If you're not from Maine, you might have a little trouble understanding exactly what some of us are saying. We change and drop letters in words and can sometimes sound a little funny.
I'm going to share with you how to speak like a Mainer and some of our terms that we use. Hopefully, if you visit Maine, you'll have an easier time understanding what we are saying!
Now, here's how to speak like a Mainer:
It's all about the 'ah.'
First of all, we aren't Mainers. We're Mainahs. Forget the 'er.' Replace it with 'ah.' For example; cah (car), pahtay (party), watah (water), summah (summer), etc. I went to a Luke Bryan concert once and he said he loved the way we speak and had us sing the chorus of Kick The Dust Up; ...We turn this corn field/ Into a pahtay (party).
Forget the 'g.'
This is an example of how we drop letters. If a word ends in 'ing' just drop the 'g'. I.e stoppin', goin', hangin', etc.
Sometimes 'a' becomes 'er.'
For those with the stronger accent sometimes words that end with the letter 'a' become an 'er.' For example; California- Californier, yoga- yoger, soda- soder (My stepdad uses this one), etc.
Drag out one syllable words into two syllables.
We like to stretch words out. For example; here becomes hee-ah, deer becomes dee-ah, etc.
Camp.
I don't care what direction you're actually going to get to camp-whatever that consists of- you go upta (up to) camp. Not down to camp, over to camp, it's always upta camp.
Wicked.
Everything is wicked. It's wicked good, workin' wicked hard, wick this, that, and everything else.
Those are some basic guidlines one speaking the Mainer way. Here are some classic Mainer words as well.
1. "Ayuh."
This one is a little less a word and more of a weird grunt, but none the less it's a common term. Usually used when someone agrees with something.
2. "Bummah."
The Mainer way to say bummer. Means exactly what bummer means, it's just used more frequently here and with the 'ah.'
3. "Chout."
An example of how we also sometimes combine words. This one is the shortened way to say watch out.
4. "Chuppta?"
Another shortened phrase. What are you up to?
5. "Cunnin."
The word used instead of cute most of the time. It's sort of an odd word for cute for people to use, but not for Mainers.
6. "Hammah Down."
Usually used when driving fast/passing someone on the road. Gotta hammah down.
7. "Jeezum Crow!"
Instead of holy cow.
8. "Jimmies."
We don't want sprinkles, we want jimmies. (Which are sprinkles, we just don't use that word.)
9. "Massholes."
A very classic term for anyone from Massachusetts. Especially when on the road.
10. "Padiddle."
The term for a car with only one working headlight.
11. "Steamah."
Steamed clams.
12. "Statie."
A state trooper.
13. "Ain't'cha."
Don't even bother telling us that ain't isn't a word, because to us it is and it's in our everyday vocabulary more often than not.
Now that you have the knowledge of the language, I hope it actually has some good use for you. It's relatively simple.
If you want a good laugh and some more understanding of the Mainer language and our strange ways, I highly recommend watching the comedian Bob Marley. Specifically, his show called 'Wicked Funny.'
Just like every other accent around the world, we tend not to notice it as much. My siblings and I were born and raised in Maine, but my mom was born and raised in California. The times I notice how often I speak the Mainer language is when she corrects me.
