Top 15 Minnesotan Phrases - Moving to Rochester, MN Guide
So, you’re moving to Rochester, Minnesota. Excited? Nervous? Did you have to look at a map? Rochester is a melting pot of many transplants, who, over the years have infused this city with lots of fun slang and food that Minnesotan’s claim as their own. Nordic influences, especially Norwegian and Swedish, lots of German influence, and Viking talk can be found throughout the state and in Rochester, aka Med City, as well.
So be sure to get up to speed on all the phrases and ‘correct’ pronunciation of words commonly used before you move to Rochester, MN so you’ll fit right in!
THE BASICS
Bag is pronounced beg or bayyyygggg
Wagon is pronounced waggin or weghon
Dragon is pronounced draggin
Milk is pronounced melk
Pillow is pronounced pellow
Pen is pronounced peyn
It’s a can of pop, not soda
Sure is pronounced shoor
Roof is pronounced ruff
Root is pronounced rut
#1: You Betcha! It’s a classic and used everywhere. Means ‘you’re welcome’. It’s a neutral reply and doesn’t commit you to anything, not even the opinion of your conversation partner! I challenge you to find a Minnesotan who hasn’t used this phrase. Outsiders eventually start using it without even thinking!
#2: Uffda: This word can be used for everything: good, bad, surprise, shock, exhaustion, anxiety, annoyance, etc. It basically means ‘oh my goodness’ and you’ll hear it daily! Possibly comes from the Swedish word ‘usch då’ and ‘ojdå’, which have a similar pronunciation and meaning.
#3: Oh Yaaah: Because ‘oh yes’, ‘yes’ and ‘sure’ are just too formal for some conversations.
#4: What’s with all the WITH’S? Possibly to do with German and Scandinavian languages that end a sentence with a preposition. But here are common ways you’ll hear it: We are going to Costco - wanna come WITH?" OR are you going skiing - can I come WITH? OR she can’t go WITH, she’s not old enough? OR are you headed out, can you take this WITH?
#5: Oh Fer: This essentially means ‘oh how…’ so if someone says oh for cute, it means ‘oh how cute’. If you have children or pets, you’ll hear this one a lot from true Minnesotans.
#6: Ish: This one comes from the Scandinavians and is definitely not a compliment. Loosely translated it means ‘yuck’. This one has totally snuck into my vocab over the last 10 years.
#7: Doncha Know? Oh we do and it’s definitely a Midwest thing. But it’s cute, so we will keep it. Simply means ‘don’t you know’.
#8: Aw, Geez: Popularized by the movie Fargo. The word basically means disappointment, annoyance, indignation or frustration of some kind.
#9: Borrow Me….? Yup - you heard that one right. The rest of the country just uses ‘lend’. For example: "can you borrow me your tent, I’m going camping up north this weekend?"
#10: That’s Interesting or That’s Different: Essentially means you don’t like something.
#11: Holy Buckets: Another cute one you’ll mostly only find in the Midwest. Use it to express your shock when you don’t want to swear.
#12: Could be worse: Typical Minnesotan response to bad news.
#13: Didn’t care for it: Feels less harsh than saying you didn’t like something.
#14: Ope: Basically means ‘I’m sorry’ or a tiny exclamation of surprise. The Midwest is comprised of 12 states but only a few of them use this word frequently with Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan being the top three. Why it started is still up for debate and why they love it is a whole other story, but it has become part of the Midwestern stereotype and is here to stay.
#15: Skol: A Scandinavian phrase meaning ‘cheers’. Typically chanted by Vikings fans.
WHY? WE WILL NEVER TRULY KNOW!
This just needs its own paragraph. Everywhere else in America, kids plays ‘Duck, Duck, Goose’. BUT you will need to re-educate your kids before they come to Rochester that in Minnesota, despite having so many Canadian Geese, we have no goose for the game and instead play with a Gray Duck. So, the game goes as follows DUCK, DUCK, GRAY DUCK!
To learn more about other fun ways to keep your kids entertained in Rochester, MN, CLICK HERE
DON’T BE GETTING ALL FANCY!
It’s not a casserole - It’s a Tator Tot HOT DISH and there are hundreds of variations on the recipe but getting fancy ain’t one of them!
CLICK HERE To learn more of Minnesotan culinary specialties. You don’t want to show up at someone’s house bringing ‘BARS’ if you said you were bringing ‘COOKIES’!
YOU GOT THIS!
You may think you can resist these terms or culinary treats, but I warn you, they creep up on you over time, so best not to resist it! If you’d like to get to know Rochester, MN better by connecting with local restaurants and vendors please reach out. I have a wonderful program that I can add you to, where each month you’ll get a free gift to a fun (and often delicious) local business so you can try it out. Totally free to you. Just a fun way to support local businesses. I just need your email to sign you up!
Sandra Reid
