Gullah Tours – Charleston, SC – Abridged Gullah Dictionary
A Glossary of Gullah Words taken from The Black Border
by Ambrose E. Gonzales, and the Vocabulary of Alphonso Brown
A |B |C |D |
E |F |G |H | I
|J |K |L | M |N
|O |P | Q |R |S
|T | U |V |W |X | Y |Z
| A | |
| ANUDDUH | another |
| ANSUH | answer, answers, answered, answering Also used for message, especially for one requiring an answer; as: “Uh sen’ uh ansuh to de gal fuh tell’um uh wan’ hab’um fuh wife” I sent a message to the girl to tell her that I wanted to marry her |
| AP’UN | apron, aprons |
| ARUH | each, either |
| ASHISH | ashes |
| ATTACKTID | Attacked (See “‘tack”‘ and “‘tacktid”) |
| ATTUH | after |
| ATTHR’UM | after him, her, it, them |
| ATTUHW’ILE | after a while |
| AUGUS’ | August |
| AXIL | axle, axles |
| AX’ME | ask, asks, asked, asking me |
| AX’UM | ask or asked him, her, it, them |
| B | Return to top |
| BAA’BUH | barber, barbers |
| BAA’K -(n and v) | bark, barks, barked, barking |
| BAA’NYAA’D | barnyard, barnyards |
| BACTIZE | baptize, baptizes, baptized, baptizing |
| BAD MOUT’ | bad mouth-a spell, a form of curse |
| BAID | beard, beards |
| BAIG | beg, begs, begged, begging |
| BAIG’UM | beg, begs, begged, begging him, her |
| BAIT’UM | bait, baits, baited, baiting him, her |
| BAKIEN | bacon |
| BALMUHRALSKUUT | Balmoral skirt – a dark worsted underskirt with red stripes above the hem, of the time of Queen Victoria and named for her castle at Balmoral |
| BANDUN | abandon, abandons, abandoned, abandoning |
| BAPTIS’ | Baptist, Baptists |
| BARRIL | barrel, barrels |
| BARRUH | barrow, a bacon hog |
| BAWN | born |
| BAYRE | bare bares, bared, baring |
| BEABUH | beaver, beavers |
| BEAGLE | fox hound, fox hounds |
| B’DOUT | without, unless, except |
| BEEFU’T | Beaufort |
| BEEHIBE | beehive, beehives |
| B’FO’ | before; as: “Befo’ de wah” |
| B’FO’ DAY | before day (See “crackuhday,” and “‘fo’ day”) |
| B’HABE | behave, behaves, behaved, behaving |
| B’HIN’ | behind |
| B’KAUSE | because |
| BEHOL’ | behold, beholds, beheld, beholding |
| BELLUH | bellow, bellows, bellowed, bellowing |
| BELLUS | bellows (blacksmith’s) |
| BEMEAN | to be mean to any one, to slander, or abuse |
| BEN’ | bend, bends, bent, bending |
| BERRY (sometimes “werry”) | very |
| BERITYWELL | very well |
| BERRYWELLDEN | very well then |
| BET’ | best |
| BETTUH | better |
| BEX VEX | vexes, vexing; angry, anger, angers, angered |
| BIDNFSS | business |
| B’GIN | begin, begins, begun, began |
| BIGGUH | bigger |
| BIGHOUSE | the Master’s house |
| BILE | boil, boils, boiled, boiling |
| BILIN | boiling |
| BILLIGE | village, villages |
| BUMBYE | bye and bye |
| BIN | been, was |
| BINNUH | been, was, was a; as: “W’en uh binnuh boy “when I was a boy |
| BITTLE | victuals, food |
| BLACKBU’D | blackbird, blackbirds |
| B’LONG | belong, belongs, belonged, belonging; used redundantly; as: “Da’ gal him blan blonx to my Maussuh”That girl she belonged to belong, or used to belong, to my Master |
| B’LEEW | believe, believes, believed, believing |
| ‘BLEEGE | oblige, obliges, obliged, obliging |
| BLINE (n and v) | blind, blinds, blinded, blinding |
| B’LONG | belong, belongs, belonged, belonging |
| BOA’D (n and v) | board, boards, boarded, boarding |
| BODDUN | bother, bothers, bothered, bothering; worry, worries, worried, worrying |
| BODDUHR’UM | bother, bothers, bothered, or bothering him, her, it, them |
| BOFF | both (See “alltwo”) |
| BOL’ | bold |
| BORRUH | borrow, borrows, borrowed, borrowing |
| ‘BOUT | about |
| BOWRE | bore, bores, bored, boring |
| BRAWTUS | broadus |
| BREAS’ | breast, breasts |
| BREDDUH (also brudduh) | brother, brethren (formal) |
| BREKWUS’ | breakfast, breakfasts |
| BRESH | brush, brushwood; brush, brushes, brushed, brushing |
| BRESS | bless, blesses, blessed, blessing |
| BRE’T’ | breath |
| BRIAH | briar, briars |
| BRITCHIN’ | breeching (harness) |
| BRITCHIS | breeches, trousers |
| BAUK’UP | break, breaks, broke, breaking, broken; “brukfoot man’@a brokenlegged man |
| BRUKAA’M | broken arm |
| BRUKFOOT | broken foot, or leg |
| BRUK’UP | break up, broke up, broken up: “De meetin’ done bruk’up |
| BRURO | bureau, as “Feedmun’ bruro” |
| BRUSTLE | bustle, bustles |
| BUBBUH (familiar) | brother |
| BUCKRUH | A White person or persons; the white people |
| BUCKRUHBITTLE | white man’s food |
| BUCKSLEY | Berkeley (county) |
| BUD | bud, buds, budded, budding |
| BU,D | bird, birds |
| BU’DCAGE | birdeage, birdcages |
| BUH | brother, as “Buh Rabbit” |
| BUHHIME | behind |
| BUHR | burr, burrs |
| BULLYELLIN’ | bullyearling, or yearlings |
| BU’N | burn, burns, burned, burning |
| BURRUH | burrow, burrows, burrowed, burrowing |
| BUS’ | burst, bursts, bursting |
| BUTT’N | button, buttons, buttoned, buttoning |
| BURRUH | burrow, burrows, burrowed, burrowing |
| BUZZUM | bosom, bosoms |
| BUZZUT | buzzard, buzzards; vulture, vultures |
| C | Return to top |
| ‘CAJUN | occasion, occasions |
| CALLICRO | calico |
| CANNIBEL | cannibal, cannibals |
| CANTUH | canter, canters, cantered, cantering |
| CATT’RACK | cataract, cataracts (eye) |
| ‘CAUSE | because (See “bekase”) |
| ‘CAWCH | scorch, scorches, scorched, scorching |
| CAWN | corn |
| CAWNFIEL’ | corn field, corn fields |
| CAWNSTALK | corn stalk, corn stalks |
| CAWNUH (n and v) | corner, corners, cornered, cornering |
| CAWPRUL | corporal, corporals |
| CAWPSE | corpse, corpses; coffin, coffins |
| CAWSS’ (n and v) | cost, costs, costing |
| ‘CEEBIN’ | deceiving |
| ‘CEITFUL | deceitful |
| ‘CEP’M | except, excepts, excepted, excepting; accept |
| CEP’N | accepts, accepted, accepting; unless |
| CHAA’GE | Charge, charges, charged, charging |
| CHAA’STUN | Charleston, S C (See “Town”) |
| CHANY | china, chinaware |
| CHANYBERRY | Chinaberry, or Pride of India tree |
| CHAW | chew, chews, chewed, chewing; also noun, as of tobacco |
| CHEER | chair, chairs |
| CHIL’ | child, children |
| CHILLUN | child, children |
| CHIMBLY | chimney, chimneys |
| CHINKYPEN | chinquapin, chinquapins |
| CHRIS’MUS | Christmas |
| CHRYCE | Christ |
| CHU’CH | church, churches |
| CHU’CHYAA’D | churchyard, churchyards |
| CHUESDAY | Tuesday |
| CHUNE (n and v) | tune, tunes; tune, tunes, tuned, tuning (up) |
| CHUNK (n and v) | chunk, chunks, chunked, chunking, throw |
| CHUPID | stupid |
| CLAWT’ | cloth |
| ‘CLA’TO GAWD | declare to God a mild oath |
| COA’SE | coarse |
| COL’ | cold |
| COLLUH | color, colors (“we colluh,” our color, or Negroes) |
| COME’YUH | come here |
| CONKYWINE | concubine, concubines; used for masculine as well as for feminine affiliations |
| COONOO | canoe, canoes |
