 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
*** ‘Speakin Zummerzet’ ***
As people travel and relocate, the old words and
dialects are gradually changing and being lost. So ‘Speakin Zummerzet’ is
an attempt to redress the balance. Each week I’ll introduce a word or phrase
once commonly used in the county and make an effort to provide it’s meaning, along with an
example of its use. The words and phrases shown below are ones that I personally have used or heard used by relatives and friends over the years. The 
icon denotes an audio example is available to listen to via Windows Media Player.
It must be stressed that not all Somerset folk speak this way today and some may be offended if you think they do.
Don't forget to scroll down for earlier entries.
11th March 2010
TUTHERUN
Used like this;
“Oi bain’t goin for thik’n I’m goin vor thutherun” – “I’m not going for that one I’m going for the other one”.
For TUTHERUN read ‘the other one’.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
4th March 2010
WOODEN & WOOD
Used as shown below;
“I wooden ave zed tha”, “Yesee wood”.
Translated as “I wouldn’t have said that”, “Yes you would”.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
25th February 2010
COUPIE DOWN
Used like this:
“I ad tu coupie down tu zee ih” –“I had to crouch down to see it”
Coupie down is a term rather than a Zummerzetised word, meaning to crouch
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
18th February 2010
HOLLERDAZE
Used as follows;
“Whirr be goin ver thee hollerdaze this yer?” – “Where are you going for your holidays this year?”
The word can also be pronounced ‘Hollerdees’.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
11th February 2010
This week I ask another 'What if ...'
Click the play button below to find out more.
You will need to allow the ActiveX controls when prompted by your browser in order to see the video.
Hover your mouse over the black square above for controls to appear.
4th February 2010
BAKKERDS
Used like this;
“E almose vell bakkerds dinner” – “He almost fell backwards didn’t he”
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
28th January 2010
IFFEE
Used as follows;
“Iffee baint innerested then doughn bovver” – “If you are not interested then don’t bother”
Iffee uses the ‘e’ term to denote ‘you’ or ‘it’. In this usage it means ‘you.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
21st January 2010
ANNUM, ANNUS, ANNIE
Don’t worry, I’ve not gone all Latin suddenly.
The words are used as shown below.
“They’ve dun a praper job annum?” – “They have done a really good job haven’t they?”
“Weev bin ear b’four annus?” – “We have been here before haven’t we?”
“Annie erd a werd I’ve zed?” – “Haven’t you heard a word I have said?”
So Annum means Haven’t THEY, Annus means haven’t WE and Annie means haven’t YOU.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
14th January 2010
WHAT IF .........
This week I offer you a question. Click the play button below to find out more.
You will need to allow the ActiveX controls when prompted by your browser in order to see the video.
Hover your mouse over the black square above for controls to appear.
Want to buy the original movie? Then go to the store by clicking here.
7th January 2010
SKOOZE
Used like this:
“Skooze I, dooee mine ifeye askee zummat?”
“Excuse me, do you mind if I ask you something?”
As with a lot of dialects only a portion of the whole word is selected, and then Zummerzetized.
Oh, an appy nu yer to e all.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
9th July 2009
Ole Duman
The Ole Duman is a wife.
The Zummerzet man would call her the Ole Duman to his mates in the pub or at work, an example follows;
“Well, muss beoff owm, bahk to thee ole duman”
(Well, I must be off home, back to the wife”).
A man would rarely call their wife this to their face.
It is not really a derogative term, though perhaps not the most eloquent either.
This will be the last Speakin Zummerzet entry for this year. Fear not, the feature will return in the New Year.
This will give me time to compile yet more Zummerzet words and phrases for your pleasure.
Thank you for visiting this page of Somerset3d.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
2nd July 2009
Zmar-in.
This word is used when someone is speaking about somebody who is upset and bears a grudge.
They would say something like “Ah, e b zmar-in abough zummit I’ll tell e”
(“Yes, He is upset about something I can tell you”).
