Florida-isms is our monthly attempt to educate our visitors from the north about our language, expressions and sayings. There are some expressions unique to Florida and the South; learning what they mean will make your visit more enjoyable and your speech more colorful.
Let’s start with a vocabulary lesson.
Florida Cracker: A white NATIVE BORN Floridian, usually with pre-civil war Floridian ancestry. Sometimes used in a derogatory manner, however a true Floridian is proud of his ancestry and not offended.
Like: “You like to have scared me to death.” or “I like to have fell off the roof.”
Might Could: “I might could of made a potato salad.” or”I might could of done that when I was younger.”
Fixin: “ I was fixin to go to the store, need anything?” or “He is fixin to eat.”
Here’s how to tell if someone is a Native Floridian:
They know that a hammock is a wooded area, not a sling bed.
You have to explain to people from Indiana that mangoes are not bell peppers.
Fertilizing your lawn is a form of mental illness. Why you don’t even have a lawn you have a yard.
We hope you enjoyed your lesson; do any of you use these words in this way? See you next month with more Florida-isms.
