You’d be amazed at how much a single language can differ between native speakers of that language. Oftentimes, one of the biggest reasons for any variation in a language is distance. The farther apart people are, the likelier they are to develop words that vary from each other.
This is why slang in Minnesota feels different from slang in Texas. The two states couldn’t be farther apart in the US.
To demonstrate, we’ve created this list of Texas slang words and sayings. We’ll define them all, and provide you examples of how to use them.
Texas Slang Words and Sayings
A
Ain’t
Meaning:
- (Expression): A contracted version of the words “are” and “not.” It’s just another way of saying aren’t and isn’t.
- Example: “You ain’t from around these parts, are you?”
Ain’t My First Rodeo
Meaning:
- (Expression): Not your first time doing something. You say this usually to assure someone you can handle something or that you don’t need help figuring it out.
- Example: “Don’t worry about the brain surgery. I went to school for this. It ain’t my first rodeo.”
All Git-Out
Meaning:
- (Adjective): When you say this, you use it to emphasize something else. It’s another way of saying “very” or “extremely.”
- Example: “That house is cheap as all git-out. What’s wrong with it?”
All Hat, No Cattle
Meaning:
- (Expression): Use this cutting phrase to describe someone who’s particularly stupid.
- Example: “My boyfriend may be all hat, no cattle, but I love him, anyway.”
B
Bigger’n Dallas
Meaning:
- (Adjective): Something that is extremely large and noticeable.
- Example: “This burger is bigger’n Dallas!”
Bless Your Heart
Meaning:
- (Expression): An expression that seems polite and warm on the surface but is often actually an expression of sympathy or a disguised insult.
- Example: “Bless your heart, you think you’re being so smart right now.”
This phrase is also popular in Alabama slang. You can learn more about it in our Alabama slang guide.
Broke Bad
Meaning:
- (Adjective): Use this phrase to describe someone who had a solid family, but still turned out to be a troublemaker.
- Example: “Jesse was broke bad, even though his mama raised him right.”
C
Can’t Beat That with a Stick
Meaning:
- (Expression): This phrase is used to describe an irresistible deal. It’s something you can’t let pass you by.
- Example: “They have 25-cent tacos at the bar on Tuesday. You can’t beat that with a stick!”
Coke
Meaning:
- (Noun): What Texans call every type of soda, whether or not it’s actually Coke.
- Example: “I’d like to order a glass of coke, please.”
Come Hell or High Water
Meaning:
- (Expression): Determination to do something no matter what stands in your way.
- Example: “I’ll get to your wedding, come hell or high water.”
Conniption
Meaning:
- (Noun): The state of freaking out or throwing a tantrum.
- Example: “My dad will have a conniption if I’m not home in an hour.”
Corn-Fed
Meaning:
- (Adjective): No, this doesn’t mean someone has been eating a lot of corn. If someone is corn-fed, they’re simply really big!
- Example: “My boyfriend, who stands over six feet tall, is certified corn-fed.”
D
Dad Gum It
Meaning:
- (Interjection): A frustrated phrase that’s equivalent to saying, “dang it.”
- Example: “Dad gum it, I stubbed my toe on the dresser!”
Darn Tootin’
Meaning:
- (Interjection): Very emphatic way of saying “yes” or indicating you agree with something.
- Example:
- Person 1: “Want to go get some drinks tonight?”
- Person 2: “Darn tootin’!”
Read Also: Slang Words for Yes
Doesn’t Have a Pot to Piss In
Meaning:
- (Expression): Being so poor, you might as well not have anything. To be extremely broke.
- Example: “I don’t have anything anymore. I don’t even have a pot to piss in.”
Don’t Mess with Texas
Meaning:
- (Expression): A phrase that is widely regarded as the Texas motto. You might see it on t-shirts and other merchandise.
F
Fixin’ To
Meaning:
- (Verb): To be planning to do something.
- Example: “I’m fixin’ to pick up dinner right quick.”
Folks
Meaning:
- (Noun): Generalized way of referring to groups of people.
- Example: “The people at my church are all good folks.”
Fuss
Meaning:
- (Verb): Demonstrating too much care or worry over a particular thing.
- Example: “Don’t make a fuss on account of me.”
G
Git
Meaning:
- (Verb): To leave.
- Example: “I have to git if I plan to make it to the party in time.”
H
Hanker/Hankerin’
Meaning:
- (Noun): A craving for something.
- Example: “I’ve got a hankerin’ for a cheeseburger right now.”
Holler
Meaning:
- (Verb): To scream or yell. Some also say it as another way of referring to making a phone call.
- Example: “Stop hollering or else you’ll wake all the neighbors up!”
Hoot
Meaning:
- (Noun): Something that’s really fun. A good time.
- Example: “That dance was a hoot!”
Howdy
Meaning:
- (Expression): A standard Texan greeting.
- Example: “Howdy, neighbor!”
I
Icebox
Meaning:
- (Noun): Don’t get icebox confused with your freezer! Icebox just refers to your fridge in general, and not necessarily only the freezer component.
- Example: “Don’t forget to put the groceries in the icebox once you get home!”