When it is said it implies that the person in question is looking for revenge.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
24th June 2009
Aarr, Yarr & Aahh
A lot of films portray the west countryman as saying Aarr when meaning yes. If you have seen the brilliant film Hot Fuzz,
filmed in Wells and the surrounding area, the word Yarr is used instead of the word Yes. As far as I am aware these words are
not used in the area of Zummerzet I live. At least, in all my 47 years of living in this area of the county I cannot remember either word
uttered once. Around here the word used is Aahh . This is used instead of saying Yes, or when finding or discovering something.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
17th June 2009
Scrammed.
“Oi be righ scrammed oi be, gee us thik scarff willee?”
Scrammed means cold, really cold. So translated the sentence should read “I am really cold I am, give me that scarf will you?”
Notice the double statement, ‘Oi be’ either side of scrammed. This is also a common Zummerzet trait.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
10th June 2009
Ard Chedder
“Tha’s ard chedder me zonner, buh ah lease yew ad a go”
“That’s bad luck my son, but at least you had a go”.
I’m sure someone out there will be able to tell me more about this phrase but I can only assume it stemmed from the days when Cheddar cheese was only made in Cheddar. I can only surmise that it was a phrase used when a batch didn’t turn out quite right.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
4th June 2009
Shannin
This one comes from my mother who tells me that her Grandfather would be quite comical in his old ways and her and some friends would visit him and make fun of him, as children do. They’d sit out of the way and listen and giggle when he said something that was comical to them. In return he’d look at them and say “Whah be shannin abough?” meaning “What are you laughing about?”
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
28th May 2009
Garn
A ‘garn’ would be essential to every home back in the olden days. A good sized ‘garn’ enabled many to be self sufficient when it came to providing for their family. People took pride in their ‘garn’s’ in these times and were keen to show you around it if you visited. Even when he was in his 90’s and suffering with his health my late Great Uncle Mike would insist on showing us around his ‘garn’.
After commenting on his health by saying things like “Ah, almose ad me wings yesty”
and “Ah, nuther ard vrost an oi’l be gon”
then he would say “Cmon, leh me showee round me garn”.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
21st May 2009
Gallyvahn’in.
This word would be used thus;
“Ih’s abough tyme yew were ome, stead of gallyvahn’in ah lover the place”.
Or “It’s about time you were home, instead of wandering all over the place”.
Basically ‘Gallyvahn’in’ means to wander about, straying from home.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
14th May 2009
Betwaddled
“Well, oi dunno wha tiz, oi be righ betwaddled”. “Well, I don’t know what it is, I am right confused”.
So ‘Betwaddled’ means confused. Another Zummerzet word meaning the same thing would be ‘Fuddled’.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
7th May 2009
Back House
Long before the days of inside conveniences (or toilets) most houses would have a purpose built shed near the bottom of their garden in which to do their rituals in. I’m sure there were many names for them that I haven’t heard of but the one that I do remember is to call it the ‘Back House’.
Why it was called that I’m not sure. Yes it was made of brick and had a roof on it but there the similarity to a house ends, but nonetheless, Back House was what it was called.
Can you remember what your outside loo was called?
30th April 2009
Addled.
A word often used by harassed wives as they talk about their husbands.
“Didee zee im lass nigh?, e were addled”.
Basically ‘addled’ means drunk or out of control due to too much of the local apple juice.
It can also mean ‘gone ‘off. As in;
“Ere, thik mill dougn smell to good, oi fink iht’s addled”.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
23rd April 2009
Whir Beeyum
A question. As in;
“Righ, oi no oi puh em zumwere, now whir beeyum?”
“Right, I know I put them somewhere, now where are they?”
This is Anglo-Saxon. The word 'Be' meaning 'are' and the 'um' part replacing 'them'.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
16th April 2009
The Dancers
Sometimes there’s a phrase rather than a word that I remember being used by one of my ancestors. Such is the case with this week’s entry.
