Wp/pgh/Pittsburghese Wiki:Dictionary

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This is a list of Pittsburghese words with Standard English equivalents. Please do not hesitate to use this list to brush up on your vocabulary. Not all words with dialectal pronunciations are listed here because it's just too much to list, and you can easily figure them out based on the pronunciation rules and sounds of other words.

Orthography
Main article: Wp/pgh/Pittsburghese Wiki:Guide

This dictionary is written using a modified English orthography to suit Pittsburghese sounds. It is as follows:
 * e for the ai sound in words like rail
 * el for the al sound in words like alligator
 * i for the ee sound in words like steel
 * w for the l sound in words like well
 * aw for the o sound in words like rob
 * oe for the o sound in words like go
 * u for the oo sound in words like pool
 * ah for the ou sound in words like out
 * d for the th sound in words like the (this may also be spelled with an apostrophe, as the sound can be removed ex.  'e )

Dictionary
A
 * abaht - (prep./adv.) about
 * ablow, ablo - (prep./adv.) below (from Scots ablow )
 * aethecite - (n.; archaic) a mean eccentric person
 * afterclap - (n.; archaic) a child born long after its siblings (possibly from Scots efterclap )
 * agin - (prep.) against (from Scots agin )
 * aht - (many uses) out
 * ahr - (n.) hour
 * Ahia - (n.) Ohio
 * aks, ax, axe - (v.) ask (from Scots aks/ax )
 * aloose - (adj.) untied
 * anent - (prep.; archaic) opposite (from Scots anent )
 * antic, anticky - (adj.; archaic) odd, full of tricks (from Ulster-Scots antic )
 * arahn - (prep./adv.) around
 * ascared - (adj.) scared (possibly of Scots origin)
 * algerine - (v.; archaic) to unlawfully cut timber on another's property
 * alunamin - (n.) aluminum
 * arn - (n.) iron (from Scots airn )
 * arsle - (v.; archaic) to sit unquietly (form of assle)
 * artheritis - (n.) arthritis
 *  'at  - (contr.) that (from Scots  'at  )

B
 * babushka - (n.) headscarf (from Russian ба́бушка )
 * backsie, baachie - (adj.; archaic) filthy (from Scots bach )
 * bawdy - (n.; archaic) a person (from Scots body )
 * bawsie - (n.; archaic) a white faced horse or cow, a favorite name for a pet cow (from Scots bawsey )
 * bawtty - (n.; archaic) a girl's backside
 * beal - (v.; archaic) fester, suppurate (from Scots beal )
 * behint - (prep./adv.) behind (from Scots behint
 * belling - (n.) noisy wedding celebration (Appalachian Ohio, West Virginia, Western PA)
 * berm - (n.) edge of the road, curb: an accepted alternative to "shoulder of the road"
 * betwixt - (prep./adv.) between (from Scots betwixt )
 * bitzle (n.) piece of dirt on the floor (Possibly of Pennsylvania German origin)
 * blackie - (n.; archaic) small pot for cooking
 * boal - (n.) a small press or cupboard in the wall (from Scots boal )
 * brahn - (n./adj.) brown
 * brickle - (adj.; archaic) brittle ; changeable, uncertain (from Scots bruckle )
 * brudder - (n.) brother (possibly of Hiberno-English origin)
 * bubbly-jawck - (n.; archaic) the gobbler of a turkey (from Scots bubbly-jock )
 * buggy - (n.) shopping cart
 * baby buggy - (n.) baby carriage
 * bull-driver - (n.; archaic) a farmer from the back country
 * bunty, bunny - (n.; archaic) a tailless fowl (from Scots bunty )
 * da 'Burgh - (n.) Pittsburgh
 * butterbread - (n.) bread with butter (from Pennsylvania German butterbrot )

