What did he say?

Newfoundlanders or Newfies are well know for their strong accent and unique sayings. I've gathered up a few of what I beleive to be the most common. Slang and sayings vary from town to town so some of the following may be different depending on your location.

‘ow she getting on b'ys?  - How are things going or how are you doing?

Mind your mouth now - Be careful  of what your saying

Oh me nerves! – Oh my! Or Oh my gosh! Typically said when someone get you rifled up

You’re as slow as cold molasses - you’re really slow

Stay where ure at till I comes where ur to – stay there until I get there

Shut up ya prate! – be quiet!

R one? - said between fishermen, asking did you catch any fish

Nar one -  the response given when asked if you catch any fish

Where are you going me son - where are you going?

Going for a boil up - going to have a cook up on the beach

Holy catfish! - Holy crap or holy cow

Thick as pea soup - visibility is poor. Usually refering to fog

Scuff and scoff - Dance and a dinner

Long may your big Jib draw - A good wish for the future, wishing you good luck

Yur stund as me arse - your not too bright

Yur too big for your britches- your too full of yourself

I allows - sarcastic way of saying "yeah right" or "sure"

Newfoundland pitcher plant. Photo from: www.downhomelife.com

Here are some words you may have never heard of before:

Barmp - to honk your horn

Barrisway - a lagoon or pond

Chummy - equivelent to "thing"

B’y – buddy or the newfie equivalent of ‘Eh’

Lun - shelter from the win

Bonnet - hood of a car

Stage - a shed or work area by the water

Sunker - a rock just barley under the water. A hazard to boats

Dunch bread - bread that didn't rise

Clumpers - pans of ice

 Reckly - soon or later

Stages by the water.  Photo from: hockeyindependent.com

Until next time me duckies!

Welcome to Newfoundland!

Throughout this blog, I'll be posting twice a week on things unique to Newfoundland, it's culture and the people who live there. Things from the Newfoundland pony to jigs dinner and everything in between! I'll also be clearing up any misconceptions related to Newfoundland so feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or any ideas you'd like me to cover. All I ask is that your polite about it.

To start us off, just a little bit of history. Then we'll get into the good stuff!

On March 1st, 1949, the island of Newfoundland joined Canada. Newfoundland is part of the province Newfoundland and Labrador and is also the furthest eastern province in Canada. It was first just a summer fishing port and was illegal for people to live there all year around until 1610. Its founders were mostly Irish who came over because of the potato famine. But there were also a lot of English, French, Portuguese, Scottish, and Native people who lived there prior to the Irish arriving. Of course, now all Newfoundlanders have a bit of each somewhere in their family history.

Newfoundland was settled on the industry of fishing. Being an island in the ocean, fish were abundant. However, years of over fishing has caused the main work force to suffer dramatically, and therefore, alot of people have moved away to the main land to find work.

Signal Hill overlooking St John's. Photo from: www.legendtours.ca

The capitol of Newfoundland is St. John's. Not to be confused with St Johns, New Brunswick. Mind the apostrophe at the end. Another famous place would be Signal Hill, located in St John's where the first transatlantic wireless transmission was received from Cornwall, UK on December 12th, 1901.

Hopefully you've learned a little bit about the history of Newfoundland and are looking forward to some other newfie tid bits! Until the next time me duckies!