| CUNSAA’N (n and v) | concern, concerns, concerned, con |
| CUNSUMPSHUS | Consumption |
| CONTUHDIX | contradict, contradicts, contradicted, contradicting |
| CO’SE | course, courses, as of a stream |
| CO’T (n and v) | court, courts; court, courts, courted, courting |
| COULDN’ | could not |
| COULD’UH | could have |
| COUNSTUBBLE | constable, constables |
| COW | cow, cows, bull, bulls, ox, oxen, cattle |
| CULLUD | colored, colored people, the dark race |
| CRACK ‘E BRE’T’ | crack his or her breath; same as “crack ‘e teet” |
| CRACK ‘E TEET | crack, cracks, cracked, cracking his, her or their teeth, meaning opened her or his mouth to speak; as: ‘E yent crack ‘e teet |
| CRACKUHDAY | crack or break of day |
| CRAP (n and v) | crop, crops; crops, cropped, cropping |
| ‘CRAPE (n and v) | scrape, scrapes, scraped, scraping |
| ‘CRATCH (n and v) | scratch, scratches, scratched, scratching |
| CREDENSHUL | credential, credentials |
| CREDIK (n and v) | credit, credits, credited, crediting |
| CREETUH | creature, creatures Commonly applied to a beast of burden |
| CRIK | creek, creeks |
| CROOKETY | crooked; also tricky, unreliable |
| CROSSROAD | the cross roads |
| CUMP’NY | company, companies |
| CUMPOSHASHUN | conversation |
| CUNWEENYUNT | convenient, conveniently, convenience |
| CUNWENSHUN | convention, conventions |
| CUSS (n and v) | curse, curses, cursed, cursing |
| CUT’DOWN, or TEK’DOWN | dejected, chagrined |
| CUZ,N | cousin, cousins (Shakespeare’s “coz”) |
| CYA’ | carry, carries, carried, carrying |
| CYAA’ | car, cars |
| CYAAF (n and v) | calf, calves; to calve, etc. |
| CYAAM | calm, calms; “uh cyaam sea” |
| CYAA’PENTUH | carpenter, carpenters |
| CYAARIDGE | carriage, carriages |
| CYAA’T | cart, carts |
| CYAN’ | can’t |
| CYAS’ | cast, casts, casting |
| CYAS’NET | castnet used for taking shrimp and mullet from tidal creeks |
| CYA’UM | carry, carried, etc, him, her, it, them |
| CYO’ | cure, cures, cured, curing |
| D | Return to top |
| DAT | that |
| DAA’K | dark |
| DAA’KY | darken, darkens, darkened, darkening |
| DAA’TUH | daughter, daughters |
| DA’ DEY | that there |
| DAINJUS | dangerous |
| DAMIDGE (n and v) | damage, damages, damaged, damaging |
| DAYBRUK | daybreak, day has broken |
| DAYCLEAN | broad daylight |
| DEBBLE’UB’UH | devil of a |
| DEEF | deaf |
| DEEPO’ | depot, railway station |
| DEESTUNT | decent, respectable |
| DEM | them, they, those, their, theirs them,” as “Sancho dem,” meaning Sancho and his companions |
| DEM’OWN | theirs, their own |
| DEMSELF | them, they, themselves |
| DEN | then, than |
| ‘DENTICUL | identical |
| DESE | these |
| DESEYUH | these here |
| DISSO | just so |
| DE’T’ | death |
| DEY | they |
| DEY | there |
| DEY DEY | there, there; right there; a repetition for greater emphasis |
| DEYFO’ | theref ore |
| DIBE | dive, dives, dived, dove, diving |
| DIFFUNCE | differ, difference |
| DIMMYCRACK | Democrat, Democrats, Democratic |
| DIS’ | this; just |
| DISAPP’INT (n and v) | disappoint, disappoints, disappointed, disappointing, disappointment, disappointments |
| DISGUS’ | disgust, disgusts, disgusted |
| DISHYUH | this, this here |
| DISTRUS’ | distrust, distrusts, distrusted, distrusting |
| DISTRUSS | distress (See “deestruss”) |
| DISTUNT | distant, distance |
| Do’ | door, doors |
| ‘DO’ | though, although |
| DOG (n and v) | dog, dogs, dogged, dogging |
| DON’ | don’t, doesn’t |
| DONE DO’ UM | did it, finished the job |
| DONE’UM | did it |
| DO’STEP | doorstep, doorsteps |
| DO’UM | do it, does it, did it, doing it |
| DRAP (n and v) | drop, drops, dropped, dropping |
| DREEN (n and v) | drain, drains, drained, draining |
| DRIBE | drives, drove, driven, driving |
| DROBE (n) | drove, droves, as of animals |
| DROWNDID | drown, drowns, drowned, drowning |
| DUB | dove, doves |
| DUH | do, does; in, to, |
| DUNKYUH | don’t care, doesn’t care, didn’t care |
| DUNNO | don’t know, doesn’t know, didn’t know |
| DU’T | dirt, earth |
| DU’TTY | dirty, soiled |
| E | Return to top |
| ‘E | he, she, it |
| EART | earth, world, or soil, ground |
| EBBUH | ever |
| EBBUHLASTIN’ | everlasting |
| EBE | Eve, woman’s name; also eaves |
| EBENIN’ | evening, evenings; “good evening,” a salutation |
| EB’N | even |
| EB’NSO | even so |
| EB’RY | every |
| EB’RYT’ING | everything |
| EB’BYWEH | everywhere |
| ECKNOWLEDGE | knowledge, ability, understanding |
| EDDYCASHUN | education |
| EEDUH | either |
| EEDUHSO | either so, either, else, or |
| EEGNUNT | ignorant |
| EEN | in |
| EENBITE (also eenwite) | invite, invites, invited, inviting |
| EENFAWM | inform, informs, informed, informing |
| EENHABIT | inhabit, inhabits, inhabited, inhabiting |
| EENJINE | engine, engines |
| EENJY | enjoy, enjoys, enjoyed, enjoying; experience |
| EENSIDE | inside |
| EENSULT | (n and v) insult, insults, insulted, insulting |
| EENTITLE | entitle, entitles, entitled, entitling |
| EENTITLEMENT | entitlement, “title; |
| EENTRUSS | interest |
| EF | if |
| EH, EH! | an exclamation |
| ENNY | any |
| ENT | ain’t, are not, is not, isn’t |
| EN’ T’ING | and things, and everything |
| ENTY | ain’t it, isn’t it, are they not, etc. |
| ENT WUT’ | isn’t worth, meaning totally worthless, of no account |
| EPPRULL | April |
| ‘ESE’F | himself, herself, itself |
| ‘E STAN’ | SO it, he or she, stands so, it is so, it looks so, etc. |
| EXCEED | succeed, succeeds, succeeded, succeeding |
| EXCUSIN’ | excusing, except, excepting (See “‘scusin”‘) |
| EXWANCE | advance, advances, advanced, advancing |
| EXWANTIDGE | advantage, advantages |
| EDWICE | advice |
| EDWISE | advise, advises, advised, advising Ezas |
| F | Return to top |
| FABUH (n and v) | favor, favors, favored, favoring |
| ‘F’AID | afraid, afraid of |
| FAIT’ | faith |
| FAIT’FUL | faithful, earnest |
| FAITFULES’ | faithfulest |
| FAMBLY | family, families; family’s, families’ |
| FANNUH | a wide, shallow basket used for winnowing beaten rice or separating the corn husks from grist after grinding. |
| FARRUH | father, fathers |
| FARRUHLAW | fatherinlaw, fathersinlaw |
| FAS’ | fast |
| FASHI’N | fashion, like, resemblance |
| FAST’N | fasten, fastens, fastened, fastening |
| FAU’T | fault, faults |
| FAWK | (n and v) fork, forks, forked, forking |
| FAWM | (n and v) form, forms, formed, forming |
| FAWTY | forty |
| FAWWU’D | forward |
| FIBBYWERRY | February |
| FEDDUH | feather , feathers |
| FEED’UM | feed, feeds, fed, feeding him, her, it, them |
| ‘FEN’ | fend, defend |
| FIAH (n and v) | fire, fires, fired, firing |
| FIBE | five; “fibe dolluh en’ seb’ntyfi’ cent'” |