In one of the Weaver’s cottages in Great Ostry in Shepton Mallet lived my Great Uncle Cliff. He was a WW1 survivor but suffered with poor health due to being gassed when in the trenches. His wife, Elsie, also suffered, being paralysed on one side after having a stroke when their only child miscarried. I would visit them with my mother when I was a toddler and still have strong memories of them. I can remember that Uncle Cliff was bent over from the waist and needed a walking stick to lean on to get around. He only had about three teeth and liked a tin of Mackeson’s Stout. Elsie, despite her stroke, would make ornate table cloths out of lace. Apparently, every time I visited I would ask Uncle Cliff if I could have his war medals when he died. Anyway, I’m digressing rather a lot here.
When they were ready for bed Uncle Cliff would always come out with the phrase;
“Less gid on up thee dancers” meaning “Let’s get on to bed”.
I don’t really know if this is just a Somerset phrase, he was a Somerset man, or something he picked up when in the Army, either way I associate it with him strongly and, to my mind, it’s these sayings and words that the Speakin Zummerzet feature is more about.
I still have his war medals. I also have one of the table cloths Elsie made too. I’m lucky to have such lovely memories of a lovely couple who, despite their ailments, always came over as happy and content with their lot.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
9th April 2009
Bide.
Bide has more than one meaning. It can mean to leave alone, as in,
“Doughn go keepin on, let it bide” "Don't go keeping on, leave it alone".
And it can also be used as an instruction, as in,
“Loohk, stop movin aroun an bide still” "Look, stop moving around and keep still".
Bide is an Anglo Saxon word well used in Somerset.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
2nd April 2009
Wooden Eye
A statement. Usually said as a question.
“Well oi wood normly do thah, wooden eye?” ( “Well I would normally do that, wouldn’t I?”).
My own accent has been cleaned up so that I am understood by non locals, but when with family and friends I will quickly revert to the good ole Zummerzet way of speaking. I like the accent and feel it comes over as friendly rather than stupid. However, I don't feel that anyone of authority would be taken seriously if they did have a strong Zummerzet accent.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
26th March 2009
Watcher
This is a greeting, a friendly greeting, usually followed by the word “alrigh?”
I can’t really provide any explanation or background to this one but it’s a greeting that is still in use today, though not as frequently as it used to be.
The correct reply would be “Ah, noht too baahd” , regardless of if you are unwell or not.
In the past the townsfolk and villagers would know everyone in their settlement and this greeting, along with “Ow be on” , “Yer tiz then” , and “Alrigh mesun” were heard throughout the day, being shouted across the roads and lanes. In those days you would need 20-40 minutes extra time to get from one end of town to the other as you greeted and chatted with all the locals, nowadays things have changed. Not necessarily for better or worse, but changed nonetheless. The people who have moved into many of the small towns and villages are not known to the locals and keep themselves to themselves. Most are polite and will acknowledge you with a nod and a smile as you pass them by but to me, it’s not the same. Now, instead of the old Zummerzet being shouted across the streets the sound is of 'locals' greeting each other in languages from all around the world. This is something I have experienced in my lifetime. Changing times.
On a personal note I'd like to wish a "Appy burfday" to my brother. He's 21 with 35 years experience today.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
19th March 2009
Tiz, Twas and Twern.
Tiz;
“Yer Tiz then, wherevee bin?” (“Here you are then, where have you been?”).
Yer Tiz can refer to a person or an object. For example after looking for something you could exclaim “Ah, yer tiz, vound iht ah-lass” (“Ah, here it is, found it at last”). Another common phrase is an announcement of arrival or guilt; “Tiz eye” (“It is I”).
Twas and Twern are opposites.
If you were reaffirming a statement you’d say “Twas”,or denying something would be “Twern”.
In Zummerzet the sentence would be affirmed at the end, so instead of saying “It was a nice day” the Zummerzet man would say “A niyce day twas” . The use of ‘Twern’ is usually short and sharp; “Twern eye” (”It wasn’t I”) or just “Twern” when accused of having done something they didn’t do.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
12th March 2009
Zentries
Following on from last weeks’ entry the word this week is Zentries.
