JEDUS--Jesus.
JESTUSS--justice.
JEW--Jew, Jews.
JEW--dew.
JIMPSIN-WEED/JIMSIN-WEED--Jimpson or Jamestown-weed.
JINE--join, joins, joined, joining.
JININ’--joining; adjoining. (See “eenjinin’”).
JINNYWERRY--January.
JIS’--just. (See “dis’”).
JISSO/JESSO--just so. (See “disso”).
JOHOSSEE--Jehossee--a rice-growing island of the South
Carolina Coast.
JOKOK--Jaycocks--the name of former Governor Heyward’s
overseer on the Combahee.
JOOK--jab, jabs, jabbed, jabbing.
JOOKASS--jackass, jackasses.
JUDUS CAESAR--Julius Caesar.
JUE--due, dues.
JUHRUZELUM--Jerusalem.
JU’K--jerk, jerks, jerked, jerking.
JULIP--the vanished mint julep.
JULLY--July.
JUNK--chunk, chunks, as of lightwood.
JUNTLEMUN--gentleman, gentlemen; also a woman’s “man”
or husband; as, “him juntlemun,” meaning her husband.
JUNTLEMUN’ NIGGUH--gentleman’s Negro, meaning one who
as a slave had belonged to people of position--the
“quality.”
K
’KACE--scarce. (See “sca’ce”).
’KACELY--scarcely, hardly. (See “sca’cely”).
KETCH--catch, catches, caught, catching; took, take; as: “’E
ketch ’e tex f’um de fus’ chaptuh een Nickuhdemus”--He
took his text from the first chapter of Nicodemus.
Also for reach, reached; as: “Time uh ketch de ribbuh
bank, de dog done gone.”
KETCH’UM--catch, catches, caught, catching him, her, it,
them.
KI--an exclamation. (Sometimes “kwi” or “kwoy”).
KIBBUH--(n. and v.) cover, covers, covered, covering.
KIBBUHR’UM--cover, covers, covered, covering him, her, it,
them.
KILLYBASH--calabash, calabashes; gourd, gourds.
KIN--can.
KIN--kin, kindred.
KIN’--kind, kinds; sort, sorts.
KIND’UH--kind of, sort of.
KNOCK--knock, knocks, knocked, knocking.
’KNOWLEDGE--acknowledge, acknowledges, acknowledged, acknowledging;
admit, etc.
KNOW’UM--know, knows, knew him, her, it, them.
KYAG--keg, kegs.
KYARRYSENE--kerosene.
L
LAA’CENY--larceny.
LAA’D--lard.
LAA’GIN’--enlarging, swaggering, boastful.
LAA’N--learn, learns, learned, learning.
LAB’RUH--laborer, laborers.
LAM’QUAWTUH--lamb’s-quarter--an edible wild herb of which,
like the tender leaves of the pokeberry, the Negroes
are very fond, using it for boiling.
LANGWIDGE--language, talk.
LAS’--last, lasts, lasted, lasting; last (adverb); shoemaker’s
last.
LAS’YEAH--last year, last year’s.
LAUGH--(n. and v.) laugh, laughs, laughed, laughing.
LAVUH--(n. and v.) labor, labors, labored, laboring.
LAWFULLY LADY--a Negro’s legally married wife.
LEABE--leaf, leaves.
LEABE--(n. and v.) leave, leaves, left, leaving (see “lef’”);
permit, permission.
LEAN FUH--lean for--set out for with haste and speed.
’LEBEN/’LEB’N--eleven.
LEDDOWN--lay, lays, laid or lie, lies, lay, lying down.
LEEK--lick, licks, licked, licking--with the tongue.
LEELY/LILLY--little, in size or quantity.
LEETLE--little, in size or quantity.
LEF’--leave, leaves, left, leaving. (See “leabe”).
LEF’ HAN’--left hand or left handed, “lef han’ foot,” or “lef
han’ feet”--left foot or left leg.
LEF’UM--leave, leaves, left or leaving him, her, it, them.
LEGGO--let go, lets go, letting go.
LEH--let, lets, letting.
LEH WE--let us.
LE’M--let them.
LEM’LONE--let, lets him, her, it, them alone.
LEMME--let me.
LEN’--(v.) lend, lends, loaned, lending.
LENGK--length, lengths.