C
 * cahch - (n.) couch
 * cahnny - (n.) county
 * camra - (n.) camera (widespread)
 * canty, canny - (adj.; archaic) merry, talkative (from Scots canty )
 * carbon oil - (n.; archaic) kerosene
 * carbarn - (n.; archaic) streetcar depot
 * carline - (n.; archaic) streetcar line
 * cats-heads - (n.; archaic) breasts
 * caw - (v.) call (from Scots caw )
 * cawg - (n.; archaic) small wooden cup or dish (from Scots cog )
 * cawidge - (n.) college
 * cawntrary, cawntrairy - (adj.; archaic) wilful, unreliable (possibly of Scots origin)
 * cawt-betty - (n.; archaic) a man fond of women's work (possibly of Scots origin)
 * chancy - (adj.; archaic) fortunate, good-natured (from Scots chancy )
 * chimley - (n.) chimney (from Scots chimley )
 * chipped ham - (n.) very thinly sliced chopped ham loaf for sandwiches (from a local brand name)
 * city chicken - (n.) cubes of pork loin and/or veal on a short wooden skewer, breaded, then fried or baked
 * clahd - (n.) cloud
 * clahdy - (adj'') cloudy
 * clicker - (n.) remote control
 * clip - (n.; archaic) a mischievous girl (from Scots clip )
 * clipe - (n.; archaic) a blow with a club (from Scots clipe )
 * comb - (n.; archaic) crest of a hill, mountain, or ridge (possibly from Scots kame )
 * conniption - (n.; archaic) fit of anger
 * cooser - (n.; archaic) stallion (from Scots cooser )
 * crick - (n.) creek
 * croppie - (n.; archaic) girl with bobbed hair
 * crud - (n.) curd (from Scots crud )
 * crudd(l)ed melk - (n.) cottage cheese
 * crusie - (n.; archaic) a small oil lamp (from Scots crusie )
 * cucky - (adj.) yucky
 * cumpny - (n.) company
 * cupboard - (n.; archaic) closet
 * cutty - (adj.; archaic) short (from Scots cutty )

D
 * dahn - (many uses) down
 * dahnstreet - (adv.) downstreet
 * dahntahn - (n./adj.) downtown
 * dawll baby - (n.) complimentary term for an attractively childlike girl or woman (reversal of "baby doll")
 * dawnsie - (adj; archaic) lightheaded; giddy; weak (from Scots donsie )
 * dawtie - (n.; archaic) a sweetheart, darling, or favorite (from Scots dautie )
 * deil - (n.; archaic) devil (from Scots deil )
 * dennis(t) - (n.) dentist
 * de(v)il('s) strip - (n.) strip of grass between the street and sidewalk (Akron, Youngstown, parts of Western PA)
 * diamon(d) - (n.; archaic) town square (possibly of Scots origin)
 * dinge - (n.) a dent (from Scots dinge )
 * dippy - (adj.) appropriate for dipping into, such as gravy, coffee, egg yolks, etc.
 * disremember (v.; archaic) to forget (from Scots disremember )
 * dornick - (n.; archaic) a round stone picked up in fields to throw at cattle (from Ulster-Scots dornick )
 * doubletree - (n.; archaic) a crossbar or pair of crossbars on the front of a wagon or plow (from Ulster-Scots doubletree )
 * dour - (adj; archaic) difficult, hard to manage (from Scots dour )
 * drooth, drawth - (n.; archaic) drought (from Scots drooth )
 * dupa - (n.) a person's backside, usually a child's (from Polish dupa )
 * drug - past tense and participle of drag

E
 * Eltoona - (n.) Altoona
 * elum - (n.) elm
 * et - (v.) simple past tense and past participle of eat (ate and eaten respectively)

F
 * fahr - (n.) fire
 * famly - (n.) family
 * favor - (v.; archaic) to resemble (from Scots favour )
 * fell - (v.) fail
 * fernent, fernenst, ferninst - (prep.; archaic) against, in contact with anything (from Scots forenent, forenenst, forninst'' )
 * fetch - (n.; archaic) a spirit that fortells death (from Hiberno-English fetch )
 * fey - (adj.; archaic) doomed to death or calamity (from Scots fey )
 * filled - (n.) field
 * filum - (n.) film (from Scots filum )
 * flahr - (n.) flour, flower
 * flit - (v.; archaic) to move to a new house (from Scots flit )
 * footery - (adj.; archaic) flimsy, insignificant, comtemptible (from Scots footer'' )