| FLABUH | (n and v) flavor, flavors, flavored, flavoring; as: “Da’ buckruh’ hogmeat flabuh me mout’ ‘tell uh done fuhgit uh hab sin fuhkill’um”That white man’s pork flavored my mouth so that I forgot the sin I committed in killing the hog. |
| FLATFAWM | platform, platforms |
| FLO’ | floor, floors, floored, flooring |
| FO’ | four |
| ‘FO’ | before (See “befo”‘) |
| FO’CE | force, forces, forced, forcing |
| FORRUD | forehead, foreheads |
| FO’TEEN | fourteen |
| FOWL | fowl, fowls; chicken, chickens |
| FREEDMUN | freedman, freedmen |
| FREEDUM | freedom |
| FREEHAN’ | freehanded, generous, liberal |
| FREEMALE | female, females |
| FR’EN’ | friend, friends |
| FRUM | from |
| FRYBAKIN | fried bacon |
| FUDDUH | far, farther, farthest; further |
| FUH | for, for to |
| FUHGIT | forget, forgets, forot, forgetting, forotten |
| FUH HAB | for have: “One dance bin fuh hab deepo’ las’ night”a dance was to have been had at the depot last night. |
| FUHR’EBBUH | forever, always, all the time |
| FUH’UM | for him, her, it |
| FSUTT’N | for certain, sure |
| FUH TRUE | in truth, for truth, it is so |
| FULL’UP | filled up, as a hive with honey, or a lady with wrath |
| FLUN’RUL | funeral, funerals |
| FUS’ | first |
| G | Return to top |
| GABRULL | Aingel Gabrielhe |
| ‘GAGE | engage, engages, engaged, engaging; hire, hired, etc. |
| GAL | girl, girls; girl’s, girls’ Also used familiarly in addressing women |
| ‘GATUH | alligator, alligators |
| GAWD | God, Gods, God’s |
| GEDDUH | gather, gathers, gathered, gathering |
| G’EM | give, gives, gave, giving him, her, it, them |
| ‘GEN | again |
| ‘GENSE | against |
| GIB’ / GI | give, gives, gave, giving |
| GIMME | give me, gives me, gave me, giving me |
| GIN’NLLY | generallv, in general |
| GIN’UL | general |
| GIT | get, gets, getting, got |
| GITTA | get a |
| GITT’RU | get through, got through; finish, finished |
| GITTUH | get a |
| GIT’WAY | get, gets, getting, got away |
| GI’WE | give us, gives us, gave us, giving us |
| ‘GLEC’ | neglect, neglects, neglected, neglecting |
| GLUB | glove, gloves |
| GONE’WAY | go away, goes away, gone away, went away |
| GOODFASHI’N | good fashionwell, thoroughly |
| GOT | get, gets, have, had; also, has got to |
| GO’WAY | go away! get out! |
| GRABBLE (n and v) | gravel, gravels, graveled, graveling |
| GRABE | grave, graves |
| GRAFF | grab, grabs, grabbed, grabbing; grasp, seize, seized |
| GRAMMA | grandmother |
| GRAN’ | grandgrandchild, grandson, or anyone in such relationships of “grand” |
| GRAN’MAAMY | grandmother |
| GRANNY | grandmother, but used for any old Negro woman, whether related or not |
| GRAN’PUH | grandfather |
| GREE | agree, agrees, agreed, agreeing |
| ‘GREEMENT | agreement, agreements |
| GREESE (n and v) | grease: “greese ‘e mout’,” to feed with fatness, as with bacon |
| GREESY | greasy |
| GROUN’ | ground, land, piece of land |
| GRUMMA | grandma GRUM’PA grandpa |
| GRUNNUTS | groundnut, peanuts GUBNUH governor, |
| GWINE | going, going to |
| GWININ’ | goings and goings on |
| GYAA’D (n and v) | guard, guards, guarded, guarding |
| GYAA’D’N | garden, gardens |
| GYAP | gap, gaps, as in a fence or hedge nebbuh gyap”she never opened her mouth |
| H | Return to top |
| HAA’BlS’ | harvest |
| HAA’D | hard |
| HAA’DHEAD | hardhead, hardheaded |
| HAA’KEE | hark you or ye, hear |
| HAA’NESS (n and v) | harness, harnesses, harnessed, harnessing |
| HAANT | haunt, haunts; apparition; ghost, ghosts |
| H’AA’T | heart, hearts |
| H’AA’T’ | hearth, hearths |
| HAB | have, has, had, having |
| HAFFUH | have to, had to |
| HAIR RIZ’ | hair rose (with fright) |
| HALFACRE | half acre 210 feet squarea measure of distance or area |
| HAN’ (n and v) | hand, hands, handed, handing |
| HANKUH | hanker, long, longs, loinged, longing for; desire, |
| HAPP’N | happed, happens, happened, happening |
| HARRICANE | hurricane, hurricanes; “harricane tree,” one thrown down by storm |
| HATCHITCH | hatchet, hatchets |
| HAWN | horn, horns |
| HAWSS | horse, horses |
| HEAD (n and v) | head, heads; head, heads, headed, heading off |
| HEAD’UM | get, gets, got, getting ahead of him, her, it, them |
| HEBBY | heavy, great; as: “uh hebby cumplain”‘a great outcry |
| HE’LT’ | health |
| HE’LT’Y | healthy |
| HENDUH | hinder, hinders, hindered, hindering |
| HENG | hang, hangs, hanged, hung, hanging |
| HENGKITCHUH | handkerchief, handkerchiefs |
| HICE | hoist, hoists, hoisted, hoisting |
| HICE DE CHUNE | raise or hoist a tune |
| HIM’OWN | his, her’s, his own, her own, its own |
| HIN’ | hind, behind; as, “hine foot”hind feet |
| HISTORICUSS | historic, historical |
| HITCH | hitch, hitches, hitched, hitching; also for marry, marrying |
| HOL’ (n and v) | hold, holds, held, holding |
| HOL’FAS’ | Hold Fasta favorite dog name |
| HOLLUH (n and v) | hollow, hollows, hollowed, hollowing |
| HOM’NY | hominy |
| HONGRY | hungry, hunger |
| HUCCOME | how come, how came; |
| HUND’UD | hundred, hundreds |
| HUNNUH | you (See “oonuh” “hoonuh!l and “wunnuh”) |
| HU’T (n and v) | hurt, hurts, hurting |
| I | Return to top |
| INFLUMMASHUN | information |
| INGINE | engines |
| INJUN | Indian, Indians |
| l’UN (n and v) | iron, irons, ironed, ironing |
| IZ | is |
| J | Return to top |
| JALLUS | jealous, jealousy |
| JAYBU’D | jaybird, jaybirds |
| ‘JECK’ | reject, rejects; object, objects, objected, objecting |
| ‘JECKSHUN | objection, objections |
| JEDGE (n and v) | judge, judges, judged, judging |
| JEDUS | Jesus |
| JESTUSS | justice |
| JINE | join, joins, joined, joining |
| JININ’ | joining; adjoining |
| JINNYWERRY | January |
| JIS’ | just |
| JISSO | just so |
| JOOK | jab, jabs, jabbed, jabbing |
| JOOKASS | jackass, jackasses |
| JUE | Due is due |
| JU’K | jerk, jerks, jerked, jerking |
| JUNTLEMUN | gentleman, gentlemen |
| K | Return to top |
| ‘KACE | scarce |
| ‘KACELY | Scarcely, hardly |
| KETCH | catch, catches, caught, catching; took, take; as: “‘E ketch ‘e tex f’um de fus’ chaptuh een Nickuhdemus.”He took his text from the first chapter of Nicodemus Also for reach, reached; as: “Time uh ketch de ribbuh bank, de dog done gone” |
| KETCH’UM | catch, catches, caught, catching him, her, it |
| KI | an exclamation (Sometimes “kwi” or ‘kwoy |
| KIBBUH (n and v) | cover, covers, covered, covering |
| KIBBUH’UM | cover, covers, covered, covering him, her, it |
| KIN | can |
| KIN | kin, kindred |
| KIN’ | kind, kinds; sort, sorts |
| KIND’UH | kind of, sort of |
| KNOW’UM | know, knows, knew him, her, it, them |
| KYARRYSENE | kerosene |
| L | Return to top |
| LAA’D | lard |
| LAA’GIN’ | enlarging, swaggering, boastful |
| LAA’N | learn, learns, learned, learning |
