How to talk Texan

If you’re like me, you pick up accents with alarming ease.

Back in college while studying abroad in London, I’d frequently find myself reverting into an accent my friends liked to call The Mary Poppins. And during my first job, I’d call up the home office in Buffalo and for the rest of the day find myself using round O’s and unfamiliar phrases like “yous guys.”

So it was no surprise that I quickly learned to speak Texan when I moved to the Lonestar State. Y’all now trips off the tongue and I’ve even caught myself calling people folks in everyday conversation.

It is a language unto itself and this became especially apparent when my step-mom gave me a book for Christmas called Speak Texan in 30 seconds or less.

In general, the Texas drawl is characterized by a slow elongation to words, an accent on the first syllable and often one more syllable than in other regions. For example:

Common Words
MAWul - Big thing, with shops and eating places; teenage girls, especially, love hanging out in them
WEEyun – Opposite of lose
FIEyure – Produced by flames; sometimes used in expression of surprise, as in “SHEoot FIEyure!”
BAWul – Round thing, often thrown
EYESbawks – Cold storage place where things are kept so they won’t get spoilt

Common Phrases and their Meanings
Whuryat – A query as to someone’s location
Fixinto – Action is forthcoming shortly, as in “I’m fixinto eat some barbecue”
How’syamomandthem? – Is your family doing well?
Y’allcomeback,heah? – We hope to see you again soon!

A few more words of wisdom gleaned from the book: If a Texan tells you you’re dumber than dirt, ugly as homemade soap or tighter than bark on a tree, you probably didn’t make a good first impression. If he calls you quick as a hiccup or wolverine mean, thank him and shake the man’s hand. Happy drawlin’…

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