’LESS--(or onless) unless.
LIAH/LIE--liar, liars.
LIB--live, lives, lived, living.
LIBBIN’--living.
’LIBE--alive.
LIBBUH--liver, livers.
’LIBBUH--deliver, delivers, delivered, delivering.
LICK--(n. and v.) a blow; to whip, whips, whipped.
LICK BACK--turn, turns, turned, turning back, while moving
rapidly.
LICKIN’--(n. and v.) a licking, lickings, whipping, etc.
LIGHT ON--light on--mount, mounts, mounted, mounting.
LIGHT’OOD--lightwood--resinous pine-wood.
LIGHT OUT--to start, start off, or away.
’LIJAH/’LIJUH--Elijah, the prophet.
’LIJUN--religion.
LIKESO/LIKEWISE ALSO--likewise, also.
LIMUS-COOTUH--a small, malodorous black terrapin, held in
contempt by both races.
LINNIMENT--liniment.
LISS’N--listen, listens, listened, listening.
LOBLOLLY-PINE--the great short-leaf pine growing in low
ground.
LOCUS PASTUH--local pastor, or preacher.
’LONG--along, along with.
LONGIS’--longest.
LONGMOUT’--long mouth--descriptive of the surly or contemptuous
pushing out of the lips of an angry or
discontented Negro.
’LONGSIDE--alongside.
LONG TALK KETCH RUN’WAY NIGGUH--meaning long talk or
conversation by the roadside often causes or caused
runaway slaves to be caught by the “patrol.”
LONGUH--longer.
’LONG’UM--along with, or with him, her, it, them.
LOSS--lose, loses, lost, losing.
’LOW’UM--allow, allows, allowed, allowing him, her, it, them.
LUB--(n. and v.) love, loves, loved, loving; like, likes, liked,
liking.
LUK--like, alike.
LUKKUH--like, like unto, resembling.
LUK’UM--like or resembling him, her, it, them.
M
MAA’CH--March; march, marches, marched, marching.
MAA’K--(n. and v.) mark, marks, marked, marking.
MAA’L--the marl or phosphate mines. (See “de Rock”).
MA’AM--madam.
MAAMY--mother, mothers.
MAA’SH--marsh, marshes.
MACFUSS’NBIL--McPhersonville--a summer village.
MAN--man, man’s; men, men’s.
MANGE--mane.
MANNUS--manners, politeness, courtesy.
MANNUSSUBBLE--well-mannered, polite.
MARRI’D--married, marry, marries, marrying.
MASS/MAS’--master when used with a name: as, “Mass Clinch,”
“Mas’ Rafe.”
MASTUH--Master--used only for God.
MATCH--(n. and v.) match, matches, matched, matching. Yet
“matches” is sometimes used for the singular; as,
“Gimme uh matches”--give me a match.
MAUM--same as “maumuh,” when used with the name of the
person spoken to or of, as “Maum Kate.”
MAUMUH--mauma, the equivalent of the up-country
“mammy.”
MAUSSUH--master, masters. NOTE: See above “Mastuh.”
While the Gullah can pronounce “mastuh,” he reserves
this for God, even saying “Maussuh Jedus”--Master Jesus.
MAWGIDGE--(n. and v.) mortgage, mortgages, mortgaged,
mortgaging.
MAWNIN’--morning, mornings; also “good morning!”
ME--I, my.
MEAN--mean, meanness.
MEDDISIN/MED’SIN--medicine, medicines, physic
MEDJUH--(n. and v.) measure, measures, measured, measuring.
MEDJUHR’UM--measure, measures, measured, measuring him,
her, it, them.
MEK--make, makes, made, making.
MEK’ACE--make haste.
MEK ANSUH--make, makes, making, made reply.
MEK FUH--make for; to go to, goes to, went to, going to.
MEK OUT--make, makes, made, making out; a makeshift.
MEK YO MANNUS--make your manners, your obeisance.
MEMBUH--member, members as of a church or society.
’MEMBUH--remember, remembers, remembered, remembering;
remind, etc.
’MEMB’UNCE--remembrance, remembrances.
MEN’ ’E PACE--mend his, her, its, their pace; hurry, hurry up,
etc.
MENS--men.
MESELF/MUHSELF--myself.
MET’DIS’--Methodist, Methodists.
