Greetings
Whaddayat?
Used as a greeting similar to “What are you up to?” or “How’s it going?”
Dissisit.
Used in response to “Whaddayat?” to mean “Not a whole lot” or “Just fine.”
Where do you belong?
Used to inquire as to where someone was raised. Alternatively, "Where you from?"
How ya gettin’ on?
A greeting to ask “How are you?” or “How’s it going?”
Best kind, b’y.
Used in response to “How ya gettin’ on?” to mean “Great” or “Couldn’t be better.”
Insults, Derogations, and Rebukes
He’s so skinny you can see the sins on his soul.
Used to remark upon someone’s body size. Antonym: "He’s sure handy with a fork and knife."
Who knit ya?
Used to ask about someone’s family heritage or who their parents are; also a derogatory reference alleging insufficient qualities to have been born. For the latter case, alternatively, “Who knit ya at’ll? Whoever it was dropped a stitch.”
Didn’t get past the porch
Used to describe an unsuccessful undertaking.
If you scald your arse, you’ll have to sit on your blisters.
An important life lesson, used to remind the listener that one must suffer the consequences of inappropriate actions.
Sleeveen
Time, Weather, and the Natural World
Duckish
Dusk, between sunset and nighttime. The last light of the day.
The once
Shortly, right away, very soon.
Some/Right
Similar to the term very, used to describe how much something is. For example, "right cold" is colder than "some cold."
Mauzy
Flanker
Slob
Ice particles in the ocean.
Tuckamore
Coniferous tree growth, stunted and deformed by strong winds and sea spray.
Splittin' the rocks
Hot, beautiful, sunny weather. A perfect summer's day.
Body Parts & Movements
Kingcorn
The Adam’s apple of a man’s throat.
Dunch
A loss of sensation in the backside from sitting too long, as in “My arse is dunch!”
Swarve
To wander aimlessly with no clear sense of direction.
A scuff and a scoff
Special Expressions
Come from away
Everyone who’s not a Newfoundlander is called a come from away, sometimes shortened to CFA.
Right off the Kyle
Brand new; the Kyle was a vessel which distributed goods to remote Newfoundland and Labrador outports.
Yes, b’y!
Used as an agreement or an enthusiastic endorsement.
I dies at ya.
