As a born and raised South Carolinian, I have heard much, if not all, Southern slang. In the South we use certain words and phrases that are not particularly “universal.” By “universal,” I mean if said to a non-Southerner, they may seem a bit absurd, but to us Southerners they make perfect sense. Southern slang is known and used by all Southerners, from the youngest to the oldest. It's part of our vocabulary, and when we are caught saying those expressions not in the South, getting a funny look or a, “What did you say?” is not uncommon.
1. "Y’all"
A pronoun referring to any number of people larger than one. I don’t understand why so many people have a problem with us Southerners saying y’all. It is no different than the other forms of "you all" used around the country, like "you guys" or "yinz" or "you-uns" or even "youse." We all say "you all" in our own way, so what part of y’all do y’all not understand?
2. "Yes ma’am"
This is a serious one. No matter your age, if asked a question (or given a command), the correct response is a yes or a no followed by "ma’am" or "sir." No, we are not trying to insult you and call you old by saying ma’am or sir; it's called respect, and we are raised by it.
3. "Bless your heart"
This one can be tricky. If said by a grandmother, it is usually a genuine heartfelt condolence for whatever circumstance you may be going through. But be aware, sometimes the “bless your heart” can be loaded with Southern sass and be more of sarcastic sorry. We Southerners are all about some hospitality, but we also know how to be sassy and polite at the same time.
4. "Yonder"
Used in a sentence: “The Chick-fil-A is over yonder on Clemson Boulevard.” It is a descriptive word when telling where something is. I don’t think there is really a specific conversion for how long a yonder actually is; it's just some ways a way.
5. "Nook and cranny"
As I mentioned before, I have lived in the South all my life, but I still don’t really know what a nook or a cranny is. But when I’m told, “Clean your room! Every nook and cranny!” I know exactly what they mean. They mean it better be spick and span, and by that I mean clean, like really, really clean.
6. "Bushel and a peck"
This phrase is usually used in reference to how much you love somebody and is followed up by a hug around the neck.
7. "Goodness gracious"
This is the Southern version of “Oh my gosh.”
8. "Fixin’ to"
This is the Southern equivalent to "I am about to" or "I am getting ready to." This is most often used when you are getting ready to head over yonder.
We Southerners love where we are from and the way we were raised. The way we talk and our Southern drawls are all a part of what makes the South so special. So when you are down in our neck of the woods, don’t think we are all ignorant hillbillies because you don’t understand our Southern slang. Just ask us what we mean, and I guarantee we can clear up all your confusion over a couple glasses of sweet tea. We don’t mind explaining, because, bless your heart, we can't all be raised in the good ole South.
