BeantowmBlog

  • “The Wicked Pissah Guide to the Boston Accent: Because ‘Car’ Has Only One Syllable”

     Ah, the Boston accent, a linguistic phenomenon that simultaneously baffles and amuses the rest of the country. As if Bostonians didn’t have enough to be proud of with their sports teams and rich history, they also possess a dialect that can make even the most mundane conversations sound like a scene from a Hollywood mob movie. So, grab your Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and prepare to dive headfirst into the world of dropped Rs and elongated vowels. We’re about to unravel the mysteries of the Boston accent, one snarky remark at a time.

     First things first, let’s talk about the letter “R.” You see, in Boston, “R” is an endangered species. It’s like trying to find a parking spot in the city on a Friday night—nearly impossible. If you’re ever in Beantown and someone asks you for directions to “Hahvahd Yahd,” don’t panic. They’re just talking about Harvard Yard, but they’ve decided that “R” is too fancy and have discarded it like yesterday’s clam chowder.

     Now, let’s address the issue of multiple syllables. In Boston, we like to keep things efficient, and that includes our words. Why waste time and energy pronouncing unnecessary syllables when you can condense them into one? Take the word “car,” Title: “The Wicked Pissah Guide to the Boston Accent: Because ‘Car’ Has Only One Syllable”

     Ah, the Boston accent, a linguistic phenomenon that simultaneously baffles and amuses the rest of the country. As if Bostonians didn’t have enough to be proud of with their sports teams and rich history, they also possess a dialect that can make even the most mundane conversations sound like a scene from a Hollywood mob movie. So, grab your Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and prepare to dive headfirst into the world of dropped Rs and elongated vowels. We’re about to unravel the mysteries of the Boston accent, one snarky remark at a time.

     First things first, let’s talk about the letter “R.” You see, in Boston, “R” is an endangered species. It’s like trying to find a parking spot in the city on a Friday night—nearly impossible. If you’re ever in Beantown and someone asks you for directions to “Hahvahd Yahd,” don’t panic. They’re just talking about Harvard Yard, but they’ve decided that “R” is too fancy and have discarded it like yesterday’s clam chowder.

     Now, let’s address the issue of multiple syllables. In Boston, we like to keep things efficient, and that includes our words. Why waste time and energy pronouncing unnecessary syllables when you can condense them into one? Take the word “car,” for example. Most people would think it has two syllables, but not in Boston. Here, we’ve mastered the art of collapsing it into a single syllable, so it sounds more like “cah.” Who needs that second syllable anyway? It’s just slowing us down.

    The Boston accent also has a way of elongating certain vowels to the point where they can be mistaken for musical notes. If you hear someone saying “pahk the cah in Hahvahd Yahd,” don’t be alarmed. They’re simply enjoying the melodic journey of transforming “park” into a multisyllabic extravaganza. It’s like a linguistic rollercoaster ride—except there are no loops, just vowel gymnastics.

     But let’s not forget the unique vocabulary that accompanies the Boston accent. We’ve got words like “wicked,” which means “very” or “extremely” in Bostonian speak. So, if you hear someone say, “That clam chowder is wicked good,” they’re not just being polite; they genuinely believe it’s the most heavenly concoction ever created. And if they call you a “implant” don’t worry—it’s just their way of saying, “You’re not from around here, are ya?”

     The Boston accent is a glorious mishmash of dropped “Rs,” compressed syllables, elongated vowels, and a vocabulary that’s all its own. It’s a linguistic badge of honor, a reminder that we Bostonians are a breed apart. So, next time you find yourself in the land of baked beans and Paul Revere, embrace the quirks of the accent, have a chuckle, and join in the wicked fun. And if you really want to impress the locals, practice saying, “I parked my car in Harvard Yard,” without a hint of hesitation. Good luck with that, my friend. You’re gonna need it.

    . Woosta

    Yes, it’s true I pronounce Worcester, Woosta, I admit I do have a Boston

    accent that fades in and out.While I grew up outside of Boston, I spent most of

    my childhood in Boston with family living there.I developed a Bostonian accent

    that fades in and out, but hey what can I say it makes life more interesting. But

    let’s face it not everyone from Mass has a Boston accent, so yes not everyone

    here pronounces it “funny”.

