Osaka Ben (A Japanese Dialect) The following message was sent to me by a Japanese professor who was answering a query from me about the Osaka dialect. Here is his reply: Peter, Native Osaka people are likely to think that what makes Osaka Japanese different from the Tokyo one is its particular words. It is not always the case. Vocabulary difference is much smaller than Osaka people think. Many or most of so called particular Osaka words belong to what is called folk speech rather than to the dialect. Those are words people use only in their private life, but do not use in their, for example, public speech, or when you talk to somebody whose social rank is higher than theirs. In Tokyo, too, there are lots of this type of folk speech: Atama or Ittosaisho meaning beginning of something; Tappa meaning height of the human body, that is, how tall you are. Yana Asatte meaning four days after today. Suddenly I recalled some words: Kashiwa which Tokyo people don't understand at all. Sanpatsuya which Tokyo people understand but they don't use at all. Hyakkaten (department store) which they don't use at all. They say DEPAATO in stead. Returning to the main stream. What is the biggest difference between Kansai Japanese and Tokyo or Eastern Japanese is the accent of words: which syllable or syllables of a word are pronounced in higher pitches than the rest. There is one more basic difference: the comparative strength of vowels. In Osaka Japanese, vowels are very strong, especially in the last syllable of a word. In some words people here pronounce the last syllable very stressed and very long. Me meaning eyes sounds to the Eastern people's ear as Mee; Hato sounds to them like Hatooh (pigeons). Osaka people don't readily recognize these differences. They like to think the difference is just in the words. I don't know why. - Hawk Osaka Dialect Vocabulary The double consonants must be pronounced properly. The double vowels indicate a lengthening of the vowel. Ahookusa Idiotic thing Ahoo Stupid Akan No good Arahen Is not, not present Benkyoo suru To discount Bochi bochi So so, Fairly Bottakuri Rip off Chau No, wrong Choi A little Donai How are you? Donkusai Clumsy, stupid Dooshoomonai Hopeless Doshitan How (past tense) Dotsuku Hit, punch Eekakkoshii Pretentious Ee Yes Egui Disgusting Erai Very Gametsui Greedy Gera Person who laughs a lot Goneru To whinge, complain Gossosan Thank you for the food Gottsui Big, very Gyoosan Many Hagaii Frustrating Hayo Quickly, early Hokasu To throw away Homma Really Honja See you later Honnara If so then, in that case Ichibiri (ichibiru) Fool, clown Ikezu Cruel, nasty Ikkomo Not even a little Iko Let's go Irachi Grumpy person Irau To Touch Itchomae Full of oneself Jibun You Kakko Appearance Kamahen Don't mind Kanawan Can't prevail over something Kannin suru Excuse me Keehen Don't come Kettai Strange, interesting Koeru To put on weight Koeteru Overweight Kokeru To fall Koote (Koota) Purchase it, please (Bought) Kosobai Ticklish Kotcha Thing Maido Hello Makashi Leave it to someone Makeru To discount Massara Brand new Metcha/Mutcha Very Moukarimakka How's business? Mukatsuku Angry Naa Isn't it? Nanbo How Much? Nangi Difficult Nanmo Nothing Nanya Not certain but something Naosu Tidy up Nukasu To say Nukui Warm Obahan Old woman Ochokuru To make fun of Omoroi Interesting Ookini Thank you Oota Met Oru Is, exists Ossan Old man Otchan Old man Owaiso My bill please Pakuru To steal Sainara Goodbye Sara New Sarappin New product Seehen Don't do, Won't do Sen Don't Seyakara Therefore Seyakedo Though Seya That's right Shaanai That's life! Shii Do it Shindoi Tired Shitatte Do it for someone Shoomonai Boring, unimportant Sooya That's right Sooyattara If that's so Sukebe Lewd, dirty minded Sumahen/Suman Sorry Tanomu Please, I'm relying on you Tsubureru To break Uchi I Umai Tasty Uttoushi Dreary (as in weather) Yanke I'm telling you Yarashii Crude, disgusting Yooke / Yoosan Many Yosha Okay, yes Yuu To Speak Zukkoi Sneaky