G
 * gad - (n.; archaic) whip (from Ulster-Scots gad )
 * gallavant - (v.; archaic) to wander idly; to move about in search of a good time
 * gawb - (n.) whoopie pie
 * gawm - (v.) to smear, make sticky, muddy, dirty, or greasy; to disarrange, make untidy (Appalachia)
 * gawmmed up - (adj.) sticky, muddy, dirty, or greasy (Appalachia)
 * git - (n.) get (Appalachia, Southern US, AAVE; possibly of Scots origin)
 * gilly, gillie - (n.; archaic) an easily led person, a fool (from Scots gilly-gawkie )
 * glakid - (adj.; archaic) stupid (from Scots glakit )
 * glede - (n.; archaic) a red-hot coal (from Scots glede )
 * graip - (n.; archaic) pitchfork (from Scots graip )
 * grawj - (n.) garage
 * grinnie - (n.) chipmunk
 * gumban - (n.) rubber band;  elastic fastener
 * gutchies, unnergutchies - (n.) term used to describe undergarments of any variety (of Hungarian origin)
 * gype - (n.; archaic) a fool (from Scots gype )

H
 * hahse - (n.) house
 * hahscome, hahs-come - (adv.) why
 * hait - (n.; archaic) a matter of no consequence (from Scots hait )
 * han - (n.) hand (from Scots han )
 * hap - (n.) comfort; or, comforter or quilt (from Scots hap )
 * hisself - (pron.) himself
 * hoagie - (n.) a submarine sandwich (Philadelphia, Central PA, Western PA)
 * hunk, hunky - (n./adj.) an ethnic slur used to refer to labourers from Central Europe (not considered derogatory when used by the people themselves)
 * hunnert, hunnerd, hunderd - (num.) hundred (from Scots hunert, hunderd )
 * hutch - (n.) chest of drawers (possibly from Scots hutch )

I
 * icebawx - (n.) refrigerator, freezer
 * iggle - (n.) eagle
 * ignernt - (adj.) ignorant
 * ill - (n.) eel
 * innernet - (n.) internet
 * in-unner - (prep.; archaic) underneath, below (from Scots in unner )
 * Itly - (n.'') Italy
 * Itahyin - (adj.) Italian

J
 * jag - (v.) to prick, stab, or jab; to tease (of Scots origin)
 * jagger - (n./adj.) any small, sharp-pointed object or implement, usually thorns
 * jaggerbush - (n.) briar
 * jagawff - (n.) stupid, inept, irritating, or contemptible person
 * jag awff - (v.) to annoy, irritate, play tricks on; to disparage; to reject
 * jes(t) - (adj./adv.) just (of Scots origin)
 * jestice - (n.) justice (of Scots origin)
 * jimmies - (n.) sprinkles (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New England)
 * jumbo - (n.) bologna

K
 * keller - (n./v.) color
 * ketch - (v.) catch (often regarded as a widespread alternative pronunciation)
 * kirtle - (n.; archaic) petticoat (of Scots origin)
 * kist - (n.; archaic) chest or locker (of Scots origin)
 * Klawndike - (n.) any kind of ice cream bar (from a local brand name)
 * kolbawssi, kilbawssi - (n.) variant pronunciation of kielbasa

L
 * lectric - (n./adj.) electricity, electric
 * lenth - (n.) length (of Scots origin)
 * livergrown - (adj.; archaic) having an enlargement or adhesion of the liver
 * lookit - (v.) look at

M
 * mawss - (n.; archaic) swamp or bog (of Scots origin)
 * mayzhure - (n./v.) measure
 * mel - (n./adj.) mail, male
 * melk - (n.) milk
 * mill - (n.) meal
 * monkey bawll - (n.) fruit of the Maclura pomifera or monkey ball tree
 * muley - (n.; archaic) hornless cow (of Scots origin)
 * mum - (n.) mom (Commonwealth, New England, Appalachia)
 * mudder - (n.) mother (possibly of Hiberno-English origin)