| LAB’RUH | laborer, laborers |
| LANGWIDGE | language, talk |
| LAS’ | last, lasts, lasted, lasting; last (adverb) ; shoemaker’s last |
| LAS’YEAH | last year, last year’s |
| LAUGH (n and v) | laugh, laughs, laughed, laughing |
| LAVUH (n and v) | labor, labors, labored, laboring |
| LAWFULLY LADY | Negro’s legally married wife |
| LEABE | leaf, leaves |
| LEABE (n and v) | leave, leaves, left, leaving permit, permission |
| LEAN FUH | lean for set out for with haste and speed |
| ‘LEB’N | eleven |
| LEDDOWN | lay, lays, laid or lie, lies, lay, lying down |
| LEEK | lick, licks, licked, licking with the tongue |
| LEELY | little, in size or quantity |
| LEETLE | little, in size or quantity |
| LEF’ | leave, leaves, left, leaving (See “leabe”) |
| LEF’ HAN’ | left hand or left handed, “lef’ ban’ foot,” or “lef’ ban’ feet”left foot or left leg |
| LEF’UM | leave, leaves, left or leaving him, her, it, them |
| LEGGO | let go, lets go, letting go |
| LEH | let, lets, letting |
| LEH WE | let us |
| LE’M | let them |
| LEM’LONE | let, lets him, her, it, them alone |
| LEMME | let me |
| LEN’ (V) | lend, lends, loaned, lending |
| LENGK | length, lengths ‘LESS (or onless) unless |
| LIA | Lie liar, liars |
| LIB | live, lives, lived, living |
| LIBBIN’ | living ‘ |
| LIBE | alive |
| LIBBUH | liver, livers |
| ‘LIBBUH | deliver, delivers, delivered, delivering |
| LICK (n and v) | a blow; to whip, whips, whipped |
| LICK BACK | turn, turns, turned, turning back, while moving rapidly |
| LICKIN’ (n and v) | a licking, lickings, whipping, etc |
| LIGHT ON | light onmount, mounts, mounted, mounting |
| LIGHT’OOD | lightwood resinous pinewood |
| LIGHT OUT | to start, start off, or away |
| ‘LIJUN | religion on listens, listened, listening |
| LOCUS PASTUH | local pastor, or preacher |
| ‘LONG | along, along with |
| LONGIS’ | longest |
| LONGMOUT’ | Long mouth descriptive of the surly or contemptuous pushing out of the lips of an angry or discontented Negro |
| ‘LONGSIDE | alongside |
| LONGUH | longer |
| ‘LONG’UM | along with, or with him, her, it, them |
| ‘LOW’UM | allow, allows, allowed, allowing him, her, it, them |
| LUB (n and v) | love, loves, loved, loving; like, likes, liked |
| LUK | like, alike |
| LUKKUH | like, like unto, resembling |
| LUK’UM | like or resembling him, her, it, them |
| M | Return to top |
| MAA’CH | March; march, marches, marched, marching |
| MAA’K (n and v) | mark, marks, marked, marking |
| MA’AM | madam |
| MAAMY | mother, mothers |
| MAA’SH | marsh, marshes |
| MANNUS | manners, politeness, courtesy |
| MANNUSSTUBBLE | Wellmannered, polite |
| MARRI’D | married, marry, marries, marrying |
| MASS | master when used with a name |
| MASTUH | Master used only for God |
| MATCH (n and v) | match, matches, matched, matchin Yet “matches” is sometimes used for the singular; as,”Gimme uh matches”give me a match |
| MAUM | same as “maumuh,” when used with the name of the person spoken to or of, as “Maum Kate” |
| MAWNIN’ | morning, mornings; also “good morning!” |
| MEAN | mean, meanness |
| MED’SIN | medicine, medicines, physic |
| MEDJUH (n and v) | measure, measures, measured, measuring |
| MEDJUHR’UM | measure, measures, measured, measuring him, her, it, them |
| MEK | make, makes, made, making |
| MEK’ACE | make haste |
| MEK ANSUH | make, makes, making, made reply |
| MEK FUH | make for; to go to, goes to, went to, going to |
| MEK OUT | make, makes, made, making out; a makeshift |
| MEK YO MANNUS | make your manners, your obeisance |
| MEMBUH | member, members as of a church or society |
| ‘MEMBUH | remember, remembers, remembered, remembering; remind, etc |
| ‘MEMB’UNCE | remembrance, remembrances |
| MEN’ ‘E PACE | mend his, her, its, their pace; hurry, hurry up, etc |
| MENS | Men |
| MUHSELF | myself I |
| MET’DlS’ | Methodist, Methodists |
| METSIDGE | message, messages |
| MIDDLEDAY | midday, noon |
| MIDDLENIGHT | midnight |
| MIN’ | mind, minds, minded,, minding; heed, etc; take care |
| MINE | of, protect, cherish, guard |
| ‘MIRATION | admiration, wonder, astonishment |
| MIS | Miss, Mrs, Mistress |
| MISTUH | Mr |
| MO’ | more |
| MOAN | moan, moans, moaned, moaning |
| MO’ BETTUH | more better, better |
| MO’ LONGUH | more longer, longer |
| MO’N | mourn, mourns, mourned, mourning |
| MO’NFUL | mournful |
| ‘MONG | among, amid |
| MONK’Y | monkey, monkeys |
| MONSTROSITY | monstrous |
| MO’NUH | mourner, mourners |
| MO’NUH | more than |
| MO’NUH DA’ | more than that |
| MOOBE | move, moves, moved, moving |
| MO’OBUH | moreover |
| MO,RIS, MO’RES’ | most |
| MOUT’ | mouth, mouths |
| MUHLASSIS | molasses |
| MUKKLE | myrtle, myrtles; myrtle thickets |
| MUNT’ | month, months |
| MURRUH | Mother, mothers |
| MURRUHLAW | motherinlaw |
| MUS’BZ | ,must be, must have, must have been |
| MUSKITTUH | mosquito, mosquitoes |
| MUSSIFUL | merciful |
| MUSSY | mercy, mercies |
| MUSTU’D | mustard |
| MY’OWN | mine, my |
| N | Return to top |
| NAKID | naked |
| NARITY | naked, nakedness |
| ‘NARRUH | another (See “‘nodduh” and “Inorruh”) |
| NAVUH | neighbor, neighbors |
| NEBBUH | never |
| NEEDUH | neither |
| NEEDUHSO | neither so, neither, nor |
| NEMMIN’ | Never mind |
| NES’ (n and v) | nest, nests, nested, nesting |
| NEWNITED STATE | United States |
| NIGH | near, also draw near to |
| NIGH’UM | near, or nearing him, her, it, them |
| ‘N’INT | anoint, anoints, anointed, anointing (See “renoint”) |
| NO’COUNT | no account, worthless |
| ‘NODDUH | another (See “‘narruh” and “‘norruh”) |
| NOMANNUSSUBBLE | impolite, without manners, rude |
| NOMINASHUN | nominate, nominates, nominated, nominating |
| NOTUS (n and v) | notice, notices, noticed, noticing |
| NOWEMBUH | November |
| NUBBUH | never (See “nebbuh”) |
| ‘NUF | enough, abundance |
| NUH | nor; also for and |
| ‘NURRUH | another |
| NUSS (n and v) | nurse, nurses, nursed, nursing |
| NUSSO | not so |
| NUTT’N’ | nothing |
| NYAM | eat, eats, eating, ate; sometimes “nyamnyam,” a epetition for emphasis |
| NYANKEE | Yankee, Yankees |
| NYOUNG | young |
| NYOUNGIS’ | youngest (n and v) use, uses, used, using (See NYUZE (v) used, using |
| O | Return to top |
| OAGLY | Ugly |
| OBJECK’ | object |
| OBSERB’ | observe, observes, observed, observing |
| OB’SHAY | overseer, overseers |
| OBUH | over, above |
| OBUHTEK | overtake, overtakes, overtook, overtaking |
| OBUH’SHROW | overthrow, overthrows, overthrew, overthrowing; overthrown |
| OCTOBUR | October |
| ODDUH | other, others |
| ODDUHRES | the other rest, the rest, remainder |
| OFF’UH | off, off of |
| OFFUH | offer, offers, offered, offering |
| OFF’UM | off, or off of him, her, it, them |