METSIDGE--message, messages.
MIDDLEBLOUSE--middy-blouse, middy-blouses.
MIDDLEDAY--midday, noon.
MIDDLENIGHT--midnight.
MIN’--mind, minds, minded, minding; heed, etc.; take care of,
protect, cherish, guard.
’MIRATION--admiration, wonder, astonishment.
MIS’/MISS--Miss, Mrs., Mistress, when accompanied by a
name, as Miss Anne, “Mis’ Chizzum.”
MISSIS--mistress, mistresses.
MISTUH--Mr.
MO’--more.
MOAN--moan, moans, moaned, moaning.
MO’ BETTUH--more better, better.
MOCCASIN--water-moccasin, a venomous snake.
MO’ LONGUH--more longer, longer.
MO’N--mourn, mourns, mourned, mourning.
MO’NFUL--mournful.
’MONG/’MOUNG--among, amid.
MONGK’Y/MONK’Y--monkey, monkeys.
MONSTROSITY--monstrous.
MO’NUH--mourner, mourners.
MO’NUH--more than.
MO’NUH DA’--more than that.
MOOBE--move, moves, moved, moving.
MO’OBUH--moreover.
MO’RIS’/MO’RES’--most.
MOUT’--mouth, mouths.
MUFFEY--Murphy.
MUFFLEDICE--hermaphrodite.
MUFFLEJAW--muffle-jawed--a strain of barnyard fowl, heavily
feathered about the cheeks.
MUHLASSIS--molasses.
MUKKLE--myrtle, myrtles; myrtle thickets.
MUNT’--month, months.
MURRUH--mother, mothers.
MURRUHLAW--mother-in-law.
MUS’BE--must be, must have, must have been.
MUSCOBY--Muscovy--a breed of domestic ducks much affected
by low-country Negroes.
MUSKICK--musket, muskets.
MUSKITTUH--mosquito, mosquitoes.
MUSSIFUL--merciful.
MUSSY--mercy, mercies.
MUSTU’D--mustard.
MUSTUH--muster, musters, mustered, mustering.
MY’OWN--mine, my.
N
NAKID/NAKIT--naked.
NAKITY--naked, nakedness.
’NARRUH--another. (See “’nodduh” and “’norruh”).
NAVUH--neighbor, neighbors.
NEBBUH--never. (See “nubbuh”).
NEEDUH--neither.
NEEDUHSO--neither so, neither, nor.
N’MIN’/N’MINE/NEMMIN’/NEMMINE/NUMMINE--never mind.
NEPCHUNE--Neptune.
NES’--(n. and v.) nest, nests, nested, nesting.
NEWFANGLETY--newfangled.
NEWNITED STATES--United States.
NICKYNACK--“nic-nac” crackers, biscuit.
NIGGUHHOUSE--Negro house or houses, cabin or cabins.
NIGGUHHOUSE YAA’D--Negro house yard, the main street running
through the plantation Negro quarters.
NIGH--near, also draw near to; as: “W’en de bull biggin fuh
nigh’um de gal tek ’e foot een ’e han’ en’ run ’way.”
NIGHT--night, night-time, at night.
NIGH’UM--near, or nearing him, her, it, them.
’N’INT--anoint, anoints, anointed, anointing. (See “renoint”).
NO--any.
NO’COUNT--no account, worthless.
’NODDUH--another. (See “’narruh” and “’norruh”).
NOMANNUS/NOMANNUSSUBBLE--impolite, without manners, rude.
NOMINASHUN--nominate, nominates, nominated, nominating;
also nomination, nominations.
’NORRUH--another. (See “’narruh” and “’nodduh”).
NOTT--nut, nuts; as “nott-grass,” nut grass.
NOTUS--(n. and v.) notice, notices, noticed, noticing.
NOWEMBUH--November.
NUBBUH--never. (See “nebbuh”).
’NUF--enough, abundance.
NUH--nor; also for and.
’NURRUH--another.
NUSS--(n. and v.) nurse, nurses, nursed, nursing.
NUSSUH/NUSSO--not so.
NUTT’N’--nothing.
NYAM--eat, eats, eating, ate; sometimes “nyam-nyam,” a
repetition for emphasis.
NYANKEE--Yankee, Yankees.
NYOUNG/NYUNG--young.
NYOUNGIS’--youngest.
