Regional differences?

[Nick and Nora Charles]

After reading Bufante's reply in the men's haircut thread, when he used the terminology 'cattycorner' I was wondering if anyone else uses 'kittycorner'
like I do?

I have heard both terms used here in Canada, so it can't be a Canadian/USA
thing.

Or is catty pronounced kitty and am I just spelling it wrong?

Nora

[gingele]

Originally Posted by Nick and Nora Charles

After reading Bufante's reply in the men's haircut thread, when he used the terminology 'cattycorner' I was wondering if anyone else uses 'kittycorner'
like I do?

I have heard both terms used here in Canada, so it can't be a Canadian/USA
thing.

Or is catty pronounced kitty and am I just spelling it wrong?

Nora

It's kittycorner 'round these parts.


Over there in I-oh-way they have an odd way of turning a phrase.

[bufante]

Um, I am very challenged when it comes to English language...

But since you brought it up, Sarah and I have these discussions all the time, because I think she says things weird. In stead of saying 32 (thirty two) she will say thirty couple! ha.

I grew up saying soda and when I moved here, they say pop.

[Lulu]

I have, on occasion, told someone it was 5 after 3:30.

[Nick and Nora Charles]

Originally Posted by Lulu

I have, on occasion, told someone it was 5 after 3:30.

And that would have been 5 after 3:30AM

Nora

[banzoomba]

We use both kitty and catty corner.............and its soda here

but we call everyone hon (short for honey) even strangers.......walk in any store and you will be greated with "how ya doin Hon"

[bufante]

Originally Posted by gingele

It's kittycorner 'round these parts.


Over there in I-oh-way they have an odd way of turning a phrase.

I was not born here, nor really raised here...I would venture to say based on my travels that the East coast has way more weird phrases then I-oh-way!

[Sideways]

Kitty Korner........Kalifornia Duuuude!

[Nick and Nora Charles]

Originally Posted by banzoomba

We use both kitty and catty corner.............and its soda here

but we call everyone hon (short for honey) even strangers.......walk in any store and you will be with "how ya doin Hon"

Well I think I prefer that, than, what all the young waiters/waitresses/salespeople here have been
calling us "you guys"

Nora

[Lulu]

Originally Posted by Nick and Nora Charles

And that would have been 5 after 3:30AM

Nora

[Lulu]

Regarding "kitty" vs. "catty", I've always used cattycorner... I don't think I've heard anyone use kittycorner until now...

[TAPPY]

Catty corner.

[Eccentrictinkerer]

Up here in Minnesota it's kittycorner. In my travels I've heard the term "cattercorner", also.

Down in Macomb, IL, about 1965, I was told that my customers' store was 'cattywampus across the square and down the hard road a piece'.

I never did figure out if they were funnin' me!

Here, a drinking fountain is known as a 'drinking fountain'. But, 200 miles east of us in Wisconsin, it's called a 'bubbler'.

[Ginger]

kittycorner up here. Cattycorner would be where all the ladies get together to spread the gossip.

It's pop up here, too.

Oh, and we call it the washroom, not restroom. Which really, is closer to the meaning if you ask me...you do more washing, than resting in there, right?

[SUNBABY]

cattycorner and cattywhompus.

[MWC]

Catty corner in Connecticut.


What's a large deli sandwich called in your area?
Hoagie?
Sub?
Hero?

Grinder where I live.

[alwaysmissinpdc]

Cattycorner, but I've heard kittycorner.

I spent the better part of my 20's in South Jersey & New York. While acquiring some new accents, like pronoucing the word shopping with a nearly erotic accent I worked hard to rid myself of some western Pennsylvania-isms....

Younz - steel region version of y'all

Gum - not only something you chew to freshen your breath, it is a catch all word for anything made of elastic or rubber. Gum waisted pants. Gum bands.

Shortening sentences to a level of incomprehensibility: Did you eat yet?....Did ya eat yet?.... = jaeetjet? I still don't enunciate clearly and probably never will.

I will still occasionally say, "Red up" instead of "Straigten up" or "Tidy up."

Regional language differences are interesting. I might start referring to the water cooler as the "bubbler." I love the Brit word for the trunk of a car. Boot just sounds better.

[alwaysmissinpdc]

Originally Posted by SUNBABY

cattycorner and cattywhompus.

So whompus = corner? Does that only apply when used with catty, or can I use whompus as a substitute for corner in every instance? Texas is on the retirement list, I might as well learn.