About the Island / Locals Know Blog / Arts, Culture & Heritage
G’way Wit’ Ya? The Cape Breton Accent!
Tonight, I was watching an episode of CBC’s George Strombolopolous show that featured Newfoundland's sayings and was quite entertained. It got me thinking about our unique Cape Breton sayings and their origins.

I remember a few years back when my Dad bought a Cape Breton expressions t-shirt for my Mom for Christmas. It was filled with expressions that we Cape Bretoners use every day and became the subject of a conversation about our favourite Cape Breton expressions including:
"Jeet?" Translation: Did you eat yet?
"No, jou?" Translation: No, did you?
"G'way wit' ya." Translation: No way? Really!
"How are ya? Good dear good." (popularized by the iconic Mary Morrison)
"What’s yer fadder’s name?" (This is used to help understand your family tree.)

Cape Bretoners also have a tendency of using “right” and “some” as adjectives in place of very. For example, you may hear “It was some cold today!” or “It was some warm today!”

It turns out, it’s not only our sayings that are well known. There is an entry in Wikipedia about our sayings and more specifically about our accents:
The accents can be divided into three categories: the Western or Scottish Gaelic accent (Inverness, Judique, Mabou, the Margarees), the Industrial accent (Sydney, Glace Bay) and the French Acadian (communities surrounding Cheticamp, L'Ardoise and Isle Madame).
There are also influences of the Irish Gaelic accent that can be heard in numerous communities throughout the Island.
I guess we can thank our ancestors for our sayings and our way of saying them.

And by the way, my Mom was not overly impressed with the gift. After all, she lives the Cape Breton sayings every day!
What is your favourite Cape Breton saying? Mine is “What a rig!” Translation = A character.

About the Author
Celtic Heart of North America
Celtic Heart is your guide to discovering Cape Breton Island's living Celtic culture, the only one of its kind in North America.
Related posts...

A Day in the Bay
Glace Bay is a town rich in culture, history and, oddly enough, wildlife. If you're a history buff, wildlife watcher or want to spend an evening out for dinner and a show then you need to...

August on Cape Breton Island: A Month of Music, Culture, and Celebration
Cape Breton Island is turning up the volume this August with a jam-packed calendar of events that celebrate the Island’s music, heritage, and community spirit. Whether you’re chasing the soulful sounds of a summer concert, clapping...

Eskasoni
Nestled along the shores of Bras d'Or Lake, you'll find Eskasoni, one of five Mi'kmaq communities found on Cape Breton Island. Steeped in ancient history and rich in cultural heritage, here you'll have the opportunity to...
Unlock the Island’s Best-Kept Secrets
Get seasonal itineraries, local tips, and member-only offers, straight from Cape Breton insiders to your inbox twice a month.
No spam, just wanderlust fuel. Free departure anytime.
* By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy