NOLA Phrases: A Monday Mission vocabulary list

Moving to Louisiana forced us to learn all sorts of new words and terms (We knew we needed help with words like Tchoupitoulas, but we THOUGHT we knew how to pronounce Burgundy, but don't even think about putting the stress on the first syllable if you don't want to be pegged as a no nothing tourist.) But there are phrases I didn't expect. I don't know if they're particular to Louisiana or if they're just southern things, but this Yankee girl had to get used to them. Most of them I still don't use. Except ya'll. Because who can resist ya'll?

Make groceries - you don't buy them, you "make" them.

Go to the grocery - as in "go to the grocery store," but without the "store"

Make 3 - children don't "turn 3" (0r whatever age) they "make 3." Perhaps this is the adult's way of saying the child is lucky they made it to three without being eaten by an alligator or something. Also used in the past tense: "He made three on Saturday." (I kept wanting to ask "Made 3 of what?")

Come see - this is what an adult says when they want a child to come to them. They don't actually have anything for the child to look at.

Bo-bo - boo-boo. I've never actually seen this written, so maybe it's written the same way, but it's pronounced with a long "O."

ya'll - a contraction for "you all." This phrase has become common around the country.

all ya'll - like ya'll, only more (more redundant, more offensive to the grammar police...)

dress - to put lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise on a sandwich (i.e., "Would you like that po' boy dressed?")

"the storm" - If someone references "the storm" they are undoubtedly discussing Hurricane Katrina.

This has been a Monday Mission. Your Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the style of a vocabulary list. If you complete the mission, please put a link to your post in the widget below.



Join us next Monday, when your mission will be to write a post in the style of a menu.