Norwegian Southwest Norway and Northern Norway, Norway

blindhålke

Word USED Frequently BY dialect speakers

Slippery ice on the ground that's hidden under a thin layer of loose snow so you can't see it.

"Vær forsiktig når du går, det er blindhålke"

"Be careful when you walk, there is blindhålke"

Italian Neapolitan and other southern dialects, Italy

appocundria

Word USED Frequently BY Everyone

(noun) • It defines a state of melancholic nostalgia towards something that is currently missing in your life and won't be likely recovered. Usually, it accompanies people relocating to a new place far away from home, but it can also be extended to more general reflections about life and our existential condition.

"Ajere m'agge curcato, penzanne a la vita mije ultimamente e quille che ce vole pe te fa l'abbetudene de vive all'estere: tanne, l'appocundria m'è scuppiate mbiette!"

"Yesterday I was lying in bed thinking about my latest life events and what it takes to adapt to a new life abroad: that's when appocundria started to kick in!"

English The South, United States

nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs

Idiom USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

Used to describe someone who is nervous. The imagery is that a cat with a long tail would be in constant danger of having its tail crushed under the moving chairs in a room full of rocking chairs

“Did you get to see her before she gets on stage?” “Yes, she’s nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, but I think she’ll be great.”

German | South german Variation South of Baden-Wütttemberg, Germany

der hat grade Corinna

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(at the moment he has Corinna) • Corinna is a German female name, but here it is an alternative for saying that someone tested positive for Corona (Covid).

"Wo ist eigentlich Julian, arbeitet er heute nicht?" "Der hat grade Corinna."

"Where is Julian, is he not working today?" "At the moment he has Corinna."

Portuguese Alentejo, center-south Portugal, Portugal

mata-velhos

Expression USED Very frequently BY Most People

(old-people-killer) • Used to refer to microcars. Since these cars don't need a license to be driven, lots of elderly drive these cars hence becoming the ones most prone to having a microcar accident. In northern regions, it's called it "papa-reformas"

"Olha, vai ali um mata-velhos!"

"Look, there goes an old-people-killer!"

English South East, United States

Bless your heart

Expression USED Frequently BY Mostly women in the Southern USA

To someone from outside it sounds like a compliment but it is really a polite way to say “you’re an idiot”. Can also be used at the end of a rude sentence to try to end the sentence on a “positive” note.

“Someone called saying I won a cruise and all I have to do is give them my bank information! Time for a trip!” “Oh honey, bless your heart”.

English Southern States, United States

the devil's beating his wife

Expression USED On Occasion BY Older Generations

A phrase that means 'it is raining while not overcast, so the sun is still visible, and it is bright outside despite the rain'.

"Take a look out the window and tell me what the weather's like." "The devil's beating his wife." "Hopefully it'll clear up soon; I forgot my umbrella."

Latin Central and Southern Italy, Italy

conquibus

Word USED On Rare Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(noun) • (withwhat) • The word "conquibus" indicates an amount of money needed for something.

"Hai portato il conquibus?"

"Did you bring the money with you?"

Italian In the South, Italy

A chi appartieni?

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Older Generations

(Who do you belong to? ) • Question any elder Southern Italian asks when meeting someone younger than them for the first time in order to know which family they belong to and/or who their parents and grandparents are.

“Giovanotto, a chi appartieni?” “Sono figlio del dottor Rossi.”

“Who do you belong to, young boy?” “I’m dr. Rossi’s son.”

English | Southern English South, United States

bum fuck Egypt

Expression USED On Occasion BY Young People

In the middle of nowhere.

“Man, this place is really in BFE.”

Portuguese South, Brazil

vai catar coquinho

Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(go pick up little coconuts) • When you are tired of someone bothering you, you say it to shoo them away, a way of saying “leave me alone and go do something else”

*after someone can’t stop talking or bothering you* “Ah! Vai catar coquinho e me deixa em paz!“

“Ah! Go pick up little coconuts and leave me in peace!”

English The South, United States

butter my butt and call me a biscuit!

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Older Generations

"I can't believe it!" or "oh my goodness!"

"They're getting a new manager to lead bingo at the senior center!" "Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit!"

English Southern England, United Kingdom

bun

Slang USED On Occasion BY Young People

(v.) • Used when displaying a displeasure to a certain idea or thought.

"Do you want to go to the gym later?" "Nah, bun that!"

English | Southern US Southern US, United States

fixin' to

Slang USED Very frequently BY Older Generations

Fixin' to (Fixing to) means 'about to' or 'going to' in the near future.

"Have you taken out the trash yet?" "I'm fixin' to."

English Southern States, United States

y'all

Slang USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

A contraction of 'you all', most often used as a second-person plural pronoun. It can also be used as an interjection to direct an emotion towards a small group of people as a reaction, or to attract attention. As an interjection, it is most commonly used either in anger or appreciation with a difference in inflection and tone to reflect this.

"Y'all are acting silly"

Portuguese Southwest, Minas Gerais, Brazil

custoso

Expression USED Frequently BY Everyone

(adj.) • (costly, irksome) • It refers to a difficult person, someone who gives you a hard time or is high-maintenance. It's often used to refer to bratty, spoiled children.

"Mas que menino custoso!"

"What an irksome boy!"

Portuguese Southwest, Brazil

imagina

Interjection USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(interj.) • (imagine) • It is equivalent to "not at all", being used as a polite yet informal answer to "thank you". It expresses that the other person should not even imagine giving thanks because it was a no-brainer or an easy task.

"Obrigado pela carona!" "Imagina! Foi um prazer!"

"Thanks for the ride!" "Imagine! It was a pleasure!"