I grew up thinking nothing of the Maine slang phrases that my grandparents, aunt (pronounced “ahnt”) uncle and cousins used regularly. However, it wasn’t the same for my daughters.
When my mother’s brother visited us over the holidays, he used the adjective “wicked.” No big deal, if you’ve lived in Maine all your life. But for my daughters, members of GenZ and Millennial generations who spent their formative years elsewhere, this wasn’t part of their everyday vernacular.
“He just said ‘wicked’,” they giggled. It’s the same reaction my younger daughter had when she moved to Pittsburgh for grad school and heard “yinz” in the wild. In case you don’t know, “yinz” is Pittsburghese for “all of you.”
Maine Slang Phrases, Words and Sayings
Now, the phrase “wicked” isn’t limited to just Maine. For example, I’m in a Facebook group for New England-based Peloton aficionados called “Wicked Smaht Zone.” The founders are in Massachusetts, but the “wicked” resonates there, too.
Just think of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in the movie “Good Will Hunting.” That’s set in Cambridge and Boston and the surrounding areas.
In writing this article, I discovered other Maine-isms that my mother and her siblings used all the time. Honestly, I didn’t realize they were Maine slang until just now.
For example, if my mom wanted to swear — and she rarely did or does that — she would say “Jeezum Crow.” I remember her sister, my aunt, saying that, too. Then again, my aunt had four daughters fairly close in age so I imagine she was stressed out a lot and very busy or, as Mainers say, “right out straight” all the time.
Another one: going down cellar. You know, going into the basement. But it was called the cellar and the article “the” wasn’t necessary to get your point across.
Additional Maine slang words explained
Here are other Maine slang words or uniquely Maine sayings explained.
Supper versus dinner in Maine
You probably think about dinner as an evening meal. Which it is in many places. Not in my grandparent’s Maine home.
You see, dinner is traditionally the biggest meal of the day. However, my grandfather was an apple farmer and would come in from work at lunchtime to get his biggest meal of the day. So, dinner. Then, in the evening, when the workday was done, we would have supper. Got it?
From Away
You may be familiar with the phrase “from away” if you saw the Broadway show “Come From Away.” That’s the real-life retelling of what happened when flights were grounded on 9/11 and landed in Gander, Newfoundland. It’s a great show, one of my favorites ever.
Anyway, here in Maine, in my opinion, “from away” doesn’t have such a positive connotation as that Broadway show. In fact, it seems downright derogatory when you refer to someone as “from away.” Like they’re not familiar with Maine customs or culture. Or they’re tourists. Also see “flatlander.”
Ayuh
The Maine way of saying “yup” or “yes.” If you asked my grandfather a question and he answered in the affirmative, it was always by saying, “Ayuh.”
The County
As I mentioned in my article about where the total solar eclipse in Maine, there will be parts of Aroostook County that are in the path of totality. However, Mainers never say Aroostook County. They just refer to it as The County because it is so big.
Italian
If you know me, then you might think that in saying “Italian” I’m referring to my husband of Italian descent. Nope.
Italian is the Maine slang for what people in other parts of the country might use the phrases hero, sub, grinder or hoagie. At its most basic, it’s a meat-and-veggie sandwich on a long, skinny bun.
Frappe
More uniquely Maine phrases having to do with food. When I hear frappe, I think of a Friendly’s (as in the restaurant) frappe. In Maine, you order a frappe if you want what is called a milkshake in other parts of the country.
If you ask for a milkshake in Maine, you’re going to get something very different. As I wrote in this article about regional sayings and slang, “A milkshake is just milk with syrup. It does not include ice cream.”
Icebox
It’s been a long time since refrigerators were legit iceboxes — insulated boxes that held ice. However, many Mainers still use this slang phrase to describe their refrigerator.
Also, there is a legendary dessert in my family called icebox dessert. It’s chocolate wafers and whipped cream that you store in the icebox — or fridge as it’s called these days — and it’s delicious.
Sidenote: Nabisco stopped making and selling that icebox dessert staple, the Famous Chocolate Wafers, in 2023. If you’re in a bind, you can use Oreo Thins, also from Nabisco, as a substitute. However, you might find them too sweet.
My husband is on a mission to perfect a recipe for chocolate wafers so that we can continue the icebox dessert tradition for years to come. That’s his latest batch below. Stay tuned.
Camp
If you watch the popular show “Maine Cabin Masters,” then you know the word “camp” refers to someone’s vacation home, likely in the woods or on a lake. Also, a camp is often a cabin. On the other hand, while Maine kids do go to summer camp, when talking about a dwelling, camp has a very different meaning.
Pond
Speaking of on a lake, there are many bodies of water in Maine that look like a lake but they’re called a pond. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection says that lakes are large and deep whereas ponds are smaller and shallow. Does the layperson really know the difference?
Final thoughts on Maine Slang Phrases, Words and Sayings
Did I miss any Maine slang or phrases you grew up using or hearing? If so, please post a comment and let us know. Or, in the meantime, check out article about fun facts about Maine.