How to speak Southern Iowan
Here are some local slang and terms used here in The South of Iowa. It's not an exhaustive list by any means, but it gives you some idea of how we talk here.
Big Pig - Premium Standard Farms, headquarted in Princeton, MO. A lot of corn from this area goes to them. Also known as "Miss Piggy".
"He got a job at Big Pig as a feed truck driver."
"When Miss Piggy gets hungry, she really bids the price up."
The Junction - Intersection of Highways 2 and 65. Used to have a DOT weigh station there, but now the boys in Blue are there periodically, especially on livestock auction sale days, trying to catch Missouri ranchers with their old trucks and trailers. The "Junction" also had a drive-in theater, motel, restaurant, and gas station at one time. All that remains is the restaurant; the drive-in and motel were blown down in 1984 due to a tornado.
"Looks like you got more rain at the Junction than we did here."
"He's playing guitar tonight at the jam session at the Junction."
Muddin' it in - Planting corn or soybeans into soil that is a bit too wet. Usually done when a storm is approaching or one wants to get a jump on planting. Not the best practice, as it compacts the soil.
"Jim Bob's over at the McDonald place, muddin' it in."
Prevented Planting - If the crop cannot be planted by a certain date, the producer can get partial payment of his crop insurance and not be forced to plant a crop. Sometimes abused by some farmers.
"Only 15 more days until I can take prevented planting!"
'Pert Near - A response that means "very close" or "similar". Derived from "Pretty much near", I think.
"He drove his tractor 'pert near off the bridge to miss that Camaro!"
"That old planter of mine is 'pert near an antique.
That's all I can think of for now. Any other offerings would be welcome!
Big Pig - Premium Standard Farms, headquarted in Princeton, MO. A lot of corn from this area goes to them. Also known as "Miss Piggy".
"He got a job at Big Pig as a feed truck driver."
"When Miss Piggy gets hungry, she really bids the price up."
The Junction - Intersection of Highways 2 and 65. Used to have a DOT weigh station there, but now the boys in Blue are there periodically, especially on livestock auction sale days, trying to catch Missouri ranchers with their old trucks and trailers. The "Junction" also had a drive-in theater, motel, restaurant, and gas station at one time. All that remains is the restaurant; the drive-in and motel were blown down in 1984 due to a tornado.
"Looks like you got more rain at the Junction than we did here."
"He's playing guitar tonight at the jam session at the Junction."
Muddin' it in - Planting corn or soybeans into soil that is a bit too wet. Usually done when a storm is approaching or one wants to get a jump on planting. Not the best practice, as it compacts the soil.
"Jim Bob's over at the McDonald place, muddin' it in."
Prevented Planting - If the crop cannot be planted by a certain date, the producer can get partial payment of his crop insurance and not be forced to plant a crop. Sometimes abused by some farmers.
"Only 15 more days until I can take prevented planting!"
'Pert Near - A response that means "very close" or "similar". Derived from "Pretty much near", I think.
"He drove his tractor 'pert near off the bridge to miss that Camaro!"
"That old planter of mine is 'pert near an antique.
That's all I can think of for now. Any other offerings would be welcome!
posted by bgunzy at 5/13/2007 09:20:00 PM
8 Comments:
Also from Wayne says, How about "no never mind"? As in the sentence, "Don't pay him no never mind."
Don't forget the infamous "Warshington". Yes, "WaRshington". Or warsh your hands or warsh your clothes.
How about "unthaw" for thaw? Unthaw some deer for dinner. Wouldn't unthaw really mean freeze?
"Roasting ears" appears to be a local/ lapland regional term. Have you ever really known anybody to roast roasting ears? Most seem to get boiled.
If it rains anywhere in Wayne County it rains in Richman township.
Ha, I forgot about these! The Washington/Worshington is classic Southern Iowan. Thanks for the contributions!
Actually, Lineville got more rain than us...probably around an inch or so. Garden Grove got 0.3" - didn't even keep PGunzy (Pa Gunzy) out of the field yesterday afternoon.
I'm across the border in Missouri but I notice a few of those things down this direction. We warsh things.
"Roasting ears" is term old timers (and others like me) use for field corn that is picked before it is mature and prepared for the table.
Also when we ruin something beyond repair it gets "ruint". "I ran over something and ruint my new tractor tire."
Even though I'm not that far south of the border but I use "Y'all" quite a bit and I simply didn't notice that when I lived in Iowa. I also tend to go "over yonder" more.
You wouldn't think so much would change in a few dozen miles but living in Iowa and Missouri it was really interesting to see the differences. When I came back to Missouri after being in Iowa I really noticed the difference in accent. There was a definite southern/country/hillbilly flavor to the language.
"Might could." This is used in Missouri and S. Iowa to alert the listener that something could happen, but it might not.
"What I did." This is a verbal exclamation that gives added emphasis to an accomplishment. Used mostly in N. Missouri and parts of Tennessee.
Board of Stupidvisors.
hey if you could post some more stuff that would be great. i am doing a project on iowa.
Creek vs Crick is still another word I remember as a corn fed gal.
I am from Osceola. We used "out ta" to refer to going somplace. Example: Me and Diane went out ta Jean and Bob's for supper.
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