Ottawa Valley to English Dictionary

[ottawavalley2english]

Gurbadge

(guh-er-bah-juh)

English: Garbage

Definition: (noun) Unwanted refuse; the container for refuse.

Example: The strawburies have gone bad, throw ‘em in the gurbadge.

[ottawavalley2english]

Alls

(aullz)

English: All that

Definition: (pronoun) Referring to the extent that something must be done.

Example: Alls you have to do is turn the handle to the right. 

[ottawavalley2english]

Crick

(Kuh-rik)

English: Creek

Definition: (noun) A small river or a stream.

Example: I tried to jump the crick but ended up with a soaker.

[ottawavalley2english]

Jeeze

(juh-eez)

English: Jesus

Definition: (interjection) Abbreviation of a mild exclamatory word meant to convey surprise or annoyance.

Example: Oh, jeeze, the tire blew; we gotta call a tow bus.

[ottawavalley2english]

Smorn

(suh-mo-run)

English: This morning

Definition: (phrase, noun) A time of day; the early part of day.

Example: I’d rather stay in bed then go to work smorn.

[ottawavalley2english]

By the liftin’

(buhy tha leh-ff-ten)

English: Oh my goodness; oh my god

Definition: (phrase, interjection)  An exclamatory phrase used to express surprise or disbelief.

Example: I looked everywhere for the keys, then by the liftin’, there they were in the couch!

[ottawavalley2english]

Are you listening?

Have yous guys been listening to “Someone Knows Something”?

Well you should!  It’s a story that takes place in our very own Ottawa Valley, about an Armprior boy who went missing in 1972.

If you aren’t already listening, go to the website: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/sks

Armprior native, David Ridgen, is a great storyteller, reminds me of the way my grampa used to tell stories.  It’s only 7 episodes in, so easy to catch up!

-N.O

[ottawavalley2english]

Blowna

(buh-lo-nah)

English: Bologna

Definition: (noun) A finely ground pork sausage made with lard. Eaten cold as a deli meat.  Often used for sandwiches.

Example: Can I have a blowna sandwich for lunch?

[ottawavalley2english]

Caneda

(Kayn-duh)

English: Kind of; Kinda

Definition: (adverb)  To a moderate degree; somewhat.

Example:  I caneda want to go mudding tonight.

[ottawavalley2english]

Arsehull

(Ar-suh-huh-ol)

English: (noun) Asshole

Definition: Expletive referring to a person (or animal or object) as a jerk.

Example: That arsehull drunk the last beer!

[ottawavalley2english]

Journally

(jer-nah-lee)

English: Generally 

Definition: (adverb) In most cases; usually.

Example: I journally let the wife warsh the dishes.

[ottawavalley2english]

Wadder

(Wah-der)

English: Water

Definition: (Noun)  Clear liquid made of hydrogen and oxygen (H2O), essential for all life.

Example: I’m thirsty, grab me a glass of wadder.                 I’m just heading down to the wadder to toss a few casts.

[ottawavalley2english]

Tow Bus

(tuh-oh buh-ss)

English: Tow Truck

Definition: (noun) a truck used to tow or pick up damaged or disabled vehicles.

Example: Did yous call da tow-bus?

[ottawavalley2english]

New Additions and Edits!

G’day G’day yous guys!

Finally I’m putting up new words.  Currently its going to be about every second day until I run out of submissions or words I remember!

ALSO: I have added a new tag in the Blog Tools list: Edits.  This is where you will find edits to definitions.  So if you’ve sent me a submission but you haven’t seen it up, check the edits, it may have already been a word and I’ve decided to add to it.  That will just be updated as I find stuff to edit.

Keep sending me words, and your lovely family stories!  I love hearing from youse!

-N.O.

[ottawavalley2english]

Prolly

(prawh-lee)

English: Probably

Definition: (adverb) most certainly; will likely.

Example: I think I’ll prolly just head home after the dance.

[ottawavalley2english]

Hello Newcomers!

Recently, I’ve received a huge amount of submissions in a very short time so I am working on putting more words up.  In the mean time, if you could answer this super quick poll for me that would be fantastic!

Thank you everyone for your interest!

-N.O.

[ottawavalley2english]

none of us talk like this.... you're probably not even from here.

Actually a great deal of us speak this way, we just don’t always notice it because it is so normal for us. Over half of the words I have posted are submissions from other people.  Most of them, when I receive them, come with stories about family members and friends saying these very words and getting noticed for it outside the Ottawa Valley. Quite often because of our twang people can tell where we are from.  A lot of the speech comes from the older generation. As we are all fairly aware, the younger generation is almost completely different linguistically, but now and then our old idioms slip in.And though it is true we all don’t talk like this all the time, I will have you notice that this is satire.

Come on down to Armprior sometime, I’d be glad to point out some of that good ol’ Valley twang for you!

-N.O.