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Irreverent Maine Survival Tips
TALK MAINER
The locals talk pretty funny to folks not from Maine. It is similar to a Boston accident, but there are distinct differences. Here's a primer on how to speak like a 'Mainah.' First a warning: Don't try to talk Mainer to a 'Mainah.' They will spot you a mile away. The most common saying used to imitate "Mainer" is something like "I gotta go pahk the cah," or " Cahn't get they-uh from hee-uh." Rule 1: Words that end in "er" are pronounced "ah." For example: Mainer = Mainah. Car = Cah. Mother and Father = Muthah and Fathah. Water = Watah. Four = Foah. Rule 2: Words that end in "a" are sometimes, but not always, pronounced "er." For example: California becomes Californier. Idea becomes idear. Area becomes Arear. Rule 3: Drop the "g" in "ing." Stopping and starting = stoppin' and startin'. Rule 4: Broaden 'a' and 'e' sounds. Calf becomes cahf. Bath becomes bahth. Can't becomes cahn't. Rule 5: Combine rule No. 1 with No. 4. So, 'stopping and starting' is now 'stoppin' and stahtin.' Rule 6: Drag out one-syllable words into two syllables. 'There' becomes 'they-uh.' Here becomes hee-ah. Most famous is "Ayuh." Favorite Maine words or phrases: Ayuh: Yup. Sure. Okay. That's right. You Bet. Lobstah: Lobster Cah: A four wheel automobile, not a truck. Chowdah: Chowder Cunnin': Cute (Example: "In't that cunnin'") Foh-ah: The number "4" From Away: Not from Maine Numb: Dumb. Stupid. Pot: Lobster Trap or the bouy Steamers: Clams Wicked: Very. To a high degree, such as wicked good, wicked bad, wicked exciting, etc. Glossary of Maine Terms Downeast - The term' downeast' actually refers to the most northern section of the Maine coast. Years ago, sailors hauling cargo observed that the winds came from the southwest, pushing their schooners "downwind" in an easterly direction. Thus, downeast came to mean the northeast. Mainiac- What other New Englanders call people from Maine. Bouy- Pronounced 'boo-ee', these are the colorful things dotting the Maine waters (see photo below of hanging examples). Each bouy is tied to a rope which is tied to a lobster trap at the ocean floor. Lobstermen paint their bouys different colors to distinguish their lobster traps from others. Pot- Not short for Marijuana. A 'pot' is short for 'lobster pot' and the same as the bouy. Dinghy - Pronounced 'ding-ee', these are the little boats being towed by big boats. Dinghys are used to get from the big boat to shore. You will see many tied to docks, while their owners explore the villages. Nor'easter- A Nor'easter is typically a very bad storm that sits off the Maine coast dumping tons of rain or snow on the state. Lobster Pound- A lobster pound is where you go to buy/eat lobsters. Think of it as a dog pound for lobsters. Usually it is on a large dock in a harbor with picnic tables for seating. There will be a small building, like a hot dog stand, where you order your lobster and usually get a number. You grab the first seat you can find. Often you can look in salt water tanks at dozens of lobsters swimming around. Minutes after you order, your number is called. You pick up the lobsters, take them to your table and yum! |
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