| ONBUTT’N | unbutton, unbuttons, unbuttoned, unbuttoning |
| ONCOMMUN | uncommon |
| ONDEESTUNT | indecent, indecency |
| ONDELICATE | indelicate, presumptuous |
| ONDUH | under |
| ONDUHNEET’ | underneath |
| ONDUHSTAN’ | understand, understands, understood, understanding |
| ONDUHTER | undertake, undertakes, undertook, undertaking |
| ONE | only; “me one,” I only |
| ONE’NARRUH ONE’NODDUH | one another |
| ONETIME | once, once upon a time |
| ONHITCH | unhitch, unhitches, unhitched, unhitching; also marital separation |
| ONKIBBUH | uncover, uncovers, uncovered, uncovering |
| ONLOCK | Unlock, unlocks, unlocked, unlocking |
| ONMANNUSSUBBLE | unmannerly, impolite, rude |
| ONNUH (n and v) | honor, honors, honored, honoring |
| ONNUHRUBBLE | honorable |
| ONRABBLE | unravel, unrave s, unrav |
| ONREASUNNUBBLE | unreasonable |
| ONSAA’T’N | uncertain |
| ONSATTIFY | unsatisfied, unsatisfying |
| ONTE’L | until |
| ONTIE | untie, unties, untied, untying |
| ‘OOD | wood, woods |
| OOMAN | woman, woman’s; women, women’s |
| OSIITUH | oyster, oysters |
| OUGHTUH | ought, ought to, ought to be |
| OUT’UH | out |
| P | Return to top |
| PAA’D’N (n and v) | pardon, pardons, pardoned, pardoning |
| PAA’DNUH | partner, partners |
| PAA’KUH | Parker lowcountry family name |
| PAA’LUH | parlor, parlors |
| PAA’SIMONY | parsimony, also avarice or rapacity |
| PAA’S’N | parson, parsons |
| PAAT’ | path, paths |
| PAA’T (n and v) | part, parts, parted, parting |
| PAA’TY | party |
| PAPUH (n and v) | paper, papers, papered, papering |
| PARRYSAWL | parasols |
| PASHUN | patience forbearing |
| PASSOBUH | Passover |
| PASS’UM | pass, passes, passed, passing him, her, it, them |
| PASTUH | pastor, pastors; pasture, pastures |
| ‘PORTUN’ | important |
| ‘PAWTUNCE | importance |
| PEACEUBBLE | peaceable, peaceful |
| PEAWINE | peavine, peavines |
| PENITENSHUS | penitentiary |
| ‘PEN’PUN | depend, depends, depended, depending upon |
| PERUSE | to saunter, walk in a leisurely manner |
| PINCH’UM | pinch, pinches, pinched, pinching him, her, it |
| ‘PIN | Spill, spins, spun, spinning |
| PINDUH | pindar, peanut, peanuts |
| PINELAN’ | pineland, pinelands |
| ‘PINION | opinion, opinions |
| P’INT (n and v) | point, points, pointed, pointing; direct |
| ‘P’INT | appoint, appoints, appointed, appointing |
| ‘P’INTMENT | appointment, appointments |
| ‘PISKUBBLE | Episcopal, Episcopalian |
| ‘PISTLE | Epistle, Epistles (Bible) |
| PlTCHUH | pitcher, pitchers |
| PIT | put, Puts, Put, Putting |
| PIT’UM | put him, her, it, them |
| PIZEN | poison, poisons, poisoned, poisoning |
| PIZENOAK | poisonoak, or poison ivy |
| ‘PLASH (n and v) | splash; to splash, splashes, splashed, splashing |
| PLATEYE | A ghostly apparition |
| PLAY | ‘Possumto make believe, to fool, deceive |
| PLEASE KIN | please can – a redundancy; as: “please kin gimme” |
| PLEDJUH | pleasure, pleasures |
| PLEDJUHR’UM | please, give pleasure to him, her, it, them |
| PO’ | poor, also thin, lean, low in flesh |
| PO’BUCKRUH | a poor white man, the poor whites |
| PO’BUCKRUHNIGGUH | a Negro who had formerly belonged to the poorer whites, or those not of the “quality” |
| PO’CH | porch, porches |
| POLITICUSS | political (See “cawpsus politicksus”) |
| PO’LY | poorly, describing health |
| POOTY | pretty |
| PO’R | pour, pours, poured, pouring |
| PO’R’UM | pour, pours, poured, pouring it, that |
| POS’ (n and v) | post, posts, posted, posting |
| POSITUBBLE | positive, positively |
| POSSIMMUN | persimmon, persimmons; the tree and fruit |
| PO’TRIAL | Port Royal |
| PRAISEMEETIN’ | prayermeeting |
| PRAY (n and v) | prayer, prayers; prays, prayed, praying |
| ‘PREAD | spread, spreads, spreading |
| PREECHUH | preacher, preachers; minister, ministers |
| PREECHUH ON DE SUKKUS | the circuit or traveling preacher |
| PREMUSBIZ | premises |
| PRESINCK | precinct |
| PRES’N’LY | presently |
| PREZZYDENT | president |
| PRIBLIDGE (n and v) | privilege, privileges, privileged |
| PRIZZUNT | present, presents, presented, presenting |
| PRIZZUNT AA’M | present arms |
| PROMMUS (n and v) | promise, promises, promised, promising |
| PUOOBE | prove, proves, proved, proving |
| PROPUTTY | property, wealth |
| ‘PUBLIKIN | Republican |
| PUSCEED | proceed, proceeds, proceeded, proceeding |
| PUHAPS | perhaps |
| P’UHJEC’ | project, projected |
| PUHJUH | perjure, perjures, perjured, perjuring |
| PUHLICITUH | solicitor, solicitors |
| PUHLITE | polite, politely |
| PUHTEK | protect, protects, protected, protecting |
| PUHTEKSHUN | protection |
| PUHTETTUH | potato, potatoes usually sweet (See “tettuh”) |
| PUHTICKLUH | particular, particularly |
| PUHWIDE | provide, provides, provided, providing |
| PUHWID’N | providing, also provided |
| PUHWIDUH | provider, providers |
| PUHWISHUN | provision, provisions; ration, rations |
| PUHWOKE | provoke, provokes, provoked, provoking |
| PUHWOKIN’ | provoking |
| PUHZAC’LY | exactly, precisely |
| PUHZISHUN | position, positions |
| PULBLIC | public, the public |
| PUNKIN | pumpkin, pumpkins |
| PUNKINSKIN | pumpkin colored or mulatto Negro |
| PUNNOUNCE | pronounce, pronounces, pronounced, pronouncing |
| ‘PUNTOP | upon, on, on top of |
| ‘PUNTOP’UI | upon top Of, on top of, at |
| PUSSON | person, persons |
| PUSSONULLY | personally |
| PYAZZUH | piazza, piazzas; porch, porches; veranda |
| Q | Return to top |
| ‘QUAINTUN’ | acquainted, acquainted with |
| ‘QUAINTUNCE | acquaintance, acquaintances |
| QUAWL | quarrel, quarrels |
| QUAWLMENT | quarrel, quarrels, quarreled, quarreling |
| QUAWT | quart, quarts |
| QUAWT’LY | quarterly |
| QUAWTUH (n and v) | quarter, quarters, quartered, quartering |
| ‘QUEEZE | squeeze, squeezes, squeezed squeezing |
| QUESCHUN SQUESCHUN (n and v) | question, questions, questioned |
| QUILE (n and v) | coil, coils, coiled, coiling |
| ‘QUIRE | require, requires, required, requiring |
| ‘QUIRE | inquire, inquires, inquired, inquiring |
| QUIZZIT | (quiz) ask, asks, asked, asking; to question, questions, questioned |
| R | Return to top |
| RABBISH | ravish, ravishes, ravished, ravishing |
| RAB’N | raven, ravens; vulture, vultures; buzzard, buzzards |
| RAB’NEL | Ravenel, Ravenel family name |
| RACKTIFY | to break, breaks, broke, broken, breaking Confuse in mind |
| RAIN (n and v) | rain, rains, rained, raining |
| RALE | real, very, truly |
| RAPPIT | rapid, rapidly |
| RASHI’N (n and v) r | ration, rations, rationed, rationing |
| RAYBE | rear, rears, reared, rearing |
| ‘READY | already |
| REB’RENT | reverend used also as a noun, as “de reb’ren'” |
| RECISHUN | decision, decisions |
| REDDUH | rather |
