klmama Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I'm not even sure how to spell it, but it's pronounced the same as "use" and means the same as "y'all." You plural. Where do people say this? I thought it was just used in the eastern US, but I recently heard someone from Michigan say it. Is it common in Michigan? Where else is it used? Where did it come from originally - some particular nationality of origin? Thanks for any info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 (edited) It's used in Scotland. ETA: also in Ireland. Laura Edited June 23, 2009 by Laura Corin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 (edited) I'm not even sure how to spell it, but it's pronounced the same as "use" and means the same as "y'all." You plural. Where do people say this? I thought it was just used in the eastern US, but I recently heard someone from Michigan say it. Is it common in Michigan? Where else is it used? Where did it come from originally - some particular nationality of origin? Thanks for any info! New York City. ;) I'm not sure, but I want to say it started in Brooklyn. :) At least is sounds to me like a Brooklyn word. :) edit: I googled it and it says that it is used in New York and South Philly to mean plural "you". :) Edited June 23, 2009 by Ibbygirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Good gracious! I thought that was an Australian specific slang term! !! Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 It's used in Scotland. ETA: also in Ireland. Laura i was just going to post Ireland! When I first heard it so many years ago, I thought they were making fun of some Americans. Turns out not. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelaNYC Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Yep. We say that here in NYC, as in: "Youse-guys over there". Although sometimes it's more pronounced here as "yiz". It's very common to hear this: "So, are both-a-yiz goin', or just one-a-yiz?." :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Yep. We say that here in NYC, as in: "Youse-guys over there". Although sometimes it's more pronounced here as "yiz". It's very common to hear this: "So, are both-a-yiz goin', or just one-a-yiz?." :D Ah, we spell that "ya's" Heheh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Our next door neighbor is from Chicago and he says that. I find it endearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I always thought that it was from New Joisey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 (edited) My Grandma used to say "youse"...she was 100% German; her parents immigrated from Stuttgart in 1900 and went straight to Seattle after landing in New York City. Grandma was born in 1904 in Seattle. She was married to an 100% Irishman, so maybe she picked it up from him. The Seattle neighborhood they lived in was multi-ethnic: mainly Italian, but also Poles, Japanese and other Germans. Who knows where it came from! Edited June 23, 2009 by BikeBookBread just thought of more info... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneC Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I thought it originated in Ireland. It's definitely used in parts of Australia though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Wow!! I had NO IDEA that it was used outside of New England. You truly do learn something new everyday. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momsquared Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Chicago Irish and Italians and "The Sopranos" LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 It's EXTREMELY common by natives here in South Central PA (Gettysburg/York area) - most of whom are of German descent. We've been here 13 years and I still haven't gotten used to it - even though we hear it practically daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I live near Boston and I hear people say youse from time to time. They are from here. I say it myself sometimes, as a result of picking it up from a friend of mine. Maybe the people here who use that word have parents who are from away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 My mom who grew up in S. Illinois says youse also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fivetails Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Prince Edward Island :) - *everyone* says it. (That's where we're from) Not sure about the rest of the maritimes.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggy in Va Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I always thought that it was from New Joisey. :lol: Yep, my dh is from "Joisey" and for the longest time said youes (however the heck you spell it). I on the other hand always use proper English and say y'all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I have always lived in the South and have never heard "youse" unless I was far, far away from home.:001_smile: Here in Western North Carolina they say "You-uns" for the plural of you. I had never heard that growing up in Florida. I use proper english like Peggy and say ya'll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I grew up in Texas, where the second person plural is most commonly "you all" (with contraction to "ya'll"), and the second most common form is "you guys" (the "se" fell off when people moved to Texas, I guess !) "You guys" must have been common in Houston, because it is part of my reflexive, everyday speech. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 My dad was a foster child when he was younger, and lived with a German family, so I'm guessing that's where he learned it. I never heard anyone else in his family say it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 It's EXTREMELY common by natives here in South Central PA (Gettysburg/York area) - most of whom are of German descent. We've been here 13 years and I still haven't gotten used to it - even though we hear it practically daily. I grew up in South Central PA and heard it all the time. Now that I live in the western half of the state, I tend to hear "yinz." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockermom Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I grew up in South Central PA and heard it all the time. Now that I live in the western half of the state, I tend to hear "yinz." "yinz" is quite similar to the southern "y'uns" I like most of our colloquialisms.. the only one I can't stand is "yourn" (i.e. is them taters mine or yourn?