So you’ve moved to Winston-Salem but you’re having a little trouble blending in with the locals?
While confidently asking for tea with the expectation that you’ll get sweet iced tea is a start, there’s more to being considered a local than that.
The dialect
First things first, don’t go overboard trying to replicate Winston-Salem’s Southern accent. Famous actors and actresses have tried a Southern accent and failed. Plus, you run the risk of locals receiving it as an insult. You don’t want that. Best advice: just take your time. You’re no longer in a hurry to do anything down here, including speaking.
How do you say that?
Riding around Winston—and especially if you venture out of the city a little, you might come across a road sign that you have no idea how to pronounce.
Many North Carolina towns, rivers and streets derive their names from Native American tribes. Catawba (Kuh-taw-bah), a river, county and college SW of Winston; and Nantahala (Nan-tah-hey-lah), a river in the Western part of the state, as well as a famous whitewater center outside of Charlotte come to mind. Others are names you think you know how to pronounce, but find that Winston-Salemites put their own stamp on it. Like these:
Salisbury – pronounce this like SAULS-berry. Will you ever find yourself visiting this small town SW of Winston? Probably not, unless you have a thing for trains.
Forsyth – You now live in Forsyth County, so get practicing on this one. Pronounce it like four-SYTHE.
Buena Vista – an upscale Winston neighborhood, second to only Reynolda, Buena Vista was once home exclusively to tobacco executives. Pronunciation: Byoo-Na Veesta.
Iredell – two counties west of Forsyth, Iredell is pronounced with an emphasis on the first syllable, EYE-ur-dell.
Pfafftown – an area in northern Winston that is part suburb, part separate city, it is famous as the setting for the movie Junebug. Pronunciation: Poff-town.
Advance – a town in neighboring Davie County, it’s not pronounced like the auto store. Instead, stress the first syllable: AD-vance.
Appalachian – ap-uh-LATCH-un (not ap-uh-LAY-chun). If I had unlimited time and money, I would stand at the NC border and hand out flyers saying just this. Few things will stick in the craw of a North Carolinian more than mispronouncing the name of the university, mountain or region.
Concord – unlike the purple grapes of the same name, this city outside of Charlotte famous for its NASCAR speedway stresses both syllables equally (KON-KORD).
Lunch is dinner, dinner is supper
In most other places, the daily meals are breakfast, lunch and supper. Not so in Winston-Salem. We took it upon ourselves to rename them breakfast, dinner and supper. And any meal can be called a repast.
Barbecue is a noun, not a verb
I'm at Little Richard's Lexington BBQ in Winston Salem, NC https://t.co/iasNtRPVr4 pic.twitter.com/B8M97236pv
— Nigel (@nalston1) September 5, 2018
Winston-Salem is the heart of NC barbecue country. Travel about 20 minutes south to reach Lexington, home of (you guessed it) Lexington-style barbecue. The eastern side of the state prefers their whole hogs slowly smoked then served with a vinegar-based sauce, while the western side (including Lexington) slow smokes just the pork shoulder and serves with a tomato-vinegar dip.
But if you want to eat some hot dogs, burgers or chicken cooked on a grill? That’s grilling or cooking out. Do not, under any circumstances call that barbecuing. Shudder.
Coke/Cocola
This exchange is not at all uncommon in restaurants throughout Winston:
Waitress: What can I get you to drink?
Customer: I’ll take a coke.
Waitress: What kind?
Customer: Dr. Pepper. (Or Sprite, or Mountain Dew).
Coke down here generally means any carbonated beverage. If you want a Coca-Cola, ask for a Cocola. Not everyone will agree with this, but Winston and the Piedmont, in general, are where this little language quirk is most prevalent.
Regardless, don’t refer to your beverage as a soda or pop. You’re no longer in the North, West or Midwest. You’re in the South. Welcome!