This word describes a long period of time, as in;
“Is vamly av bin doin iht ver zentries”
(“His family have been doing it for centuries”)
So, ‘Sentries’ = 100’s of yers.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
5th March 2009
Daze, Wicks, Munce & Yers.
‘Daze’ are what makes up ‘wicks’, that in turn make up ‘munce’ that create a ‘yer’.
Examples are ‘Mondee’, ‘Tewsdee’, ‘Whensdee’, etc, The ‘munce’ include ‘Janry’, ‘Febry’ and ‘Awguss’.
Click the speaker icon to hear some Zummerzet.
26th February 2009
Suhn
To happen very quickly. As in “Twer suhn, one momun e wer alrigh, nex e wer gon”
(“It was sudden, one moment he was alright, next he was gone”).
When something ‘Suhn’ happens people are said to be very ‘sprised’.
As you can see there is a speaker icon at the end of the sentence above. Wherever you see this icon please click on it and you will hear an audio version of the preceeding sentence. At the moment all files are in Windows Media Player format but I hope to convert them into other formats in the near future. Previous entries also have an audio version added, so please scroll down the page to listen to words and phrases that have already been featured.
19th February 2009
Clide
“If baint carful youm goin tu clide wiv zummit”
(“If you are not careful you are going to collide with something”).
So ‘Clide’ means to bump into. Another word meaning much the same thing would be ‘Clision’. Though this is normally used when ‘veercals’ on the road are involved.
My attempts at creating audio files for this feature are not going too well, despite having all the kit I just can't get it set up correctly. I will keep at it though and, hopefully, will get it sorted soon.
12th February 2009
Scold
Used like “Put on zummit wharm, scold owtzide”.
(“Put on something warm, its cold outside”).
An ‘S’ in front of another word usually signifies the word ‘It’s’. Other examples are;
‘Swarm’ – Opposite of scold
‘Slate’ – Not early
‘Searly’ – Not late
‘Smine’ – Not yours
‘Snice’ – Very pleasant
‘Shores’ – It belongs to you
‘Smine’ – It belongs to me
‘Smee’ – It is me.
The ‘It’ part is said, but once again said so quietly only the ‘s’ is heard.
This past week I have been contacted by an actress asking for help. She is appearing in 'As You Like It' by Shakespeare and was required to speak her part with a Somerset accent. I don’t want to use her real name, so let’s call her Kate Winslet. Ms Winslet sent me some of the lines she had to say and, whilst attempting to translate them I found it difficult to write down some of the required sounds. I offered Kate my mobile number so that she would be able to hear the sounds but she was satisfied with my written suggestions. However, this has given me food for thought. As some of the sounds required are rather difficult to explain in text I have decided to have a go at adding an audio file to this page so that the word or phrase of the week can be heard. Hopefully this addition will be starting in the next couple of weeks.
5th February 2009
Mir
“Ear, Turn on thic lectric lite willy, oi wan a zee ow oi look in the mir”
(“Turn on the light will you, I want to see how I look in the mirror”).
Another case of a word being abbreviated for ease of use and efficiency (cough!).
29th January 2009
Fax
The truth, as in, “Oi doughn wan n e messin aroun, oi juss wan the fax”.
(“I don’t want any messing around, I just want the facts”).
As this shows we don’t like to waste our consonants if we can help it.
22nd January 2009
Member?
To recall, remind.
“Member wen e used tu liv yer?”
("Remember when you used to live here?”)
The beginning of the word has not been dropped but just said so quietly that it’s not heard at all. This is common around the West Country.
15th January 2009
Acker
To be called ‘Acker’ in Zumerzet is a good thing. It means friend, mate or pal.
One famous Somerstonian, Bernard Stanley Bilk, decided to keep this mantle and is now known all around the world as the housewives favourite clarinettist with his timeless hit ‘Stranger on the Shore’.
In local junior league football the tag was used when a newcomer, whose name couldn't be remembered, was playing. At the beginning of the season, when new teamates were getting to know each other, spectators could easily be misled into thinking that the whole team was named Acker.