NYUSE/USE--(n. and v.) use, uses, used, using. (See “uz’n”).
NYUZE/NYUZ’N--(v.) used, using.
O
OAGLY--ugly.
OBJECK’--object. (See “’jeck’”).
OBSERB’--observe, observes, observed, observing.
OB’SHAY--overseer, overseers.
OBUH--over, above.
OBUHTEK--overtake, overtakes, overtook, overtaking.
OBUHT’ROW--overthrow, overthrows, overthrew, overthrowing;
overthrown.
OCTOBUH--October.
ODDUH--other, others.
ODDUHRES’--the other rest, the rest, remainder.
OFF’UH--off, off of.
OFFUH--offer, offers, offered, offering.
OFF’UM--off, or off of him, her, it, them.
OLE--old.
ONBUTT’N--unbutton, unbuttons, unbuttoned, unbuttoning.
ONCOMMUN--uncommon.
ONDEESTUNT--indecent, indecency.
ONDELICATE--indelicate, presumptuous.
ONDUH--under.
ONDUHNEET’--underneath.
ONDUHSTAN’--understand, understands, understood, understanding.
Also, as an understanding.
ONDUHTEK--undertake, undertakes, undertook, undertaking.
ONE--only; “me one,” I only.
ONE’NARRUH/ONE’NODDUH/ONE’NUDDUH/ONE’NURRUH--one another.
ONETIME--once, once upon a time.
ONHITCH--unhitch, unhitches, unhitched, unhitching; also
marital separation.
ONKIBBUH--uncover, uncovers, uncovered, uncovering.
ONLOCK--unlock, unlocks, unlocked, unlocking.
ONMANNUSSUBBLE--unmannerly, impolite, rude. (See “nomannussubble”).
ONNUH--(n. and v.) honor, honors, honored, honoring.
ONNUHRUBBLE--honorable.
ONRABBLE--unravel, unravels, unraveled, unraveling; untangle.
ONREASUNNUBBLE--unreasonable.
ONSAA’T’N--uncertain.
ONSATTIFY--unsatisfied, unsatisfying.
ONTEL--until.
ONTIE--untie, unties, untied, untying.
’OOD--wood, woods.
’OOMAN--woman, woman’s; women, women’s. “’Ooman iz uh
sometime t’ing”--Woman is a fickle, uncertain
creature, sometimes one thing, sometimes another.
OONUH--ye, sometimes you. (See “wunnuh,” etc.).
OSHTUH--oyster, oysters.
OSHTUH RAKE--long-handled rake or tongs for gathering
oysters.
OUGHTUH--ought, ought to, ought to be; as: “Man oughtuh
t’engkful”--man ought to be thankful.
OUT/OUT’N--to go out, put out, extinguish; as: “Uh out de fiah”--
I put out the fire. “Uh out’n’um”--I put it out.
OUT’UH--out of, out.
OX--oxen.
OXIDIZE--to turn into an ox.
OXIN--ox.
P
PAA’D’N--(n. and v.) pardon, pardons, pardoned, pardoning.
PAA’DNUH--partner, partners.
PAA’KUH--Parker--a low-country family name.
PAA’LUH--parlor, parlors.
PAA’SIMONY--parsimony, also avarice or rapacity.
PAA’S’N--parson, parsons.
PAAT’--path, paths.
PAA’T--(n. and v.) part, parts, parted, parting.
PAA’TY--party.
PALABUHRIN’--palavering--soft talk of a philanderer with
the gentler sex.
PAPUH--(n. and v.) paper, papers, papered, papering; also a
written instrument, a note or letter.
PARRYSAWL--parasol, parasols.
PASHUN/PASHUNT--patience; patient, forbearing.
PASSOBUH--Passover.
PASS’UM--pass, passes, passed, passing him, her, it, them.
PASTUH--pastor, pastors; pasture, pastures.
PATTY-AUGUH/PETTY-AUGUH--piragua, pirogue.
PAWPUS--porpoise, porpoises.
’PAWTUN’/’PORTUN’--important.
’PAWTUNCE/’PORTUNCE--importance.
PEACEUBBLE--peaceable, peaceful.
PEAWINE--peavine, peavines.
PENITENSHUS--penitentiary.
’PEN’PUN--depend, depends, depended, depending upon.
