A southernism is a word or phrase that is frequently used by those living in the South. Some of these phrases may seem foreign to anyone that has never lived in this region. Before you take a trip down south, get very familiar with each of these phrases, we promise you will hear them! Each of these phrases is filled with Southern charm and we bet that you will grow to love them just as much as we do!

1. “Gimme some sugar” If you have ever heard this one, I bet it was from someone that was old enough to be your grandma as she approached you with her wrinkly lips covered with bright red lipstick. This Southernism is a fan favorite at family reunions in the South. Taken literally, our non-Southern friends may reach for the container filled with yummy white sugar; however, anyone from the South knows that when grandma says sugar, she doesn’t mean the stuff she puts in her sweet tea.



2. “Yes sir & yes ma’am” These are not optional words in your Southern dictionary, we consider them a requirement. It is pretty much a mandate that when you are speaking to someone that is older than you, you will call them sir or ma’am. If not, you can expect for your mama to throw a hissy fit (see below ). In the South, our mamas taught us to respect anyone that is older than you and this is one way that we can show that respect. These words can also add a sweet, spunky twist to your conversation even when you are just talking to your friends. If you learn nothing else from Down Rembert Road, remember that it is always better to be extra respectful by using sir/ma’am than to not use it at all. Added note: This fits along with our other rule that it is better to monogram everything than nothing at all.



3. “Goodness gracious” What does this even mean? These are two words that really make no sense together at all. We aren’t sure how these words were joined in the South, but we sure do use them a lot. This Southernism is the perfect response when you are left speechless or have nothing else to say. It is the perfect go to response for anything from “He ate an entire pizza for lunch” to “I just spent $200 on TONS monogrammed goodies from Viv&Lou.” It is the best reaction for pretty much anything that anyone may tell you. Even though I may not know exactly how this Southernism came around, I do know that everyone and their mother in the South uses this saying.



4. “Bless your heart” This Southernism is very widely used by southerners and widely questioned by our Northern friends. At one point in history, southerners were able to use this saying as if it was a foreign language. Everyone thought that it meant something really sweet coming from the mouth of a southern lady. However, somehow our secret got out that “Bless your heart” was one of the biggest insults that a southern lady could give you. If someone blesses your heart, they probably feel sorry for you in some way. It should only be taken as an insult if it is said after you do or say something rather unintelligent. Example: “You don’t own anything monogrammed?” “Bless your heart…”



5. “Don’t throw a hissy fit” What exactly is a hissy fit and how can you throw one? We hear this one a lot down south when something doesn’t quite go the way that a southerner had planned. Hissy fits are basically the same as a temper tantrum. They are usually filled with a lot of sass and you definitely don’t want to be around when someone is “throwing one.” We still haven’t figured out what they throw, but we don’t want to find out (unless its monogrammed goodies of course)!



6. “Pretty please” Now these are two words that we know and understand. Pretty is the adjective that you use to describe something that is eye-catching. Please is a word you use to respectfully ask someone to do something for you. When you combine the two, it is a sweet, southern way to make someone do what you want. It works especially well when girls say it to their daddies. “Daddy, will you pretty please buy me this monogrammed Sun Hat?” He is sure to say yes to that question!



7. “Don’t be ugly” We just told you what pretty means, well ugly is just the opposite. It’s the word that you never want to hear to describe anything personal to you (shoes, clothes, hair…you get the point). When southerners say this, they probably aren’t referring to the way something looks, but rather the way someone acts. We usually hear this from our mamas when they catch us talking about other people or things. You will sometimes hear this in other varying forms like “Mama doesn’t like ugly.” Southern ladies never want anyone to know that they were “acting ugly,” that is yet another huge insult!



8. “Y'all” Southerners have been the subject of many jokes from our Northern friends on this one little contraction. This word may not make sense or wander into the vocabulary of many of you, but take a trip down South and I promise that you will slowly learn to love the word. It is the perfect little contraction for “you all” and will likely have a sweet little Southern twang to it. If you could sum the entire South up in a phrase, it would probably include this little word. You may hear it in every single sentence with a southerner. Do y'all want some sweet tea? Do y'all need these monogrammed? Y'all come back now! We have heard and used this word in many different ways! It is the go-to pronoun of the South!



Images from here, here, here, here, here, here, here, & here.