The word is still in use but not as frequently as I remember it. But then, I don't get out as much nowadays.
8th January 2009
This wick we veetur the Merguncy Servsez.
In Zummerzet we ave vor merguncy servsez. Pleece, Vire Brigade, Amblunce an Cosegard.
The Pleece work ard at keepin uz zafe an catchin the baddies, the Viremen puh out nasty vires, the Ambluncemen elp volk get to Orsepital an the Cosegard elp volk oove gotten into issues wiv the sea.
My Great Uncle Mike called the Vire Brigade out once when his ‘chimley’ (sic) caught vire. They took a while to arrive and when they did turn up Mikes opening comment was “Oh, I zee you got me card then”!
18th December 2008
How be on? Juss a kwik wurd to tel e Speakin Zummerzet is cummin bak in Janry. Ere's zummat tu fink abou' at Crissmuss.
Don't wurry wha thee eat b'tween Crissmuss an Nu Yer
Wurry on wha thee eat b'tween Nu Yer an Crissmuss
10th July 2008
This week will be the last 'Speakin Zummerzet' for a while, as I need to spend more time on developing (pardon the pun) my other photography website.
So I'm going to leave you with one of Zummerzet's favourite sons, Adge Cutler.
 |
Adge was born in Bristle (Bristol) in 1930 and was the lead vocalist in the Somerset group 'The Wurzels' and invented the musical genre 'Scrumpy & Western'. Plenty of his song titles are classic Zummerzet with 'Thee's Gott'n Where Thee Cassn't Back'n, Hassn't?' one of my favourites. It is a song about a young couples' adventures in their new car around Bristle. Translated, the title reads 'You've got to where you can't go back, haven't you?' and sort of means 'You have got into a position where it is impossible to reverse'. |
Adge Cutler died in a car crash in 1974, on his way back from a concert in Hereford. He is buried in Nailsea.
Speakin Zummerzet will return, and in the meantime I can only suggest you satisfy your Zummerzet cravings by purchasing a cd of the great man. Click here to visit the Somerset3d store and click on the Somerset Music link, where you'll find a small selection of his cd's you can buy.
3rd July 2008
‘It’ instead of ‘at’.
There is a tendency in Zummerzet, at least in the part where I live, to use the word ‘it’ instead of ‘at’.
I noticed this some years ago and have found it quite a common thing over the years. My work colleagues say it daily and come out with things like;
“It the momun” - “At the moment”.
“It the wick-end” - “At the weekend”.
“E’s it the orse-pit-all” - "He’s at the hospital" (remember the silent ‘t’ in 'orse-pit-all').
Though, if 'at' is followed by 'it' then the 'at' is said properly, so you wouldn't hear "E's it it aghen" - "He's at it again" for example.
26th June 2008
This week featured word is 'Yurp'.
'Yurp' is a continent containing countries such as 'Vrance', 'Porchergul' and ' Ih-ah-lee' to name but a few.
The ‘Yurpeen Vutball Champunships’ are currently being played in ‘Ors-tree-a’ and ‘Swizzerlund’.
19th June 2008
'Are old dear' and 'Are old man'.
Many moons ago, when I was still at school and had just entered my teens, I was in a car with a recent addition to the school and his father. Archie, as we nicknamed him, had moved with his family to the 'Wess Vingland' from London. During the journey to his house to practise the guitar I asked him a question, to which his reply was "I don't know, I'll have to ask are old dear". His father asked incrediously "Who's 'are old dear'!?". Archie replied, "Our mum, that's what they call them around here". His dad wasn't too pleased to learn that he was referred to as 'are old man'.
This was the first time I was made aware that the rest of the country used different phrases and terms than us in Zummerzet. I'd travelled around the country on holiday before but had never really taken any notice of the different ways in the way we speak.
It should be noted that 'are old dear' or 'are old man' are affectionate terms. The 'are' is how the 'our' sounds when said in Zummerzet.
