHNOWF’D (breathed) a couple times, yet, hard like, and he just died, like.
Sometimes you hear of people who got G’WARRICK’D (choked) when they said such bad things.
That poor dumb girl is always in HASE-WASSER (hot water). Perhaps she didn’t know enough about
the ways of nature!Did you ever see any person who got so many things HINNERSFEDDERSHT (hind-end foremost)?
Everything I do seems to go HINNERSICH (backward).
I always get so HOONGERICH (hungry) when I smell fresh-baked bread, don’t you?
and then I was IVVERNOOMA (overtaken).
Ei, we couldn’t guide it “werry” good and it got sort of
IVVERTZWAERRICI-I (crosswise) in the road; we said “whoa,” but it-
didn’t do no good!Mommy, I’m so KRONK (sick).
If you couldn’t KROTTLE (crawl) over the pillow last night, how can you “krottle” over the fence?
If you KROTZ (scratch) some things they get worse.
I get so LADICH (tired) of him courting me so long; I wish he’d marry with me and have it done once.
The ORM-DRUP (poor child, or “thing,” such as a household pet)
She ain’t got a ROONTZEL (crease, wrinkle) in her dress.
You never saw a baby ROOTSH (crawl or squirm) so much.
The people of the country aren’t so RUICH (quiet, still), when election comes around.
You dirty little RUTZ-NAUS (snot-nose).
When a man eats too much on Sunday dinner he gets SCHLAFFERICH (sleepy) soon.
See here now “wonst”-if you don’t stay away from them
there ugly bad boys you’ll get such a SCHLAIG (whipping) like you never
yet got; now mind!Give me that SCHNOOP-DOOCH (or “nose- wiper”; handkerchief).
Every fellow thinks he has a SHAE-MAIDLE (nice girl) no matter what others think about her.
That was SHAIDLICH (harmful) and SHENDLICH (disgraceful); you shouldn’t have done that!
I was so scared I nearly SHLOOK’D (swallowed) my Adam’s apple.
Come here now SHNELL (quickly).
Your gramp-pa SHNORRIX’S (snores) just like a pig.
A SHTROOVELICH (uncombed
Come in and have a SITZ (seat).
The boy didn’t want to SPRITZ water on the old man but he got mad anyhow.
The poor kids have such STROOBLY hair.
Some people are just that way, but some are UNGLICKLICH (unlucky).
Tomorrow we all go to the VENDUE (public sale or auction).
You ought to see my boy since his operation; he eats like a little WUTZ (” wootz;” pig).
When I stood up on the platform to make a speech I got so BEFUDDLED (mixed-up; excited; unable to think).
He BLABS (tells) everything he hears.
You’re got the thing all BOOGHERED-UP. (mixed ,damaged).
Are you still CROSS AT ME (angry)?
Mom says I DASSENT (dare not) go out to play.
Give me some DIPPY (gravy, dressing)! I like DIPPY BREAD.
If you don’t get away from under my window with your loud talking, I’ll DOUSE you with the pot water!
You need a little more ELBOW-GREASE (some additional strength).
My husband knows when he has ENOUGH TO EAT, ALMOST (has had his fill).
The poor HOMMY (calf) wants its mamma
IT MAKES A BODY (a person) TIRED to hear of SUCH GOIN’S ON.
MAKE the door shut. Moch de deer tzu.
OUTEN the light; or, MAKE OUT the light
Her baby SLOBBERS so (has too much spittle running from the mouth).
He wants UP; i. e., the baby would like to be held, or carried
WHAT DOES IT GIVE for dinner? Wos gebt’s fa middawg-essa?
My goodness, you didn’t COME CLEAN (all the way) FROM Pittsburgh to Harrisburg?
- You’ve ever sat down to eat a meal at one of those restaurants inside
Comments (13)
This was fun to read! My dad calls everyone a *Schnickelfritz…* I don’t really know what it means. I have a midwestern (Minnesotan) accent. A lot of *uffda’s…* mostly because I’m Norwegian.
LOL! that was amusing. It was also funny how many idioms I have forgotten about during the last five years. I don’t speak any Pennsylvania dutch and some of the words I am not familiar with at all. But the majority were familiar to me. About a month ago Duane’s uncle called and said, “Ve are traveling to Florida and vontered if ve could stop in for a wisit vith you’uns. Duane and I both enjoyed a good laugh after that phone call and repeated his phrase multiple times during the next few days.