| REFEN’ | defend, defends, defended, defending |
| REINGE | reins |
| REMONIA | pneumonia |
| RENITE | unite, unites, united, uniting |
| RENOINT | anoint, anoints, anointed, anointing |
| RENOINTED | anointed |
| REPEAH | appear, appears, appeared, appearing |
| REPLOY (rare) | reply, replies, replied, replying |
| REPOSE | oppose, opposes, opposed, opposing |
| RESPLAIN | explain, explains, explained, explaining; elucidate |
| RETCH | reach, reaches, reached, reaching |
| ‘RIAH | Maria |
| RIBBUH | river, rivers |
| RIDICK’LUS | ridiculous, also outrageous, scandalous |
| ROAS’ | roast, roasts, roasted, roasting |
| ROKKOON | raccoon, raccoons |
| ROOS’ (n and v) | roost, roosts, roosted, roosting |
| ROOSTUH | rooster, roosters |
| RUBBIDGE | rubbish |
| RUCKUHNIZE | recognize, recognizes, recognized, recognizing |
| RUDDUH | rather |
| RUPPEZUNT | represent, represents, represented, representing |
| S | Return to top |
| SAEB | serve, serves, served, serving |
| SAA’BINT (also “saa’bunt”) | servant, servants |
| SAA’BIS (also sarbis) | service, services, use |
| SAA’CH | search, searches, searched, searching; also examine |
| SAA’F | soft |
| SAA’F’LY | softly |
| SAA’PUNT | serpent (Biblical) |
| SAA’T’N | certain |
| SAWANNUH | Savannah |
| SABBIDGE | savage, savages |
| SABE | save, saves, saved, saving |
| SABEYUH | the Savior |
| SA’LEENUH | St Helena Island, on the South Carolina coast |
| SAME LUKKUH(also sukkuh) | same like, like, resembling |
| SAN’ | sand |
| SAT’D’Y | Saturday |
| SATTIFACKSHUN | satisfaction |
| SATTIFY | satisfy, satisfies, satisfied, satisfying |
| SAWT (n and v) | sort, sorts, sorted, sorting |
| SAWTUH | sort of after a fashion |
| SAY | say, says, said, saying |
| SCA’CE | scarce |
| SCA’CELY | searcely, hardly (See “kacely”) |
| SCATTUH | scatter, scatters, scattered, scattering |
| SCHEMY | scheming, tricky |
| SCOLE | scold, scolds, scolded, scolding |
| SCRIPTUH | Scripture the Bible |
| ‘SCUSE (noun) | excuse, excuses |
| ‘SCUSIN’ | excusing, except |
| ‘SCUSSHUN | excursion, excursions |
| ‘SCUZE (verb) | excuse, excuses, excused, excusing |
| SEAZ’NIN’ | seasoning |
| SEB’N | seven |
| SEB’NPUNCE | seven pence (See “fo’punce”) |
| SEB’NTEEN | seventeen |
| SEB’NTY | seventy |
| SECKBITERRY | secretary, secretaries |
| SECTEMBTUH | September |
| SECUN’ | second |
| SEDDOWN | Sit or set down, sits or sets down, sat or set down |
| SEE | See, sees, saw, seen, seeing |
| SEEGYAA’ | cigar, cigars |
| SEEM | seem, seems, seemed, seeming |
| ‘SELF | himself, herself, itself, themselves |
| SENCE | since |
| SEN’UM | send, sends, sent, sending him, her, it, them |
| SESSO | say so, says so, said so, saying so (See “susso”) |
| SET | sit, Sits, sat, sitting (See “seddown”) |
| SETTLE’ | settled, as: “settle’ ‘ooman,” a settled woman, a Negro woman of a certain age, not a ‘flapper |
| SETT’N’ | Sitting |
| SETT’N’UP | sitting up a Negro wake; a small religious meeting |
| SEZZEE | says he, said he |
| SEZZI | says I, said I |
| SHAA’K | shark, sharks |
| SHAA’P | sharp |
| SHAA’P’N | sharpen, sharpens, sharpened, sharpening |
| SHABE | shave, shaves, shaved, shaving |
| SHADDUH (n and v) | shadow, shadows, shadowed, shadowing |
| SHAME (n and v) | shame, shames, shamed, shaming, ashamed |
| SHAWT | short, shawtpashunt,” short patience or irritable, irritability |
| SHAYAYRE | share, shares, shared, sharing |
| SHAYRE’UM | share, shares, shared, sharing him, her, it, them |
| SHE’OWN | her own |
| SHEPU’D | shepherd, shepherds |
| SHE SHE TALK | woman’s talk, gabble |
| SHET | shut, shuts, shut, shutting |
| SHISH | such |
| SHO’ | sure, surely |
| SHO’LY | surely |
| SHOOT’UM | shoot, shoots, shot, shooting him, her, it, them |
| SHOULDUH | shoulder, shoulders, shouldered, shouldering |
| SHOULD’UH | should have |
| SHOUT (n and v) | shout, shouts; shout, shouts, shouted, shouting; frenzied outcries of a religious devotee A plantation dancing festival, frequently accompanied by beating sticks on the floor |
| SHOW | show, shows, showed, showing |
| SHOW’UM | show, shows, showed, showing him, her, it, them |
| SHROUD | shroud, shrouds; also surplice, surplices, as: “De ‘Piskubble preechuh pit on ‘e shroud” |
| SHUB | shove, shoves, shoved, shoving |
| SHUH | pshaw! |
| SHUM | see, sees, saw, seeing him, her, it, them |
| SHU’T | shirt, shirts |
| SIDE’UH | on the side of, alongside |
| SILBUH | silver |
| SILBY | Silvia |
| SILUNT | silent, silence, as “silunt een co’t!’@silence in court I |
| SISTUH (formal) | sister, sisters |
| SKAY’D | scared |
| SKAYRE | scare, scares, scared, scaring |
| SKAYTODE’T’ | scare or seared to death |
| SKU’T | skirt, skirts |
| SLABE | Slave, slaves |
| SLABERY | slavery |
| SLABERY TIME | slavery times before freedom |
| SLEEBE | sleeve, sleeves |
| SLIP’RY | slippery |
| SMAA’T | smart |
| ‘SMATTUH | what is the matter? |
| SNAWT | snort, snorts, snorted, snorting |
| SNOW’RE | snore, snores, snored, snoring |
| SOAD | sword, swords |
| SOBUH | sober |
| SOBUHR’UM | sober, sobers, sobered, sobering him, her, them |
| SODUH (n and v) | soldier, soldiers; soldiering |
| SOMEBODY | somebody’s, some one, some one’s |
| SOMEBODY’OWN | somebody’s own |
| SONNYLAW | soninlaw, sonsinlaw |
| SOONMAN | A smart, alert, wideawake man |
| SPAA’K | Spark, sparks |
| SPANG | all the way, expressive of distance |
| SPARRUH | sparrow, sparrows |
| SPARRUHGRASS | asparagus |
| SPEC | expect, expects, expected, expecting; suspect, suspects, suspected, suspecting |
| SPECIFY | from specify, but greatly extended to include almost all meanings of “specifications”proving inadequate, not coming up to expectations, etc. |
| SPECKLY | speckled |
| SPEN’ | spend, spends, spent, spending |
| SPERRITUAL | Spiritual, spirituals, the Negro religious songs |
| ‘SPERIUNCE | experience, experiences, experienced, experieneiiag |
| SPESHLY | specially, especially |
| SPIDUH | spider, spiders |
| SPILE | spoil, spoils, spoiled, spoiling |
| ‘SPISHUN | suspicion, suspicions |
| ‘SPISHUS | suspicious, suspiciously |
| ‘SPIZE | despise, despises, despised, despising |
| ‘SPLAIN | explain, explains, explained, explaining |
| SPLOTCH | blot, blots; stain, stains |
| ‘SPON | respond, responds, responded, responding |
| ‘SPONSUBBLE | responsible, also used emphatically or specifically; as: “Tell’um ‘sponsubble fuh do da’ t’ing” |
| ‘SPOSE | expose, exposes, exposed, exposing |
| S’POSE | suppose, supposes, supposed, supposing |
| SPO’T | sport, sports; also sporting man |
| SPOT’N’ (n and v) | sport, sports, sported, sporting |
| SPO’TY | sporty |
| ‘SPUTE (n and v) | dispute, disputes, disputed, disputing; contest with |
