Texan English
Encyclopedia
Texan English is dialect of English spoken in Texas
. It is a subdialect
of Southern American English
and shares features with other English dialects of the Southern United States
such as Ozark English.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It is a subdialect
Subdialect
Subdialect - is a subdivision of dialect. Subdialects can be divided further, ultimately down to idiolects.Normally subdialects of one dialect are quite close to each other, differing mainly in pronunciation and certain local words....
of Southern American English
Southern American English
Southern American English is a group of dialects of the English language spoken throughout the Southern region of the United States, from Southern and Eastern Maryland, West Virginia and Kentucky to the Gulf Coast, and from the Atlantic coast to most of Texas and Oklahoma.The Southern dialects make...
and shares features with other English dialects of the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
such as Ozark English.
Lexicon
- Y'allY'allY'all is a contraction of the words "you" and "all". It is used as a plural second-person pronoun. Commonly believed to have originated in the Southern United States, it is primarily associated with Southern American English, African-American Vernacular English, and some dialects of the Western...
: a second-person plural pronoun; a shortened form of "you all" - Fixin' to: a future-tense modal verb analogous to "going to" in much of American EnglishAmerican EnglishAmerican English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....
- Blue norther: storm that comes up as a giant, blue-black cloud of cold air comes over the warm gulf air
- Howdy: a general greeting; a shortened form of "How do you do?"
- Looker: an attractive woman
- (Over) Yonder: an adverbial used to designate a faraway place; analogous to "over there"
- Pole catSkunkSkunks are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul odor. General appearance varies from species to species, from black-and-white to brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora...
: a skunk - Turd blossomTurd BlossomTurd Blossom is a Texan term for a flower which grows from a pile of cow dung. The term has gained notoriety in the United States as a sobriquet that was reportedly assigned by former U.S. President George W. Bush as a term of endearment for his former chief political advisor, Karl Rove...
: a flower sprouting from a deposit of cow manure - Di'jeet'yet: "Did you eat yet?"
- D'yunta: "Do You Want To?"
- Ol' Boy: A good friend.
- Good ol' boyGood ol' boyGood ol' boy is an American slang term that can have both positive and negative meanings, depending on context and usage.The term can be used for well socialized men who live in rural and generally Southern areas. If a man is humble and well thought of, he can be referred to as a "good old boy",...
: A good friend with connections. - Yep: "Yes."
- Feeder: Access road (Houston and East Texas).
- Wrench - (from rinse) to clean with fresh water. example: "I'm fixin' to warsh and wrench the dishes"
- CokeCokeCoke may refer to:* Coca-Cola, a soft drink originally based on coca leaf extract** The Coca-Cola Company, makers of this drink** Cola, any soft drink similar to Coca-Cola** Soft drink, any non-alcoholic carbonated beverage* Coca, a plant...
: Any flavor of soda. - Hours: A measure of distance. "I live two hours south of Waco."
- Maverick: loner
- Tank: pond
- Nuther: another
- Fess up: admit