They did come and “wisit” and “ve had a nice time vith dem.” ~ LeAnn
Thanks for those i do some of those myself my Dad could speak PA Dutch but i never learn it but i know that we are from this dutch area some of my words don’t come out like other say it . my daughter grew up here in PA but now she has a little of that southern accent since she lives in SC have a gret evening and i love the GREEN DRAGON it a great place to visit
sandy
That should say great evening gosh i can’t even spell to good lol
enjoyed reading that. I am from Maine so and my husband is from Kentucky. Being that I have lived in the south for several years…………well I sound CONFUSED when I speak. People think I am from New Jersery. However usually also notice the southern thang. So I have a lil of both when I talk. If I am in the north then my nothern accent comes out more because I talk with those who speak it. An same in the south. I am a YANKEE by birth but claim the south with my heart ! ………….an for what it is worth I can speak french too and some spanish but I prefer to talk “HILLBILLY” so fur nows I wreckin I must goes and tends to the children befur church !
I have a Southern accent of course. ; ) Enjoyed your post here, enjoyed your aprons too! We love aprons at our home and love to find good buys on them, we have some from the 40s and 50s and have made our own as well. I thought the green one was very pretty, I love green. : )
I noticed you had posted Charity ministries headquarters. Wow. We’ve been receiving their publication for many years now and have their tape set on the family as well as other tapes too.
Have a nice week in Jesus!
That was a lot of fun! I would love to hear you talk. I am from southern Kentucky, so I have a southern accent. My husband is worse than I am! We moved to the Lexington area when our girls were small so they have developed more of a northern accent. They still have a southern “twang” but they do say their vowels properly (or so I’ve been told). It’s fun to hear the mixture of both in our grandchildren. I too love aprons. It seems as if you can get more done in a good apron. I have several patterns and I hope to get some more made soon.
Take care and God Bless You and your family,
Angie
Ya, ich hap da Pa. dutch accent too! Recently I was asked where I’m from, it was cute to see the shock when I said I used to be amish. After that was said business was put aside for awhile. Altho’ it’s all my husband and I speak, our son does not, he always responds in english I started speaking it back. We are from OH so we have the real flat Holmes County to work with! Do you still speak alot of dutch?
@Over_my_coffee_cup - I speak it with my grandparents who live downstairs. My husband does not really speak it but he is learning some. My children dont really know much of it either. I would love for them to learn it.
I even have a great song Cd which has hymns and poems in PA Dutch. I love to listen to that a lot so the children are learning that.
(Some say I have a Jersey accent, Having lived in NYC for 3 years I picked up a bit of that) I grew up in a Catholic home, but when my father began doing geneology we found out that his Great Grandfather was a Mennonite minister in Lancaster County. Thus began many years of Trips to Lancaster for geneology research, and visiting of cemetaries.
In 2003 I made a trip out there, and I was saved in a Baptist Church in Lancaster. That tied my heart even closer. My husband candidated for the pastorate in the same church in July 2007. The Lord led otherwise and now we live in Georgia. I can’t even think of picking up a southern accent. (we all know the bible says God is in the North – just kidding)
Thanks for that post I rightly enjoyed it
I have a southern accent ya’ll!
I love your Pennsylvania Dutch. I read books by a Christian author who writes about the Amish, and she uses some of those phrases.
Good question!!! I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area with a family (both sides) having German roots. I learned German, took German in school, and spoke German around my Grandpa. Schnickelfritz, doppich, etc. are familiar to me. PA Dutch is much easier than the German taught to me high school. While in California, I spoke quickly and with a higher pitch to my voice. My voice is much slower and deeper, now.
When I was 19yo (waaay back in 1972) I moved to Oklahoma. You can’t live here as long as me and NOT pick up the Southern twang they have in Oklahoma/Texas. My husband takes great delight in pointing out my “ah” sound for the long “I” sounds. That includes getting a “nahf = knife” or “ahs cream = ice cream” LOL !!!!! Southern phrases have become second nature to me, like: “y’all,” “fixin’ to get something or go somewhere,” and “I’ll wait on you over here.”
For good measure, after my husband picks on my Okie accent, I speak to the girls in German (he’s half Mexican) and that really throws him for a loop (especially when they understand me)!!!!!
I’m picking up Spanish from my husband and my hope is that my girls also learn to speak basic German and Spanish.
I have a PA dutch, northern and southern accent. I speak dutch daily, and try to work on my southern so ppl around here don’t ask ‘ where are you from?’ since I’ve been in TN for 13 years now. VA is where I grew up so that can be considered both north and south. I don’t like when folks say “yer not from a’round hear!” Anyway, interesting post!