Growing up in Alabama, you learn a lot of new phrases that no one else does! You don’t realize it till you travel out of the state, but Alabama basically has their own language. Here’s just a few of my favorite phrases:

“Someone opened up the flood gates”

Since Alabama is composed mostly of small towns and backroads, we aren’t used to a lot of heavy traffic unless it’s caused by a tractor. Due to this, we had to come up with a phrase to describe just how frustrating it is to get stuck in traffic, and so began “someone opened up the flood gates”!

“flitterdeedee”

Actual substitute for a cuss word. Not sure on the actual spelling of this, as when I asked my mamma she said “I don’t know I say it not spell it” so my apologies, but this is used all the time! Whether you’re apple pie didn’t turn out or your favorite team (War Eagle) dropped the ball on the winning touchdown, “flitterdeedee” is the perfect one word phrase to explain just how you feel!

“Pardon my french”

The funniest part of this is that the people who usually say this probably defiantly don’t know French. Most of the time they aren’t even cussing, just saying something just improper or mean. For example, “Well pardon my French but I just don’t like her”

“tarnation”

We’ve all seen the meme of the cute dog with a hat saying “What in Tarnation” but most older people aren’t joking when they it. Mostly aimed towards millennials who are acting like fools in their eyes.

“Over Yonder”

Across town or another state? This isn’t an actual unit of measure, but it’s sure used like one down here! “Yeah you go up yonder past the stop sign and hang a right”

“Somebody is hammered down”

No, they aren’t drunk. This is ultimately describing someone going to way too fast and I hear it too many times while my mamma is in the car with me.