PERUSE--to saunter, walk in a leisurely manner, as: “Da’ gal
him bin peruse ’long de road en’ ’e nebbuh study
’bout nutt’n’;” also investigate, examine, consider.
PESSLE--pestle, pestles; a double-headed wooden implement
for beating rice.
PHOSKIT/PHUSKIT--phosphate, commercial fertilizer; also “de
Phoskit” the phosphate mines.
PIGGIN--a small cedar pail in universal use among Negroes
of the coast.
PINCH’UM--pinch, pinches, pinched, pinching him, her, it,
them; sometimes gripping, as of pain.
’PIN--spin, spins, spun, spinning.
PINDUH--pindar, peanut, peanuts. (See “grunnot”).
PINELAN’--pineland, pinelands.
’PINION--opinion, opinions.
P’INT--(n. and v.) point, points, pointed, pointing; direct,
etc.
’P’INT--appoint, appoints, appointed, appointing.
’P’INTMENT--appointment, appointments.
’PISKUBBLE--Episcopal, Episcopalian.
’PISTLE--Epistle, Epistles (Bible).
PITCHUH--pitcher, pitchers.
PIT--put, puts, put, putting.
PIT’UM--put him, her, it, them.
PIZEN--poison, poisons, poisoned, poisoning.
PIZEN-OAK--poison-oak, or poison ivy.
’PLASH--(n. and v.) splash; to splash, splashes, splashed,
splashing.
PLAT-EYE--a ghostly apparition, common to the Georgetown
section of the coast.
PLAY ’POSSUM--to make believe, to fool, deceive.
PLEASE KIN--please can--a redundancy; as: “please kin
gimme”--please give me.
PLEDJUH--pleasure, pleasures.
PLEDJUHR’UM--please, give pleasure to him, her, it, them.
PO’--poor, also thin, lean, low in flesh.
PO’BUCKRUH--a poor white man, the poor whites.
PO’BUCKRUH-NIGGUH--a Negro who had formerly belonged
to the poorer whites, or those not of the “quality.”
PO’CH--porch, porches.
POLITICKSUS/POLITICUSS--political. (See “cawpsus politicksus”).
POLLYDO’--Polydore--a favorite man’s name among the
Negroes; used also for Apollos.
PO’LY--poorly, describing health.
PON PON--the lower Edisto and the region south of the A.
C. L. Ry., opposite Jacksonboro.
POOTY/PUTTY--pretty.
PO’R--pour, pours, poured, pouring.
PO’R’UM--pour, pours, poured, pouring it, that.
POS’--(n. and v.) post, posts, posted, posting.
POSITUBBLE--positive, positively.
POSSIMMUN--persimmon, persimmons; the tree and fruit.
PO’TRIAL--Port Royal.
PRAISE-MEETIN’--prayer-meeting.
PRAY--(n. and v.) prayer, prayers; prays, prayed, praying.
’PREAD--spread, spreads, spreading.
PREECHUH--preacher, preachers; minister, ministers.
PREECHUH ON DE SUKKUS--the circuit or traveling preacher.
PREMUSSIZ--premises.
PRESINCK--precinct.
PRES’N’LY--presently.
PREZZYDENT--president.
PRIBLIDGE--(n. and v.) privilege, privileges, privileged.
PRIMUS WARD--ward primary.
PRIZZUNT--present, presents, presented, presenting.
PRIZZUNT AA’M--present arms.
PROJIC’--to “monkey with,” to hazard.
PROMMUS--(n. and v.) promise, promises, promised, promising.
PROOBE--prove, proves, proved, proving.
PROPUTTY--property, wealth.
’PUBLIKIN--Republican.
PUHCEED/PUSCEED--proceed, proceeds, proceeded, proceeding.
PUHHAPS--perhaps.
P’UHJEC’--project, projected, as: “W’en da’ ’ooman bex, him
p’uh’jec’ him mout’ at me”--When that woman was
angry she stuck out her mouth at me.
PUHJUH--perjure, perjures, perjured, perjuring.
PUHLICITUH--solicitor, solicitors; the dreaded prosecuting attorney
of the Criminal Court, held in awe by all
low-country Negroes.
PUHLITE--polite, politely. Also a popular Negro name, as
“Mingo Puhlite.”
PUHSHAY--Porcher--name of a low-country family.
