# Rules for speaking Alfalfa **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687 "2005-07-22T18:14:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/1 "2005-07-22T18:14:43Z")
My relatives who grew up in the 40’s mentioned this pig latin like language to me many years ago. I can’t find rules on how to speak it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/2 "2005-07-22T18:16:20Z")
You mean like “Otay”? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/3 "2005-07-22T18:17:35Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > You mean like “Otay”? Whoops, “otay” would be Buckwheat. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/4 "2005-07-22T18:19:26Z")
Nope. I mean like the cryptic language mentioned VERY briefly in places like this: [http://www.iteaonline.org/historymaterials/historyBell.html](http://www.iteaonline.org/historymaterials/historyBell.html) [http://www.thebigshow.com/picsnsuch/archive/grabbag/GLOSSARY.html](http://www.thebigshow.com/picsnsuch/archive/grabbag/GLOSSARY.html) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/5 "2005-07-22T19:03:08Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Whoops, “otay” would be Buckwheat. Actually, until Eddie Murphy co-opted it for his version of “Buckwheat,” it was Porky. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/6 "2005-07-22T19:26:09Z")
Lets see, you move the first letter to the end and add “ay.” Pig Latin = Ig-pay Atin-lay. It breaks down on something like “okay.” kay-oay? Doesn’t work too well on “alfalfa” either. alfalfa-aay. Uts-nay. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/7 "2005-07-22T20:18:31Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > [http://www.thebigshow.com/picsnsuch/archive/grabbag/GLOSSARY.html](http://www.thebigshow.com/picsnsuch/archive/grabbag/GLOSSARY.html) From the above link: Bail-Faybe: “baby” in Alfalfa language. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/8 "2005-07-22T21:07:22Z")
I’m not 100% familiar with it, but I believe it involves taking the first vowel sound of the word and replacing it with (that vowel)-lf-(that vowel). So, for example, [ul][li]“Hello” becomes “hellfello”[/li][li] “Water” becomes “wallfater”[/li][li] “Duck” becomes “dullfuck”[/li][li] “Alpha” becomes “alfalfa”[/li][/ul] and so forth. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/9 "2005-07-22T21:24:38Z")
> [@](#): > > “Duck” becomes “dullfuck” I dunno about that… When the ducks here were courting a couple of months ago, it appeared to be anything but dull. ---
**Author:** ![Josie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f04885/32.png) [@Josie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Josie)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/10 "2010-06-26T21:18:15Z")
Its Kinda Like Pig Latin. 1. Divide words into syllables. For each syllable, cut out the first sound. EX: d/in-n/er. 2. Put the syllable “alf” at each cut. EX: d/ALFin-n/ALFer. 3. If the syllable starts with a vowel, just use ALF first. EX: it= ALF/it. NALFow yALFou CALFne tALFalk alfalfa alf ALF/alf/ALF/a lALF/ang/ALF/uage ALF/e/sALF/ily. ---
**Author:** ![mikews99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@mikews99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikews99)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/11 "2010-06-27T00:12:46Z")
Is Alfalfa the language zombies speak? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/12 "2010-06-27T08:03:43Z")
So, brains becomes brafulfaifalfins… I think I messed that up. ---
**Author:** ![Travel\_Junkie\_Judy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@Travel\_Junkie\_Judy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Travel_Junkie_Judy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/13 "2011-06-27T07:18:57Z")
I found this site while I was looking for specific rules for speaking “Alfalfa”. My father taught me this “language” back in the 50’s. Here is how I remember it: Take the word BABY - cut the word after the first vowel and insert L- F, then repeat the vowel and finish the word. L ends what is now the first syllable and F begins the second syllable. Bal-faby (long “A” sounds). Please is Pel-fease (long “E” sounds) Pel-fease . pal-fass . sol-fome/ thil-fing . tol-fo . mel-fe. Please . . … pass … . something … . … to . . … me. … \*\*\*Sometimes the second syllable is left intact - the word “going” would be gol-foing - or it could be gol-fo-il-fing if you want to be exact. Whal-fat . il-fis . yol-four . nal-fame? What . . . is … … . your … . name? Gol-fo . tol-fo . thel-fe . stol-fore. Go … to . … the … store. Obviously, one syllable words are the easiest. I tried to get my kids to learn it. No luck. I think I will try my granddaughters. I hate to see it “die”. ---
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/14 "2011-06-27T07:41:00Z")
So, not meaning to hijack the thread from the OP, but, was this a regional dialect. And, why would someone speak it? To identify oneself with a local group? Also, and not meaning at all to insult anyone, the rules of conversion from English to Alfalfa reminds me of a Crips and Bloods program I saw on TV. Where the Bloods will replace all “C” sounds with a “B” sound. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/15 "2011-06-27T13:03:31Z")
> [@electronbee](#): > > Also, and not meaning at all to insult anyone, the rules of conversion from English to Alfalfa reminds me of a Crips and Bloods program I saw on TV. Where the Bloods will replace all “C” sounds with a “B” sound. What silly bunts. ---
**Author:** ![Travel\_Junkie\_Judy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@Travel\_Junkie\_Judy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Travel_Junkie_Judy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/16 "2011-06-27T14:37:04Z")
Well, back in the 40’s and 50’s, things were very different. People didn’t lock their doors. Car keys were left in the ignition. There were no “hidden agendas” and there was no TV. We played outside all day long and looked for ways to have fun. This was like Pig Latin. It was just a fun way to talk so that others would wonder what you were saying. This was just a silly pass time. Nothing more. Was it regional? I don’t know. I grew up in Indiana. ---
**Author:** ![grimsolem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grimsolem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimsolem)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/17 "2013-11-02T03:34:12Z")
Idk why I’m posting this in a dead thread on a forum I’ve never been before… I guess it’s cuz I know ill never have kids to pass this language on to, so I’m giving it to the internet instead. Anyways, afaik alfalfa goes back to at least the 40s. My mother taught my bro and myself, she was taught by her mother who learned it from her mother… so my great grandmother. I’m 21 and its 2013. My gma lived in socal but I believe my ggma was from missouri. Her maiden name was London and she was a direct decendent of Jack London. The dialect I learned was slightly different: Hello : halfellalfo Goodbye : galfoodbalfye I : alf-I Fucking hate: falfuck-kalfing half-ate (prounounced howlff-ate) The more ya know. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/18 "2013-11-02T04:43:45Z")
I must have missed this thread the first three times around. I’ve never heard of “Alfalfa” as described here, but from the description, it sounds like the sake sort of thing as [“ubbi dubbi”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubbi_dubbi), the “language” from the PBS kids’ show [Zoom](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M839-Ft3sWw). ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/19 "2013-11-02T05:33:59Z")
I can’t believe one of my threads has been resurrected so many times, but it’s interesting to note that my original post mentioned my relatives, who lived and died in Missouri… And the recent resurrection specifically mentions a similar Missouri influence. I wonder if there is some specific Missouri connection. My relatives were from pike county, north of St. Louis if that makes any difference. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687/20 "2013-11-02T14:42:20Z")
Did y’all know carnival workers (Carnies) have their own special language? “Carnies” is pronounced “Ciazarnies”. Speak is pronounced “Speazeak”, etc. “Diazo youazo speazeak Ciazarnie?” Any carnival related questions anyone? I was in the business for over 20 years. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-speaking-alfalfa/313687.md?page=2)