Read Also: 34 Detroit Slang Words and Phrases
If You Don’t Like the Weather, Wait a Minute
Meaning:
- (Expression): A phrase that makes fun of Texas’s rapidly changing weather. You’ll often hear this expression in other states, as well.
- Example: “Don’t like the heat? If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.”
K
Kin
Meaning:
- (Noun): A word that refers to family members in general. You can use this in reference to anyone you’re related to.
- Example: “I met a lot of my kin at the family reunion.”
L
Lit Out
Meaning:
- (Verb): To be moving in a hurry.
- Example: “He lit outta there once he realized his girlfriend knew he’d cheated on her.”
M
Might Could
Meaning:
- (Expression): You can subtract the might from this, and you’ll get its basic meaning: could. It means there’s a possibility something could be done.
- Example: “They might could win the game, but I’d like the odds better if their normal quarterback hadn’t injured himself in the last one.”
More Than You Can Shake a Stick At
Meaning:
- (Expression): You say this when there’s a lot of something.
- Example: “I’ve made more steaks in my day than you could shake a stick at.”
P
Packing
Meaning:
- (Verb): Some might view the word “packing” as an expression or having a large penis or for getting ready to transport your belongings. In Texas, though, packing means you have a gun on your person.
- Example: “Don’t mess with her – she’s always packing.”
Pitch a Hissy Fit
Meaning:
- (Verb): Throwing a temper tantrum or freaking out.
- Example: “I’ve got some bad news for you. Promise me you won’t pitch a hissy fit, and I’ll tell you.”
R
Ready and Rarin’ to Go
Meaning:
- (Expression): This is another one of those phrases in which a single part contains the whole meaning. In this case, it just means you’re ready for something.
- Example:
- Person 1: “Ready for the show tomorrow night?”
- Person 2: “I’m ready and rarin’ to go!”
Reckon
Meaning:
- (Expression): A common phrase throughout the southern United States. Reckon means that you assume or think something.
- Example: “I reckon it’s time to head home for the night.”
Right Quick
Meaning:
- (Adjective): To do something fast.
- Example: “Let me just throw dinner together right quick, and then we can play your game.”
Ruckus
Meaning:
- (Noun): A freak out or tantrum.
- Example: “My son always causes a ruckus when I bring him to the store.”
S
Shindig
Meaning:
- (Noun): Any kind of social gathering or celebration.
- Example: “Did you go to Hannah’s shindig last night?”
Skeeters
Meaning:
- (Noun): An accented and abbreviated way of saying “mosquitos.”
- Example: “The skeeters were so bad last night that they had to cut the BBQ short.”
Sorry
Meaning:
- (Adjective): This isn’t necessarily a way of apologizing in Texas. It often refers to something or someone that’s low in quality or shady in character.
- Example: “Hank is a sorry excuse for a boyfriend.”
Sure ‘Nuff
Meaning:
- (Expression): An accented way of saying, “sure enough.” It’s basically an affirmation for something.
- Example: “He thought he would win the lottery if he bought thousands of tickets, and sure ‘nuff, he won a little bit of money…but not the jackpot.”
T
Tea
Meaning:
- (Noun): If you ask for tea at a restaurant in Texas, they’re going to give you sweetened iced tea. If you want something else, make sure you’re more specific!”
- Example: “My ma always keeps fresh, ice-cold tea on hand for guests.”
The Season
Meaning:
- (Noun): The Season doesn’t refer to fall, winter, spring, or summer. In Texas, it usually means the football season.
- Example: “I hope my team does better this season than they did last season.”
Toad Choker
Meaning:
- (Noun): An extremely heavy rainstorm.
- Example: “Be careful when you drive home – it’s a real toad choker out there.”
Tuckered Out
Meaning:
- (Adjective): To be completely physically exhausted.
- Example: “He was all tuckered out after the move.”
Related Article: Slang Words for Tired
Tump Over
Meaning:
- (Verb): To fall over.
- Example: “The poorly made vase always tumps over and spills water everywhere.”
U
Uppity
Meaning:
- (Adjective): The state of being full of yourself, overly proud, or thinking you’re better than other people.
- Example: “My wife has been so uppity ever since she won the beauty pageant.”
V
Vittles
Meaning:
- (Noun): Refreshments, of either the food or drink variety.
- Example: “Let’s stop and get some vittles.”
W
Wangs
Meaning:
- (Noun): This word may sound suggestive, but it just means chicken wings with an accent.
- Example: “His favorite thing to eat is the wangs they sell for cheap on wang Wednesday at the bar.”
Y
Y’all
Meaning:
- (Noun): Combination of the words “you” and “all.” You say this to address a group of people.
- Example: “Ya’ll want to take a break? I’m all tuckered out.”
Yonder
Meaning:
- (Noun): Something that is at a distance or far away.
- Example: “I live over yonder, past that hill.”
Wrap Up
Texas has a way of speaking that you won’t really hear anywhere else. Any time you imagine what the southern United States sounds like, you’re probably thinking of turns of phrase invented by down-to-earth Texans.
Hawaii also has a unique vernacular. Learn more about it in our list of Hawaii slang and pidgin phrases.