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 New England?! Seriously? I have lived in New England my entire life (ok minus these last 2 years, but I still live very close) and I have NEVER heard anyone say that. Where in New England? I second my shock on that one - I've lived here in New England (well, MA) my whole life and I've never heard "youse" - here we use "you guys" for the plural of you. :001_smile: I've always thought of "youse" as something from NY or NJ too. English is most definitely in need of a real 2nd person plural. Grammar loves a vacuum! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Well, I always thought that it was how you tell the Yankees from the Southerners. The lawyer in My Cousin Vinny uses youse. He also pronounces youths, yoots. I being a proper, southern belle always say ya'll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Ugh! :scared: Am I the only one that is cringing? Please tell me you are just talking about slang, not true grammar? I mean, if someone is writing a formal letter or paper, they would use "you" or "they" to imply more than one, no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannie in NJ Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 here in South Jersey or Down the Shore, we say you guys even to females. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Of course we don't write these terms in "formal English." For normal use, however, (meaning everyday speech), the English language is deficient because it lacks a discernible second person plural. One simply must remedy the lack, and these are two common ways of so doing. I would call it "practical grammar" ! :) Ugh! :scared: Am I the only one that is cringing? Please tell me you are just talking about slang, not true grammar? I mean, if someone is writing a formal letter or paper, they would use "you" or "they" to imply more than one, no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erica in PA Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 It's EXTREMELY common by natives here in South Central PA (Gettysburg/York area) - most of whom are of German descent. We've been here 13 years and I still haven't gotten used to it - even though we hear it practically daily. I'm in York, PA, and I hear it a lot. I also heard it a lot in central PA and in Philadelphia when we lived there. Even though I don't use the expression myself, I have to admit that I sort of like it... gives me the impression of a down to earth, friendly person. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted June 23, 2009 Author Share Posted June 23, 2009 (edited) Ugh! :scared: Am I the only one that is cringing? Please tell me you are just talking about slang, not true grammar? I mean, if someone is writing a formal letter or paper, they would use "you" or "they" to imply more than one, no? Spoken English of a particular dialect. It is true grammar in the descriptive sense, but not the prescriptive sense. That is, "official" English grammar excludes it, but the grammar of that particular spoken dialect includes it. Every spoken dialect has its own grammar, which may or may not correspond to the standard grammar taught in textbooks. If you consider speech that doesn't conform to standard grammar "slang," then that's what it is. IMHO, though, slang is more along the lines of calling something "cool" when its temperature isn't being discussed or "sweet" when one isn't discussing flavor. Edited June 23, 2009 by klmama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Totally a Chicago thing, though I noticed many claimed it for NYC. Perhaps a city thing??? Also like "dibodiyahs." As when addressing two children: "Get off my lawn now, dibodiyahs!" Or how about, "So I says to her . . . " :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I have always lived in the South and have never heard "youse" unless I was far, far away from home.:001_smile: Here in Western North Carolina they say "You-uns" for the plural of you. I had never heard that growing up in Florida. I use proper english like Peggy and say ya'll. hehehehe As a Florida native I have to agree. Ya'll is definitely the correct plural form of "you" ;) :D hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I heard it used in rural Ontario when I was dating a guy whose parents had a farm, and cringed every single time. *shudder* They simply laughed and referred to me as, "____'s City Girlfriend" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I heard it used in rural Ontario when I was dating a guy whose parents had a farm, and cringed every single time. *shudder* They simply laughed and referred to me as, "____'s City Girlfriend" I went on a youth exchange visit when I was a teenager to Northern Ontario and by the end of the week I was using "Youse" without a thought. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blessedwith7 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I've heard it in Wisconsin and Illinois - In fact I think I may have been guilty of saying it myself some :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich with Kids Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Does anyone remember the Saturday Night Live skit with the New Jersey gay couple? For some reason this made me think of that...:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildflower Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 New York City. ;) I'm not sure, but I want to say it started in Brooklyn. :) At least is sounds to me like a Brooklyn word. :) edit: I googled it and it says that it is used in New York and South Philly to mean plural "you". :) anywhere in the area of the verrazano bridge! LOL (brooklyn to staten island) thanks for the smile- my dad would pull that one out ever now & then (maybe 3 times in 30 years). it;s typically used in the form of a threat "if you's don't clean up these toys there's no dessert" and he was a fairly educated man! :001_smile: please note the spelling it is you pluralized you ' s :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 anywhere in the area of the verrazano bridge! LOL (brooklyn to staten island)thanks for the smile- my dad would pull that one out ever now & then (maybe 3 times in 30 years). it;s typically used in the form of a threat "if you's don't clean up these toys there's no dessert" and he was a fairly educated man! :001_smile: please note the spelling it is you pluralized you ' s :lol: You want to hear something