How to get b’y in Newfoundland

Newfoundland accents are fantastic, like nothing I’d heard before. For generations, much of the island was only accessible by sea so the brogue of its migrants was left to evolve in isolation creating unique accents.

They still vary from bay to bay – from Irish, to West Country, to rural North American. Often a mash-up of all three. In St John’s, you find the mainland Canadian accent, but every other place I visited was different.

On the south coast, people sounded very Irish. In Bonavista, it was more West Country. But it’s more than just the accent. There are many unique words and phrases. As a “come from away” (foreigner) you’ll recognise words, but have no idea what they mean. “I’m gut foundered, fire up a scoff” means “I’m hungry, make some food.”

Male or female, you’re likely to be called b’y (boy.) “What are you at, b’y” means “How’s it going?”

Confused by that? You’ll be mazeheaded, b’y.