14 Words You’ll Understand If You’re From Delaware

Stuck in between Philadelphia and east of the Mason-Dixon line (yes, east), Delawareans have quite a mashup of northern and southern slang and pronunciations.  It kind of reminds us of the Osmond song, "A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock 'N Roll." And, while we're not sure Delaware is big enough to warrant its own vocabulary, or that these are unique only to Delaware, here are some words, phrases and terms that we've heard around the state that we're hoping you/you guys/y'all will understand. Do any of these Delaware words surprise you? How many, if any, did you hear growing up?

1. Baggin' up

Cracking up or laughing. As in, "I was baggin' up when she told me that joke."

2. Crick

A creek or stream. Little Creek (Crick) is the name of a small town outside of Dover.

3. Wooder

Water. Either works to describe the wet stuff.

4. The beach

The entire coastal region, not just where you put your feet on the sand.

6. Slower, lower

The area of Delaware below the C & D Canal, primarily Kent and Sussex Counties.

6. Scrapple

MMMM. Porky goodness enjoyed in loaf form for breakfast that includes erything except the oink.

7. Milfurt (also Seafurt)

Also known as Milford (or Seaford). A lot of Delawarenas are known to exchange 'd' at the end of a word to a 't'.

8. Clay-in

And just like we add ts on the end of words, sometimes we take them out. The town of Clayton turns into the town of Clay-in.

9. Spicket

Another word for spigot or faucet.

10. Beggle

Bagel, but without the long 'a.'

11. Toad choker / frog strangler

A heavy downpour or a bad storm.

12. That-a-way / that-a-ways

Over there or over in that direction.

13. Buck wild

To go crazy. We said it before a television show on MTV made it popular.

14. Sub

A deli sandwich on a long bun. You don't order a hoagie, or a grinder; you order a sub.

We know there are other words that are used throughout the state, mostly said by grandmothers, grandfathers and great aunts and uncles. What are your favorites?