| ‘SPUTE’N | disputing |
| SQUESCHUN | question sometimes used for the more common “quizzit,” which see |
| STAA’CH (n and v) | starch, starches, starched, starching |
| STAAR | star, stars |
| STAA’T | Start, starts, started, starting |
| STAA’T NAKID | stark naked |
| ‘STABLISH | establish, establishes, established, establishing |
| STAN’ | stand, stands, stood, standing; look, looks, looked, looking |
| STAN’ | A stand, stands; deer stands, etc. |
| STAN’LUKKUH | stand, stands, stood, standing like; to look like, etc. |
| ‘STEAD’UH (also ‘stidduh) | instead of STEAL steal, steals, stole, stealing |
| STO’ | store, stores; shop, shops |
| ‘STONISH | astonish, astonishes, astonished, astonishing |
| STRAIGHT’N FUH | made for, making for; run quickly or swiftly |
| STRENGK | Strength |
| STRETCHOUT | stretch outextend |
| ‘STROY’D | destroy, destroys, destroyed, destroying |
| ‘STRUCKSHUN | destruction |
| ‘STRUCKSHUN | construction |
| STRUCTID | struck, striking |
| STUBB’N | stubborn |
| STUDY | think, plan, ponder |
| STUHR | stir, stirs, stirred, stirring |
| STUHSTIFFIKIT | Certificate |
| STYLISH | stylish, meaning also appropriate,dignified, suitable, as: “uh stylish grabe, ” being a grave ornately decorated with broken china or glass |
| ‘SUADE | persuade, persuades, persuaded, persuading |
| SUCKAIG SUCK | egg as: “uh suckaig dog” |
| SUCK ME TEET’ | and “suck ‘e teet”‘a contemptuous gesture, frequently indulged in by the fair sex |
| SUDD’NT | sudden, suddenly |
| SUFFUHRATE | separate, separates, separated, separating; also divorce, divorcing, etc. |
| SUH | sir |
| SUH | that, say |
| SUHCIETY | society, societies |
| SUKKLE (n and v) | circle, circles, circled, circling |
| SUKKUH | same, same like, resembling |
| SUKKUHR’UM | same like, or like him, her, it, them |
| SUKKUS | circus, circuses |
| SUKKUS-PREECHUH | circuit preacher |
| SUMMUCH | so much, so many |
| SUMMUH | summer, summers, summertime |
| SUMP’N’ | something |
| SUMP’N’NURRUH | something or other |
| SUNDOWN | sunset |
| SUNHIGH | late morning, about the middle of the forenoon |
| SUNHOT | sunshine, heat of sun |
| SUNLEAN | period of the day when the sun begins to decline, and its declining: “sunlean fuh down” |
| SUN’UP | sunrise |
| SUPPLOY | supply, supplies, supplied, supplying |
| SUPPUH | supper |
| SUPSHUN | substance, sustenance, strength of food, as of a juicy roast: “Da’ meat hab supshun een’um”that meat has much nourishment |
| SUSSO | say so, says so, said so, saying so (See “sesso”) |
| SUH | so |
| SUTT’N | certain, certainly |
| SUTTINLY | certainly |
| SWALLUH | swallow, swallows, swallowed, swallowing |
| SWALLUHB’UM | swallow, swallows, swallowed, swallowing him, her, it, them |
| SWAWM | swarm, swarms, swarmed, swarming |
| SWAY, | swear, swears, swore, swearing |
| I SWAYTOGAWD | swear to God |
| SWEETH’AA’T | sweetheart, sweethearts |
| SWEETMOUT’ | sweet mouth blarney, flattery |
| SWEETMOUT’ TALK | soft talk of a philanderer with the gentler sex |
| SWELLUP | swelled, swollen up, puffed up with anger, importance or authority |
| SWEET’N | sweeten, sweetens, sweetened, sweetening |
| SWEET’NIN’ | “sweetening” |
| SWIF’ | swift, fast Swimp shrimp, shrimps |
| SWINGE | Singe, singes, singed, singeing |
| SWINK | shrink, shrinks, shrunk, shrinking |
| SWONGUH | “swank,” swagger, swaggering, boastful |
| T | Return to top |
| TAAR (n and v) | tar, tars, tarred, tarring |
| ‘TACK (n and v) | attack, attacks, attacked, attacking |
| ‘TACKTID | attacked (See “attacktid”) |
| TACKLE (n and v) | tackle, tackles, tackled, tackling; arraign, hold accountable |
| ‘TAGUHNIZE | antagonize, antagonizes, antagonized, antagonizing; arraign, arraigned, etc. |
| ‘TAIL (n and v) | entail, entails, entailed, entailing |
| ‘TAKE (n and v) | stake, stakes, staked staking |
| TALK’UM | talk, talks, talked, talking; talking it, speak out, etc |
| TALLUH | tallow |
| TALLYGRAF (n and v) | telegraph, telegraphs, telegraphed, telegraphing; telegram, telegrams |
| ‘TAN’ | stand, stands, stood, standing |
| ‘TAN’UP | stand, stands, stood, standing up |
| ‘TARRYGATE | interrogate, interrogates, interrogated, interrogating; question, questioned, etc. |
| TARRYPIN | terrapin, terrapins |
| TARRIFY | terrify, terrifies, terrified, terrifying |
| TARRUH | t’other, the other |
| TAS’ | task a measure of distance as well as of area: 105 feet or 105 feet square |
| TAS’E | taste, tastes, tasted, tasting |
| TAS’E ‘E MOUT’ | put a taste in his, her or their mouth or mouths; meaning something appetizing to eat |
| T’AW’T (n and v) | thought, thoughts |
| ‘TAY | stay, stays, stayed, staying |
| TAYRE | tear, tears, tore, tearing |
| TAYRE’UM | tear, tears, tore, tearing him, her, it, them |
| TEDAY | today |
| TEET’ | tooth, teeth |
| TEET’ACHE | toothache |
| TEK | take, takes, took, taken, faking |
| TEK’CARE | takecare |
| TEK’ESELF | take, takes, took, taking himself, herself, itself, themselves |
| TEK ME FOOT EEN ME HAN’ | “tek him foot een ‘e han”‘Took my foot in my hand, took his or her foot or their feet in his, her, or their hand or handsmeaning hastened, hurried, speeded up |
| TEK’UM | take, took, taken him, it, them |
| TEK’WAY | take, takes, took, taking away |
| TEK WID’UM | taken with, pleased with him, her, it, them |
| ‘TELL | till, until |
| TELL’UM | tell, tells, telling, told him, her, it, them |
| ‘TEN’ | attend, attends, attended, attending; intend, intends, etc. |
| TENDUH | tender |
| T’ENGKFUL | thankful |
| T’ENGK’GAWD | thank God!thank, thanks, thanked, thanking God |
| T’ENGKY | thank you |
| T’NIGHT | tonight |
| ‘TENSHUN | attention |
| ‘TENSHUN | intention |
| TEP (n and v) | step, steps, stepped, stepping |
| TETCH (n and v) | touch, touches, touched, touching Also a remnant, as: “T’engk Gawd, ‘e lef’ uh leetle tetch een de bottle” |
| TETCH’UM | touch, touches, touched, touching him, her, it, them |
| ‘TETTUH | potato, potatoes usually sweet |
| T’ICK | thick |
| ‘TICK (n and v) | stick, sticks, stuck, sticking |
| T’ICKIT | thicket, thickets |
| ‘TICKLUH (n and v) | particular, particulars |
| T’ICKNESS | thickness, thicknesses |
| ‘TICKY | sticky |
| T’IEF (n and v) | thief, thieves; steal, steals, stole, stolen, stealing “T’ief iz bad, but t’ief en’ ketch iz de debble”It is bad to steal, but to steal and be caught is worse |
| T’IEFIN’ | thieving |
| TIE’UM | tie, ties, tied, tying him, her, it, them |
| TIE UP ‘E MOUT’ | tie, ties, tied, tying up his, her, or their mouth or mouths; meaning held his, her, or their speech |
| T’ING | thing, things |
| ‘TING | stirig, stings, stung, stinging |