N
 *  n'at, an 'at  - (general extender) and that (of Scots origin)
 * nawb - (adj.; archaic) fine, showy, swell looking (of Scots origin)
 * neb - (v.) to pry into a conversation or argument intrusively or impertinently (of Scots origin)
 * neb aht - (v.) to mind one's own business
 * neb-nose or nebby-nose (vulgar form: nebshit) - (n.) the kind of person who is always poking into people's affairs; inquisitive person
 * nebby - (adj.) given to prying into the affairs of others;  inquisitive

O
 * onest - (adv.) once
 * ornery - (adj.) stubborn, disagreeable (Appalachia)
 * orrnj - (n./adj.) orange

P
 * paht - (v.) pout
 * pahn - (n./v.) pound
 * pahr - (n./v./adj.) power
 * patayta - (n.) potato
 * peanit - (n.) peanut
 * Pennsyvania - (n.) Pennsylvania
 * poke - (n.; archaic) bag, sack (of Scots origin)
 * parkin chair - (n.) a chair placed in the street to reserve a parking space (unique to Pittsburgh)
 * Picksburg, Pixburg (n.) - Pittsburgh
 * pitcher (n.) picture
 * piece - (n.; archaic) snack (of Scots origin)
 * pismire, piss meyer - (n.; archaic) ant, winged ant (of Scots origin)
 * pome - (n.) poem
 * poorly - (adj.; archaic) failing in health, 'going down hill' (of Scots origin)
 * poor mahth - (v.; archaic) to discant on one's poverty (of Scots origin)
 * pawp - (n.) soda (Western PA, Midwestern US, Canada, parts of Britain; possibly of Scots origin)
 * prahd - (adj.) proud

Q
 * qourt - (n.) quart

R
 * rahdiator - (n.) radiator
 * rair - (v.; archaic) to be terribly angry or excited (of Scots origin)
 * redd up - (v.) to clean up, tidy up  (of Scots origin)
 * redd-up - (n.) cleanup
 * reek - (n.; archaic) smoke, fumes from cooking (of Scots origin)
 * rel - (n.) rail
 * relation - (n.) relative
 * revren(d), revrent - (adj.; archaic) extreme; extraordinary, powerful
 * rift - (v.; archaic) to belch (of Scots origin)
 * rill - (adj./adv.) real
 * rinch - (v.; archaic) to rinse (of Scots origin)
 * rinch tub - (n.; archaic) utility sink/laundry tub
 * roarer - (n.; archaic) broken-winded horse (of Scots origin)
 * rubbidge - (n.; archaic) rubbish
 * ruff - (n.) roof
 * run - (n.; somewhat archaic) a small creek (Western PA, Eastern Ohio, West Virginia, Western Maryland; of Scots origin)

S
 * saft - (adj.; archaic) weak, silly, characterless (of Scots origin)
 * sahr - (n./v./adj.) sour
 * sahn - (n./v.) sound
 * sammitch, sammich - (n.) sandwich
 * scape - (n.; archaic) beehive (of Scots origin)
 * schull - (n./v.) school (of Scots origin)
 * scrunty - (adj.; archaic) stunted or worn down (of Scots origin)
 * severals - (n.; archaic) several (of Scots origin)
 * shahr - (n./v.) shower
 * shank's mare - (n.; archaic) one's own legs (as a means of transportation) (of Scots origin)
 * shoofly pie - (n.) mollases pie
 * skift - (n.; archaic) a passing fall of snow (of Scots origin)
 * skitters - (n.) diarrhea (regional?; of Scots origin)
 * skite, skyt - (v.; archaic) to go or leave quickly (of Scots origin)
 * slew - (n.) a large quantity or amount of something (originally regional, now widespread; of Scots origin)
 * slippy - (adj.) slippery (of Scots origin)
 * snake doctor, snake feeder - (n.) dragonfly (Western PA, Midland, South)
 * spahting - (n.) eaves (of Ulster-Scots origin)
 * spicket - (n.) alternate pronunciation of spigot, specifically an outdoor faucet used to connect to a garden hose (of Scots origin)
 * spilly pahl - (n.) spoil tip
 * sputzee - (n.) any kind of small bird (possibly of Pennsylvania German origin)
 * spreckled - (adj.; archaic) spotted, speckled (of Scots origin)
 * sprucie - (n.) frizzle (a breed of chicken)
 * stawb - (n.; archaic) a dead hemlock tree (of Scots origin)
 * still - (n.) steel
 * strenth - (n.) strength (of Scots origin)
 * sumthin, su'm - (n.) something (of Scots origin)
 * sweeper - (n.) vacuum cleaner (Western PA, Ohio, Indiana)