A few years ago a group of us organised a school reunion and, during our research and attempts to track people down, we learnt that Archie was now a rock star, based in Japan. No, really, check the blog out for the evidence (updated in the morning, UK time).
12th June 2008
Hello to you all and “How bist?”
A few weeks ago I asked you the question “How be on?”
‘How bist?’ is another way of saying the same thing.
Translated it reads as “How are you?” though the literal translation will drop the ‘you’ off of the question.
Bist is an Anglo-Saxon word.
5th June 2008
The use of the word 'To'.
In itself 'To' is not a Zummerzet word but it is used in a Zummerzet way.
You will hear it used as follows;
"Where be goin to?" ("Where are you going?").
"Where do e work to?" ("Where do you work?).
and "Where e bin to?" ("Where have you been?").
So in Zummerzet, used in this way, the word 'To' denotes location. In each case the addition of the
word is unnecessary but, that's what makes it a Zummerzet word.
29th May 2008
This week features the word Baint.
Used as follows;
“I baint tellin e”
or, in normal English “I ain’t telling you”.
So, baint means ain’t, am not. Literally translated it should read “I be not going to tell you”.
Baint is a culmination of Anglo Saxon and Olde Somerset.
22nd May 2008
This week's word is Wopse.
“Look out, there’s a gurt big wopse vlying abou’, e’ll
sting e iffee get im miffed”
Translates like this;
“Look out, there’s a great big wasp flying around, he will sting you if you upset him”
Wopse is an Anglo Saxon word (Wops) for Wasp and can still be heard by locals today.
 |
My Great Uncle Mike (1901-1994) always said wopse and had a fantastic Zummerzet accent. I have some recordings of him speaking about his ancestors and I intend to create some audio files to put on line so that you can hear Zummerzet said properly. Miffed means upset, angry, annoyed. |
15th May 2008
This week there are two words, Wunnum and Wunner.
Used as follows;
“They’ll aff to cum in wunnum?”
or “E’ll
aff to cum in wunner?”
This translates as;
"They will have to come in won't they?" and "He will have to come in won't he?"
As said above wunnum translates as “Won’t they?” The first part, Wunn, has been Zummerzetized© from Won’t and the second part, ‘um’, is a variation of ‘em’ from the word ‘them’, and in the case of ‘Wunner’ the ‘er’ is the Anglo Saxon term for her/him or it.
So Wunnum is the plural of Wunner.
8th May 2008
Hello and may I start by saying “Ow
be on then?”
…or to put it another way, “How are you?”
I’ve no idea as to how this phrase has originated but it is one that I can remember being frequently used when I was young(er).
We can work out that ‘ow’ is an abbreviation of ‘how’ and that ‘be’ is the Somerset/West Country term for ‘are’, but I’m as puzzled as you are as to how ‘on’ replaces ‘you’. If any of you can explain this to me please drop me a line (Click here) and I’ll post the explanation on the website. The phrase can also be said without using the final word shown above (then).
1st May 2008
This weeks’ word is SHADDIN.
It is used as follows:
“Ah, shaddin yesty, an e b a right darling
too!”
Translated as;
“Yes, she had him yesterday, and he is a beauty too!”
Shaddin is the result of bits taken from three words. She, had and him, with the m being replaced with an n and an extra d added for good measure.
24th April 2008
So, DINNER.
I’m sure you worked it out yet again.
If you did you should be able to understand the following sentence
“E made dinner dinner?”
Yes, dinner means ‘Didn’t he’.
So the above translates as “He made dinner didn’t he?”
See? It’s easy innit?
The ‘Din’ bit is an abbreviation of the already abbreviated word ‘Didn’t’ and the ‘er’ bit is the traditional Zummerzet/Anglo-Saxon term for ‘he’.
17th April 2008
CLAPS – Did you work it out? You did? Then well done.
Yes it means to fall apart, to cave in, to crumple or disintegrate.
As in the following “I
were so out of breff I were about to claps” (Don't
forget the silent 't's)
or "I was so out of breathe I was about to collapse".
