# "Ha-a-yee?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 27, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840 "2016-05-27T18:04:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/1 "2016-05-27T18:04:01Z")
I’ve heard more than a few people ask me this, instead of “How are you?”… must be a lazy person’s way of not having to move their mouths too much. Sounds ridiculous, but then again, I find myself saying “'tsup?” or falling back on “howyoodooin?” in my old NY accent - both easier on the jaw. So, ha-a-yee? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/2 "2016-05-27T20:32:04Z")
Howdy. Just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/3 "2016-05-27T20:37:12Z")
You should go to Texas where the standard greeting is “Haaaah! Howruuuuuuuuuuuuuuu?” Bonus points if you can make howruuuuuuuuuuuuuuu a single syllable. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/4 "2016-05-27T20:50:12Z")
In the Dortmunder books by Donald Westlake, the standard greeting among the gang members is given as “Harya.” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/5 "2016-05-27T20:53:51Z")
I thought this was the Hawaii joke. But I’m fine thanks. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/6 "2016-05-28T14:02:55Z")
Jeet? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/7 "2016-05-28T14:26:41Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Jeet? No, jew? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/8 "2016-05-28T15:13:47Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > No, jew? [Lapsed Catholic, actually.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaPBhxXhprg) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/9 "2016-05-28T15:17:20Z")
Well, why don’t you both go sit in the fronchroom while I make up sumpineet. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/10 "2016-05-28T22:01:13Z")
[Howzat?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIdikLrpr_c) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/11 "2016-05-28T23:26:22Z")
Ahyahll makin’ funna hah-eye tahk when ahm tahd? Because it’s a burden to NOT do it at work. What’s especially difficult is to, when given the name of who I should contact, repeat it back in Yankee, not local, since receptionist will still hear it rhotic, as I’m a Yankee. Unless I’ve already code-switched into Piedmont, in which case I leave the note, “You have an accent,” pointedly not “Y’all gotta accent,” appropriate to the region. But I still have to type the name in Yankee. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/12 "2016-05-28T23:27:49Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Well, why don’t you both go sit in the fronchroom while I make up sumpineet. Thenk’ye kindly. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/13 "2016-05-28T23:31:18Z")
Hev yeh noted thet the folks in Nawthuhn Illinois hev nah idea hah tah tahk awh be polaht? It’s like I’m speaking a different language. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2016, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/14 "2016-05-31T14:09:15Z")
Jak se máš? First question my dad always asks his mother on the phone. Great way to start a conversation with the Czech in your life. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2016, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/15 "2016-05-31T15:20:04Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > No, jew? 'Squeet. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2016, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/16 "2016-05-31T16:18:16Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > 'Squeet. Tater salid, banes ‘n’ slaw? I gotta hankrin. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/17 "2016-05-31T16:29:20Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Jeet? J D Salinger’s character asked “Jeet jet?” In New Orleans, it used to be “Yat?” (Where are you at, in your present condition?) I think the New Orleans accent even became known as "speaking Yat). Here where I live now in Texas, it’s “Doon?” (How are you doing?) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/18 "2016-05-31T17:16:45Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > J D Salinger’s character asked “Jeet jet?” > > In New Orleans, it used to be “Yat?” (Where are you at, in your present condition?) I think the New Orleans accent even became known as "speaking Yat). > > Here where I live now in Texas, it’s “Doon?” (How are you doing?) Fair t’middlin. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/19 "2016-05-31T18:13:56Z")
Saw a whole conversation like that once. JAV NUFF DEET? JAUNT SMORE? EAR YAR! ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840/20 "2016-05-31T20:08:56Z")
Once? I’m from Georgia, we have that conversation at least 3 times a day! Only it’s "Jagitanuf teet? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-a-yee/755840.md?page=2)