T
 * tahn - (n.) town (of Scots origin)
 * thahsan(d) - (num.) thousand
 * through-other - (adj.; archaic) untidy, disorganized (of Scots origin)
 * tamayta - (n.) tomato
 * tawssle cap - (n.) knit hat designed to provide warmth in cold weather
 * telepole, tellypole - (contr.) telephone pole
 * temprature gauge - (n.) thermometer
 * til, till - (prep.; archaic) to (common in infinitives and expressions of time; of Scots origin)
 * trayzhure - (n.) treasure
 * trick - (n.) a job shift (as used in West-Central Pennsylvania)
 * twunny (num.) twenty (of Scots origin)

U
 * ungion - (n.) onion (possibly of Scots or Hiberno-English origin)
 * ungion snow - (n.; archaic) early spring snow (Western and south central PA; of Pennsylvania German origin )
 * unner - (prep.) under (of Scots origin)
 * usquebaugh - (n.; archaic) whiskey (of Scots origin)

V
 * vaunty - (adj.; archaic) boastful (of Scots origin)

W
 * wha - (contr.) what (in fast speech)
 * well - (n.) whale
 * wer - (contr.) we're
 * we uns, we unz, we'uns, we'unz - (pron.''; somewhat archaic) we (of Scots origin)
 * whinge - (v.; archaic) to whine (of Scots origin)
 * whistle pig - (n.) groundhog
 * winda - (n.) window
 * winner - (n.) winter
 * wit - (prep.) with
 * worsh - (v.) wash
 * worter - (n./v.) water
 * wuff - (n.) wolf

Y
 * ya - (pron.) you (without emphasis)
 * yawnder -
 * yer - you're; your ( of Scots origin)
 * yella - (n./adj.) yellow
 * yins, yinz, yunz, you'uns, or youns - (pron.) plural of you (can also mean your; of Scots origin)
 * yinz guys - (pron.) plural form of you (a relatively new term, from a combination of you guys and yinz)
 * yinzer - (n.) a resident of Pittsburgh; a native speaker of Pittsburghese
 * yinzes - (adj.) your
 * yoder - (n.) colloquial term for an Amish person or Mennonite (from the Swiss surname Yoder)
 * yoder toter - (n.) large van Amish people use to travel long distances

Z
 * zackly - (adv.) exactly
 * zapper - (n.) remote control

Phrases

 * An aw - used in multiple ways. This phrase is typical of Scottish English and Scots. See for uses
 * Deil's own buckie - one of the devil's kind (archaic)
 * Fer to, fer til - in order to; for; to (archaic)
 * Kennywood's open - idiom used to inform someone that their fly is open ("Kennywood" referring to the Kennywood amusement park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania)
 * That's it Fort Pitt! - task completed, case closed, end of discussion (originated from a local beer slogan)

Notes from creator
I know that some of these sources may not be the most reliable, but they're the best we've got for the dialect. I have tried to sort through them and get rid of ridiculous words. Some of these sources may be primary sources, so they must always be taken with a grain of salt. I have also used my own firsthand experience to back up some of my entries, which may not be the best thing to do. I have tried my very best to create a useful word list that anyone can use and learn from. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to contact me. CanadianToast (talk) 00:37, 22 December 2020 (UTC)