| T’INK | think, thinks, thought, thinking |
| T’IRTEEN | thirteen |
| T’IRTY | thirty |
| T’lSTLE | thistle, thistles |
| TITTUH | sister, sisters (informal) |
| TODDUH | the other, t’other, the others |
| ‘TOOP | stoop, stoops, stooped, stooping |
| TOOT’ | tooth, teeth |
| ‘TOP | stop, stops, stopped, stopping |
| ‘TOOPUH | on, on top of |
| ‘T’ORUHTY | authority |
| TOTE | “tote”carry, carries, carried, carrying |
| T’OUZ’N | thousand |
| TOWN | Charleston, “the City” (See “Chaa’stun”) |
| TRABBLE | travel, travels, traveled, traveling |
| ‘TRAIGHT | straight |
| ‘TRAIGHT’N | straighten, straightens, straightened, straightening “‘Traight’n fuh” straighten for, to hurry or extend oneself for a certain point |
| ‘TRANGLE | strangle, strangles, strangled, strangling |
| T’RASH | thrash, thrashes, thrashed, thrashing; thresh, threshed, etc. |
| T’RASHUH | thrasher, thrashers; thresher, threshers |
| TREDJUH | treasure, treasures |
| TREDJURUH | treasurer, treasurers |
| TREE (V) | tree, trees, treed, treeing |
| T’REE | rarely “stree”three |
| T’REETIME | three times |
| ‘TRETCH | stretch, stretches, stretched, stretching “ |
| T’RETCHOUT | Streten out |
| ‘TRIKE | strike, strikes, struck, striking |
| TRIMBLE | tremble, trembles, trembled |
| ‘TRING | string, strings, strling, stringing; “‘tringbean”string or snapbeans |
| T’ROAT | throat, throats |
| T’ROW | throw, throws, threw, thrown, throwing |
| T’ROWBONE | throw “bones” (dice) play craps |
| T’HOW’D | threw, thrown |
| T’ROW WAY | throw, throws, threw, throwing, thrown away |
| TRUBBLE (n and v) | trouble, troubles, troubled, troubling |
| TRUS’ (n and v) | trust, trusts, trusted, trusting |
| TRUTE | truth |
| TRUTEMOUT’ | truthmouthone who will not lie |
| TRYBUNUL | tribunal, tribunals |
| TUCKREY | turkey, turkeys |
| TUHBACKUH | tobacco |
| TUH DAT | to that |
| TUHGEDDUH | together |
| TUHRECKLY | directly |
| TUHR’UM | to him, her, it, them |
| TUK | took |
| TUMMUCH | too much, intensely, ardently, fervently |
| ‘TUMP (n and v) | stump, stumps; stump, stumps, stumped, stumping |
| ‘TUMPSUCKUH | stumpsiicker, a cribsucking horse or mule |
| TU’N (n and v) | turn, turns, turned, turning |
| T’UNDUH (n and v) | thunder, thunders, thundered, thundering |
| TU’NFLOUR | turned flour, scalded corn meal, mush or porridge; same as Italian polenta |
| TU’NUP | turnip, turnips |
| TU’N UP | turn, turns, turned, turning up |
| TUP’NTINE | turpentine |
| T’URSD’Y | Thursday |
| TWELB’ | twelve |
| TWIS’ (n and v) | twist, twists, twisted, twisting |
| TWIS’MOUT’ | twist mouth twistmouthed |
| TWIS’UP | twist or twisted up |
| TOW CHUESDAY, Two T’URSDAY, etc. | the second Tuesday or the second Thursday in the month |
| TWO PLACE | second place, in the second place |
| TWO TIME | two times, twice |
| TWOT’REE | two or three |
| U | Return to top |
| UHHEAD | ahead |
| UHHEAD’UH | ahead of |
| UHLLY | early UM him , her, it, them |
| UP TUH DE NOTCH | Up to the notch to the Queen’s taste, perfect |
| US | we, our |
| USE’N | used to be, in the habit of |
| USETUH! | used to, accustomed to |
| W | Return to top |
| WAAGIN | wagon, wagons |
| WAA’MENT | “varniint, varmints,” destructive animals or birds |
| WADMUHLAW | Wadmalaw: an island of the Carolina coast |
| WAH | war |
| WAIS’ | waist, waists |
| WANTUH | want to, wants to, wanted to, wanting to |
| WARRUH | what, what is that |
| W’ARY | weary |
| WAS’E | waste, wastes, wasted, wasting |
| WASHUP | worship (religious) |
| WATUHMILYUN | watermeloia, watermelons |
| WAWN (n and v) | warn, warns, warned, warning |
| WAWSS’ | wasp, wasps |
| WAWSS’NES’ | wasp nest |
| WE | our, us |
| W’EAT | wheat |
| W’EATFLOUR | flour, wheatflour |
| W’EDDUH | whether |
| WEDDUH | weather, weather; to rain or storm |
| WEDD’N’ | wedding, weddings |
| WEEKDAY | a week day |
| W’EEL (n and v) | wheel, wheels, wheeled, wheeling |
| W’EELBARRUH | wheelbarrow, wheelbarrows |
| WEGITUBBLE | vegetable, vegetables |
| WEH | where |
| WEHR’AS | whereas |
| WEHREBBUH | wherever |
| W’ENEBBUH | whenever |
| W’ENSD’Y | Wednesday |
| WE’OWN | our own, our; |
| WERRY | very |
| WE’SELF | ourselves |
| WESKIT | waistcoat, waistcoats |
| WHOEBBUN | whoever |
| WICTORIA | Victoria also victorious |
| ‘WlCE | advice, advices |
| W’ICH ,N | which |
| W’ICH EN W’Y | which and why as: “W’ich en’ w’y talk’ contradictory talk |
| WICKIT | wicked, wickedness |
| WID | with |
| WIDDUH | widow, widows |
| WIDT’ | width, widths |
| W’ILE | while, awhile |
| WlL’CAT | wild cat, the baylynx of the Southern swamps |
| WIN’ (n and v) | wind, winds; wind, winded winding |
| WIN’ (n and v) | wind, winds, wound, winded |
| WINE | vine |
| WINEGUH | vinegar |
| ‘WISE | advise, advises |
| WISH DE TIME UH DAY | pass de time uh day”a salutation, greeting |
| WISIT (n and v) | visit, visits, visited, visiting |
| W’ISKEY | whiskey |
| WITCH | witch, witches |
| ‘WITCH | bewitch, bewitches, bewitched, bewitching |
| W’ITE | white |
| WOICE | voice, voices |
| WU’D | word, words |
| WUDDUH DA’ | what is that |
| WUFFUH | what for, why |
| WUH | what, that |
| WUHEBBUH | whatever |
| WU’K (n and v) | work, works, worked, working |
| WU’LL’ | world, worlds |
| WUNDUH (n and v) | wonder, wonders, wondered, wondering |
| WUNT | won’t, will not |
| WURRUM | worm, worms |
| WUS’DEN’EBBUH | worse than ever Wuss worse, worst |
| WUSSUH | worse |
| WUT’ | worth, is worth, was worth, etc “Ent wut”‘a disparaging characterization Wuz was |
| W’YMEKSO | what makes it so, why |
| Y | Return to top |
| YAA’D | yard, yards |
| YAA’N | yarn, yarns |
| YAAS | yes |
| YAAS’SUH | yessir |
| YALLUH | yellow |
| YALLUH YAM | yellow yam a variety of sweet potato |
| YANDUH | yonder |
| YEAH | ear, ears (corn or other grain) ; also year, years |
| YEARIN’ | hearing |
| YEDDY | hear, hears, heard, hearing |
| YERRY YEDDY’UM | hear, hears, heard, or hearing him, her, it, them |
| YELLIN’ | yearling, yearlings |
| YENT | (ent) ain’t, is not, are not; so pronounced when preceded by a soft vowel sound |
| YEYE | eye, eyes; so pronounced when preceded by a soft vowel sound ” ‘E yeye red”his or her eyes are bloodshot with anger |
| YEZ | ear, ears (human or animal) |
| YISTIDDY | yesterday Yiz is; so pronounced when preceded by a soft vowel sound |
| YO | your, yours |
| YOU’OWN | your own, yours |
| YUH | here |
| YUH HIM | here he, she, it is, or they are |
| Z | Return to top |
| ‘ZACKLY | exactly (See “puhzackly”) |
| ‘ZAMMIN’ | examine, examines, examined, examining; question, questioned, etc. |
| ‘ZYD’N | presiding; as: “‘Zyd’n’ elduh’presiding elder. |
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