PUHTEK--protect, protects, protected, protecting.
PUHTEKSHUN--protection.
PUHTETTUH--potato, potatoes--usually sweet. (See “tettuh”).
PUHTICKLUH--particular, particularly.
PUHWIDE--provide, provides, provided, providing.
PUHWID’N--providing, also provided.
PUHWIDUH--provider, providers.
PUHWISHUN--provision, provisions; ration, ration.
PUHWOKE--provoke, provokes, provoked, provoking.
PUHWOKIN’--provoking.
PUHZAC’LY--exactly, precisely.
PUHZISHUN--position, positions.
PULBLIC--public, the public.
PULL WOOL--to pull the kinky forelock in salutation to “de
Buckruh.”
PUNKIN--pumpkin, pumpkins.
PUNKIN-SKIN--pumpkin colored or mulatto Negro.
PUNNOUNCE--pronounce, pronounces, pronounced, pronouncing.
’PUNTOP/’PUNTAP/’PANTAP--upon, on, on top of.
’PUNTOP’UH--upon top of, on top of, at.
PUPPUS--purpose, on purpose.
PUSS’N/PUSSON/PUSSUN--person, persons.
PUSS’NULLY/PUSSONULLY/PUSSUNULLY--personally.
Q
’QUAINTUN’--acquainted, acquainted with.
’QUAINTUNCE--acquaintance, acquaintances. (See “acquaintun’”).
QUARRIL/QUAWL--quarrel, quarrels.
QUARRILMENT/QUAWLMENT--quarrel, quarrels, quarreled, quarrelling.
QUAWT--quart, quarts.
QUAWT’LY--quarterly.
QUAWTUH--(n. and v.) quarter, quarters, quartered, quartering.
’QUEEZE--squeeze, squeezes, squeezed, squeezing.
QUESCHUN/SQUESCHUN--(n. and v.) question, questions, questioned,
questioning. Rarely used, “quizzit” taking its
place.
QUILE--(n. and v.) coil, coils, coiled, coiling.
’QUIRE--require, requires, required, requiring.
’QUIRE--inquire, inquires, inquired, inquiring.
QUIZZIT--(quiz) ask, asks, asked, asking; to question, questions,
questioned, questioning. (See “squizzit,” a
rarely used variant).
R
RABBISH--ravish, ravishes, ravished, ravishing.
RAB’N--raven, ravens; vulture, vultures; buzzard, buzzards.
RAB’NEL--Ravenel, Ravenels--a family name, also a station
on Atlantic Coast Line Railway.
RACKTIFY--to break, breaks, broke, broken, breaking. Confuse
in mind: “Da’ buggy racktify”--that buggy is dilapidated.
“Da’ ’ooman racktify een ’e min’”--that
woman’s mind is distracted.
RAIN--(n. and v.) rain, rains, rained, raining.
RALE--real, very, truly.
RAMIFY--to act like a ram.
RANGE--range, ranges, ranged, ranging.
’RANGUHTANG--Orang-Utan, Orang-Utans.
RAPPIT--rapid, rapidly.
RASHI’N--(n. and v.) ration, rations, rationed, rationing.
RAYRE--rear, rears, reared, rearing.
’READY--already.
REBEL TIME--rebel times--the freedmen’s offensive characterization
of the period before freedom when their
former masters controlled the government of their
own states.
REB’REN’--reverend--used also as a noun, as “de reb’ren’.”
RECISHUN--decision, decisions.
REDDUH--rather. (See “rudduh”).
REFEN’--defend, defends, defended, defending. (See “’fen’”).
REINGE--reins.
REMONIA--pneumonia.
RENITE--unite, unites, united, uniting.
RENOINT--anoint, anoints, anointed, anointing. (See “’n’int”).
RENOINTED--anointed.
REPEAH--appear, appears, appeared, appearing.
REPLOY--(rare) reply, replies, replied, replying.
REPOSE--oppose, opposes, opposed, opposing.
RESPLAIN--explain, explains, explained, explaining; elucidate,
etc.
RETCH--reach, reaches, reached, reaching.
’RIAH--Maria.
RIBBUH--river, rivers.
RICEBU’D--ricebird, ricebirds.
RIDICK’LUS--ridiculous, also outrageous, scandalous. (Often
so used by illiterate whites).
