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.

Dictionary
A
 * abaht - (prep./adv.) about
 * ablow, ablo - (prep./adv.) below (of Scots origin)
 * agin - (prep.) against (of Scots origin)
 * aht - (many uses) out
 * ahr - (n.) hour
 * Ahia - (n.) Ohio
 * aks, ax, axe - (v.) ask (of Scots origin)
 * anent - (prep.; archaic) opposite (of Scots origin)
 * antic, anticky - (adj.; archaic) odd, full of tricks (of Ulster-Scots origin)
 * arahn - (prep./adv.) around
 * afeared, ascared - (adj.) afraid, scared (of Scots origin)
 * alunamin - (n.) aluminum
 * arn - (n.) iron (of Scots origin)
 * artheritis - (n.) arthritis
 *  'at  - (contr.) that (of Scots origin)

B
 * babushka - (n.) headscarf (of Slavic origin)
 * backsie, baachie - (adj.; archaic) filthy (possibly from Scots bach meaning cow dung)
 * bawdy - (n.; archaic) a person (of Scots origin)
 * bawsie - (n.; archaic) a white faced horse or cow, a favorite name for a pet cow (of Scots origin)
 * beal - (v.; archaic) fester, suppurate
 * behint - (prep./adv.) behind (of Scots origin)
 * 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 (of Scots origin)
 * 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 (of Scots origin)
 * brahn - (n./adj.) brown
 * brickle - (adj.; archaic) brittle ; changeable, uncertain (of Scots origin)
 * brudder - (n.) brother (possibly of Hiberno-English origin)
 * buggy - (n.) shopping cart
 * baby buggy - (n.) baby carriage
 * bunty, bunny - (adj.) a tailless fowl (of Scots origin)
 * da 'Burgh - (n.) Pittsburgh
 * butterbread - (n.) bread with butter (of Pennsylvania German origin)

C
 * cahch - (n.) couch
 * cahnny - (n.) county
 * camra - (n.) camera
 * canty, canny - (adj.; archaic) merry, talkative (of Scots origin)
 * carbon oil - (n.; archaic) kerosene
 * carbarn - (n.; archaic) streetcar depot
 * carline - (n.; archaic) streetcar line
 * caw - (v.) call (of Scots origin)
 * cawg - (n.; archaic) small wooden cup or dish (of Scots origin)
 * cawidge - (n.) college
 * cawntrary, cawntrairy - (adj.; archaic) wilful, unreliable (of Scots origin)
 * chancy - (''adj.; archaic) fortunate, good-natured (of Scots origin)
 * 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 (of Scots origin)
 * conniption - (n.; archaic) fit of anger
 * crick - (n.) creek
 * croppie - (n.; archaic) girl with bobbed hair
 * crud - (n.) curd
 * crudd(l)ed melk - (n.) cottage cheese (of Middle English origin via Scots)
 * crusie - (n.; archaic) a small oil lamp (of Scots origin)
 * cucky - (adj.) yucky
 * cupboard - (n.; archaic) closet
 * cutty - (adj.; archaic) short (of Scots origin)

D
 * dahn - (many uses) down (of Scots origin)
 * dahnstreet - (adv.) downstreet (of Scots origin)
 * dahntahn - (n./adj.) downtown (of Scots origin)
 * dawll baby - (n.) complimentary term for an attractively childlike girl or woman (reversal of "baby doll")
 * dawnsie - (adj; archaic) lightheaded; giddy (of Scots origin)
 * dawtie - (n.; archaic) a sweetheart, darling, or favorite (of Scots origin)
 * deil - (n.; archaic) devil (of Scots origin)
 * 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 (of Scots origin)
 * dinge - (n.) a dent (of Scots origin)
 * dippy - (adj.) appropriate for dipping into, such as gravy, coffee, egg yolks, etc.
 * dornick - (n.; archaic) a round stone picked up in fields to throw at cattle (of Scots origin)
 * doubletree - (n.; archaic) a crossbar or pair of crossbars on the front of a wagon or plow (of Scots origin)
 * dour - (adj; archaic) difficult, hard to manage (of Scots origin)
 * drooth - (n.; archaic) drought (of Scots origin)
 * dupa - (n.) parental term for a child's backside (of Polish origin)
 * drug - past tense and participle of drag

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

F
 * fahtery - (adj.''; archaic) flimsy, insignificant, comtemptible (of Scots origin)
 * fahr - (n.) fire
 * famly - (n.) family
 * favor - (v.; archaic) to resemble (of Scots origin)
 * fell - (v.) fail
 * fernent, fernenst, ferninst - (prep.''; archaic) against, in contact with anything (of Scots origin)
 * fetch - (n.; archaic) a spirit that fortells death (of Irish English origin)
 * filled - (n.) field
 * filum - (n.) film (of Scots origin)
 * flahr - (n.) flour, flower (of Scots origin)
 * flit - (v.; archaic) to move to a new house (of Scots origin)

G
 * gad - (n.; archaic) whip (of Scots origin)
 * 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; of Scots origin)
 * gilly, gillie - (n.; archaic) an easily led person, a fool (from the Scots gillygawkie)
 * glede, gleed - (n.; archaic) a red-hot coal (of Scots origin)
 * graip - (n.; archaic) pitchfork (of Scots origin)
 * grawj - (n.) garage
 * grinnie - (n.) chipmunk
 * gumban - (n.) rubber band;  elastic fastener (of Scots origin)
 * gutchies, unnergutchies - (n.) term used to describe undergarments of any variety (of Hungarian origin)
 * gype - (n.; archaic) a fool (of Scots origin)

H
 * hahse - (n.) house
 * hahscome, hahs-come - (adv.) why
 * hait - (n.; archaic) a matter of no consequence (of Scots origin)
 * han - (n.) hand (of Scots origin)
 * hap - (n.) comfort; or, comforter or quilt (of Scots origin)
 * 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 (of Scots origin)
 * hutch - (n.) chest of drawers

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

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
 * 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 - Pittsburgh
 * 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
 * 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
 * reveren(d) - (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)
 * 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 pile - (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
 * tamayta - (n.) tomato
 * tawssle cap - (n.) knit hat designed to provide warmth in cold weather
 * telepole, tellypole - (contr.) telephone pole
 * temprature gauge - (n.) thermometer
 * 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 Irish 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)
 * 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)
 * 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)