funny?? I've never even been to NYC!! Honest! I've lived in South Florida all of my life but we have so many New Yorkers down here that I've learned to distinguish the accents of the different boroughs just from talking with them so often over the years. How crazy is that?? hehehehe :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildflower Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 You want to hear something funny?? I've never even been to NYC!! Honest! I've lived in South Florida all of my life but we have so many New Yorkers down here that I've learned to distinguish the accents of the different boroughs just from talking with them so often over the years. How crazy is that?? hehehehe :tongue_smilie: during a trip to florida a few years back we had the chance to visit dolly partons rodeo adventure (or whatever they call it...) as we entered the hostess greeted us with 'welcome to the south y'all' i HAD to laugh- there are more new yorkers in florida than ny now-a-days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 during a trip to florida a few years back we had the chance to visit dolly partons rodeo adventure (or whatever they call it...)as we entered the hostess greeted us with 'welcome to the south y'all' i HAD to laugh- there are more new yorkers in florida than ny now-a-days! LOL It's true!! They're everywhere!! hehehehe Solid people though. You really learn to love 'em after you get past the inital gruffness. My brother's old roomate years ago was from LonG Island. His name was Vincenzo Marchese, one of the funniest people I've ever met and loyal as the day is long. He was a great guy! :) His accent used to crack me up all the time. Who knew "ya lazy b@stard" could be a term of endearment?? ;) :D :tongue_smilie: hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildflower Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 LOL It's true!! They're everywhere!! hehehehe Solid people though. You really learn to love 'em after you get past the inital gruffness. My brother's old roomate years ago was from LonG Island. His name was Vincenzo Marchese, one of the funniest people I've ever met and loyal as the day is long. He was a great guy! :) His accent used to crack me up all the time. Who knew "ya lazy b@stard" could be a term of endearment?? ;) :D :tongue_smilie: hehe no i need to correct that Lawn Guyland they certainly are gruff up there ( i am 100 miles east of the offending area- farm country) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 no i need to correct that Lawn Guyland they certainly are gruff up there ( i am 100 miles east of the offending area- farm country) Thanks for the correction. I wasn't sure how to write it the way he said it. You wrote it perfectly! :) He was hilarious. Like I've said I've never been to NY, but how far apart are the various boroughs?? I've heard that NYC isn't as big as it seems and yet there are so many distinct accents in just that pocket of NY state that it always amazes me at the variety of culture and accent in such a relatively small area. I hope you know what I mean. I fear I'm not making any sense. I had a good friend from Schenectady years ago. Italian also. She was a great person too and lots of fun to hang around with. :) She taught me how to make Italian peppers and sausage sandwiches. I still make them all the time to this day. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Here in California we say, "you guys" for any gender, plural of you. We don't have very interesting speech out here. I spent a year in rural Kentucky and was fascinated by the way they talked. I tried to pick it up, but it never stuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 Who knew "ya lazy b@stard" could be a term of endearment?? ;) :D :tongue_smilie: hehe Er. Any Australian! :) Rosie- thinking some of "you guys" can talk properly after all. Anyone who says y'all or ya'll is not included :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5knights3maidens Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 That would be my dh! He says that all the time. Straight from Philly. I tell the kids not to listen...it's not proper! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbie Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 I grew up in western PA and I think I was about 13 years old before I realized that "yins" wasn't a "real word". :D ETA: Even though I don't say it anymore, my exended family still uses it. It makes me smile when I go "back home" for visits and I hear it being used. My college roomie was from south central PA, and she would always say "you'se". Thats funny about yins, my mom still says it to this day and she has been out of Pitt for forty years. All the neighbors thought she was speaking a different language when she said, "Yins red up the room". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 Bad bad english. I tell my children all the time that youse and friggin are not words to be used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TracyR Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 In our neck of the woods (NW PA) its "you guys". I can't imagine youse as being German. My mother's parents were German(Kaiser and Zurn can't get anymore German) and I never once heard them use the term youse. When we go to Pittsburgh its "yins". So when we are there we have to switch gears. I'll be interested to hear those from Philly. We are going there Thursday for the next four days. I'm hoping we can go into NYC while we're there too. I too have to tell my girls that "you guys" and" freakin" are not proper English either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 Er. Any Australian! :) Rosie- thinking some of "you guys" can talk properly after all. Anyone who says y'all or ya'll is not included :tongue_smilie: Them's fightin words Ms. Rosie!! ;) :tongue_smilie: hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportymom Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 growing up in Cincinnati. I've always thought it was a German immigrant thing... I remember walking into the office at school when I was 8 or 9 and the secretary said, "What do youse need?". I looked around, trying to figure out who all the 'youse' were, but I was the only one in the office. :001_smile: Then I moved south after marriage and tried hard to avoid "ya'll", but it's just so easy to pick-up a southern accent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.