This highlights how, when written, Zummerzet can be misunderstood. So when you read these words try to say them out loud, and hear the word properly.
Dinner is next week’s word. Let’s see if you can make it two in a row.
10th April 2008
This week features the word ‘ALASKER’.
It can be used like this “Dunno, alasker”.
Translated as “I don’t know, I’ll ask her”.
When pronouncing ‘alasker’ it is worth noting that the second ‘a’ is longer than the first ‘a’. So the phonectic spelling would be ‘ah-laass-ker’.
Said with the Zummerzet accent it works, but said with any other accent it probably doesn’t.
Next weeks word will be CLAPS. See if you can work out its Zummerzet meaning before next week’s update.
3rd April 2008
This week’s word is ‘Twurlee’ meaning, ‘to be too soon’.
It could be used as; “I
bain’t geh’in
up now, its far twurlee”
Translated as “I’m not getting up now, it’s far too early”.
This word is a classic example of how one word is made up by how it sounds rather than from the words it’s made up from. It is simply the words “too early” joined together and then ‘Zummerzetized’* into a word of its own.
Another word to baffle your friends with should they arrive ‘twurlee’.
*©Somerset3d2008
27th March 2008
A collection of words are explained this week. All quite similair in how they work.
They are FLOFF, FLON, FLOVER, FLIN & FLOUT. They sound like a gang in a children's cartoon don't they?
Their use could be as follows;
"E floff is orse an flon the floor, then flover is boots an it is ed on the door,
Then e flin luv wiv the maid oo were doin er chores,
an flout wiv is wife oo could take no more".
translated as,
"He fell off his horse and fell on the floor, then he fell over his boots and hit his head on the door,
then he fell in love with the maid who was doing her chores, and he fell out with his wife who could take no more".
So the word FELL has been shortened to FL and then simply attached to ON, OVER, IN, OUT or OFF.
See how many times you can use them when out with your friends this weekend.
20th March 2008
This week there are two words, 'Smornin' and 'Safternoon' ('ah-er-noon' is another option but usually used as a greeting rather than the context as explained below).
Commonly used in phrases such as;
"It's a vrosty un smornin innit? " = "It's
a frosty one this morning isn't it?"
and "We'll do tha' saffnoon" = "We'll
do that this afternoon".
Both of these words are a good examples of how easy the Somerset dialect is. In this instance we only use the 's' of the word 'this' and attach it to the next word to create one. Outsiders say the language is lazy, we say efficient.
As mentioned in previous posts we do not usually bother with consonants at the end of words. We figure that by the time we've said the first bit of the word you should be able to work out the rest for yourselves.
13th March 2008
This week’s word is ‘Gurt’, meaning ‘Great', but only as in size (Great big) rather than stature (Great Britain).
Commonly used in phrases such as;
"Ere, e's a gurt big young'n inner?" = "Hey,
He's great big youngster isn't he?"
and "I 'ad a gurt big dollop of the stuff" = "I had a great big serving of the stuff". A 'Dollop' is a term used to describe one serving of anything, food, medicine, lubricant etc.
As you can see Gurt is followed by big, so in effect they are one and the same. We wouldn't say Gurt on it's own. it would always be 'Gurt big'.
6th March 2008
This week’s word is ‘inner’, meaning ‘isn’t he/it.
Commonly used in phrases such as;
“E’s a brite spark inner?” = “He’s
very clever isn’t he?”
and “E’s a bit spensive inner?” = “It’s a bit expensive isn’t it?”
As you can see ‘E’ can mean He or It and the ‘er’ bit of ‘inner’ can refer to He/She or It.
Another thing to remember when speaking Zummerzet is that we rarely finish a word or pronounce the consonants at the end of words.
So the ‘t’ in ‘brite’ is almost silent.
I’ll leave it to you to explain to your friends why you’ve started speaking strangely.
All photographs © Alan Woollard Photography
HOME GALLERY 1 GALLERY 2 W.A.M. INFO
Photographs by |
Web Site by |
Buy the books from |
Hosted by |
 |
 |
|