There are a lot of websites that try to translate our expressions, but this is the first one I've found that actually gets them right. I've bolded ones that are so common as to be basically the only way of expressing the idea locally:
Quote:
A typical conversation in ‘Newfinese’ might go something like this:
“Ow’s she cuttin’, me cocky?” – How are you, my friend?
“Best kind, b’y. Ow’s she gettin’ on?” – I’m feeling great. How are you faring?
“I’m just ’bout gutfounded.” – I’m very hungry
“I’ll put da ol’ slut on. Put da wood in da ’ole an we’ll ‘ave a yarn” – I’ll put the kettle on. Close the door and we’ll chat.
“Yes b’y. Fire up a scoff.” – Make some food
“Whatta yat? Is ya ’ard at it all de time or wa?” – What are you doing? Are you working hard?
Yes b’y, I dare say, but n’arn – Yes, I expect I am, but there’s no fish. (N’arn being a contracted form of ‘nary a one’.)
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They've written the Newfoundland English above according to one rural accent in which the H is almost never pronounced. That's not the case in St. John's.
Best kind also means... admirable? Not quite sure how to translate it... but you could say, "Oh, her new boyfriend is best kind". And you don't mean he's feeling great, you mean he's acceptable, admirable, etc.
Quote:
Do you want some taken up? –Want some supper?
Who knit ya? – Who’s your mother/parents?
Stay where you’re to ’till I comes where you’re at. – Stay there until I get there.
Yes b’y. – This is a staple, and it can mean many things, depending on its intonation—Ok!…No way! I don’t believe you…Really, it’s true…Is that so? You’ll just have to take this one in context.
Mind now. – You don’t really expect that?
I just dies at you! – You make me laugh.
Oh me nerves, ye got me drove! – You’re driving me crazy.
Put da side back in ’er. – Close the window.
What odds? – Who cares?
Lodge it on da bridge. – Put it down on the step outside.
It’s a mausey day. – A foggy, wet day.
I handy ’bout died. – I almost died laughing.
I knows you’re not stunned. – You’re stupid.
G’wan! – You’re joking, right?
I’ll drop over ’round by and by. – I’ll visit sometime.
You’re some crooked/contrary – You are grouchy/hard to get along with.
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You could also use rotted instead of contrary. And by and by would be more commonly expressed as "the once" (in a bit) or "now the once" (in a short bit).
http://www.encounternewfoundland.com/new...hrases-youre-likely-to-hear-on-the-rock/
My personal favourite, though, will always be "couldn'ts". It means leftovers. When I consciously realized why that is, I died.
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I hadn't realized they were a Toronto thing.
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