ROAS’--roast, roasts, roasted, roasting.
ROCK--rock, rocks, rocked, rocking. Also for phosphate rock.
(See “de Rock”).
ROKKOON--raccoon, raccoons.
ROLL--roll, rolls, rolled, rolling.
ROOS’--(n. and v.) roost, roosts, roosted, roosting.
ROOSTUH--rooster, roosters.
ROZZUM--(n. and v.) rosin, rosins, rosined, rosining.
RUBBIDGE--rubbish.
RUCKUHNIZE--recognize, recognizes, recognized, recognizing.
RUDDUH--rather. (See “redduh”).
RUDDUH--rudder, rudders.
RUMPLETAIL--(rumpless) a tailless fowl.
RUN--run, runs, ran, running.
RUPPEZUNT--represent, represents, represented, representing.
S
SAA’B--serve, serves, served, serving.
SAA’BINT--(also “saa’bunt”) servant, servants.
SAA’BINT DAY--servants’ day--perhaps originally a corruption
of Sabbath day.
SAA’BIS--(also sarbis) service, services, use.
SAA’CH--search, searches, searched, searching; also examine,
examined, etc.
SAA’F--soft.
SAA’F’LY--softly.
SAA’PINT/SAA’PUNT--serpent (Biblical).
SAA’T’N/SUTT’N--certain.
SABANNUH/SAWANNUH--Savannah; savanna, savannas.
SABBIDGE--savage, savages.
SABE--save, saves, saved, saving.
SABEYUH--the Savior.
SA’LEENUH--St. Helena Island, on the South Carolina coast.
SAME LUKKUH--(also sukkuh) same like, like, resembling.
SAN’--sand.
SAT’D’Y/SATTYDAY--Saturday.
SATTIFACKSHUN--satisfaction.
SATTIFY--satisfy, satisfies, satisfied, satisfying.
SAWLKETCHUH--Salkehatchie--upper reaches of the Combahee
above the A. C. L. Ry.
SAWT--(n. and v.) sort, sorts, sorted, sorting.
SAWTUH--sort of--after a fashion.
SAY--say, says, said, saying.
SCA’CE/SCA’CEFUL--scarce.
SCA’CELY--scarcely, hardly. (See “kacely”).
SCATTUH--scatter, scatters, scattered, scattering.
SCHEMY--scheming, tricky.
SCOLE--scold, scolds, scolded, scolding.
SCRIPTUH--Scripture--the Bible.
’SCUSE--(noun) excuse, excuses.
’SCUSIN’--excusing, except.
’SCUSSHUN--excursion, excursions.
’SCUZE--(verb) excuse, excuses, excused, excusing.
SEAZ’NIN’--seasoning.
SEB’N--seven.
SEB’NPUNCE--seven pence. (See “fo’punce”).
SEB’NTEEN--seventeen.
SEB’NTY--seventy.
SECKRITERRY--secretary, secretaries.
SECTEMBUH--September.
SECUN’--second.
SEDATE--sedately, quietly, in a leisurely manner: “De mule
walk so sedate uh couldn’ plow fas’.”
SEDDOWN--sit or set down, sits or sets down, sat or set down,
sitting or setting down.
SEE--see, sees, saw, seen, seeing.
SEEGYAA’--cigar, cigars.
SEEM--seem, seems, seemed, seeming.
’SELF--himself, herself, itself, themselves; as: “Him maussuh
’self haffuh wu’k”--his master himself has to
work.
SELFISH--selfish--glum, dour.
SENCE--since.
SEN’UM--send, sends, sent, sending him, her, it, them.
SESSO--say so, says so, said so, saying so. (See “susso”).
SET--sit, sits, sat, sitting. (See “seddown”).
SETTLE’--settled, as: “settle’ ’ooman,” a settled woman, a
Negro woman of a certain age, not a flapper.
SETT’N’--sitting.
SETT’N’UP--sitting up--a Negro wake; a small religious meeting.
SEZZEE--says he, said he.
SEZZI--says I, said I.
SHAA’K--shark, sharks.
SHAA’P--sharp.
SHAA’P’N--sharpen, sharpens, sharpened, sharpening.
SHABE--shave, shaves, shaved, shaving.
SHADDUH--(n. and v.) shadow, shadows, shadowed, shadowing.