    Theodysseyonline.com RSS

    Fibonacci Sequence Examples: 7 Beautiful Instances In Nature

    Read More

    2. Chowdah

    Again guilty of saying this, but yes it’s true some of us say chowder, clam

    chowder that is like Chowdah. Rest assured though, it is a funny thing when

    people say it.

    3. Comm Ave.

    You’re all probably wondering, what the, what even is Comm Ave., well I am here

    to tell you that it is only short for Commonwealth Avenue, which is just a long

    street with a bunch of businesses and where you can get to BC (Boston College).

    4. The Pats

    No, I don’t mean patting someone on the back, I mean the football team The

    Patriots. Lets face it us Bostonians are famous for shortening words and not

    pronouncing our r’s, while I can say most of us shorten words, half of us don’t

    pronounce our r’s but half do.Let’s all remember, not everyone has a Boston

    accent, theirs still different parts of the state that has their own accent and slang.

    5. Pissa

    Again, no, I’m not swearing at you, making fun of you or trying to spell the famous

    artist Piccaso. I am literally spelling pissa, which in our own language has a few

    meanings. One meaning good, two being someone who got drunk or three, when

    something goes wrong. Good luck trying to figure it out when you come up here.

    6. Masshole

    I’m sure everyone has heard this term before, but just in case you’re new to this, it

    just means we live in Mass and being an asshole. Yes, it’s true we are known for

    being that way and for being very cold and do it yourself and hold your ground

    but we will protect our own kind of mentality. Which let me just say a lot of us are

    like, but trust me if you’re nice to us we will be nice to you.

    7. No Suh

    I swear, we aren’t that weird, but this one is a little weird I agree, while it’s a

    regular phrase in our family, it just means no way. It’s pretty self explanatory, I’m

    sure we’ve all heard our grandparents use it before.

    8. The Pike

    If you are a resident of Mass, you all know what I’m talking about, it’s talked

    about pretty much everywhere, but if you don’t know it just is slang for the Mass

    Turnpike, which just connects highways.

    9. The Lower End

    All of know this one, I’m almost positive, but it’s just the south side of Boston,

    where the MBTA shuttles are to catch a train.

    10. Packie

    I’m sure you’re all confused and thinking we’re all strange at this point, I swear

    we’re not though, we just get strange terms to use. While I don’t understand

    where this has derived from but it just means a liquor store, while I personally

    have never called it that, a bunch of my older family members use it.

    11. The Sox

    This one, I’m sure anyone can figure out, but if not it’s just stand for the Boston

    Red Sox.

    12. The T

    I’m sure everyone everywhere has different names for their trains, but for us we

    call it The T, which yes I am guilty of calling it, it’s just something I’ve always

    called it, what can I say I’m just used to it.

    13. Taxachusetts

    Pretty self explanatory, probably one of, if not the most known slang of Mass, but

    it just means the taxes are super high and just way to much.

    14. Tonic

    I’m sure anyone here has heard this at some point, it’s something most people

    say, but if you’ve never heard of it or been here, it just means carbonated

    water or seltzer water.

    15. Wicked

    I’m sure by now you’re not shocked at anything we say but you’re probably

    wondering what the heck this one means, but it’s simple or not so simple, it just

    means very.

    16. Wicked Pissa

    Oh yes we use slang terms too, this just means someone very cool, very drunk or

    something very bad has or is happening.The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), commonly known as the “T,” is a public agency
    established in 1964 responsible for operating public transportation services in the Greater Boston area. It is one
    of the oldest and most extensive transit systems in the United States, serving millions of passengers annually. The
    MBTA offers various transportation options, including subway, bus, commuter rail, ferry, and paratransit
    services. The subway system consists of four rapid transit lines: the Red Line, Blue Line, Orange Line, and Green
    Line, connecting Boston and its surrounding neighborhoods. The commuter rail services extend to suburbs and
    outlying areas, with multiple lines connecting various communities to the city center. The MBTA also operates
    an extensive bus network covering a wide geographic area, providing flexible transportation options. The agency
    focuses on sustainability, accessibility, and innovation to meet the changing needs of the region. The MBTA
    plays a crucial role in connecting communities, supporting economic growth, and enhancing the quality oflife
    for residents in Greater Boston.

Get on email list