Dialect

The Lancaster County dialect includes some expressions from Pennsylvania German (Dutch) and other sources.

Expressions

Once is frequently used in the sense of for once. (We ... had quite an enjoyable evening home once.)

Till is used in the sense of by (as in till dinner).

Red or Ret up is used in the sense of cleaning up.

All is used as all out or all gone. (Our coal is all again...)

Adjective forms as adverbs: Adjectives, especially intensifiers, are used as adverbs frequently for emphasis (terrible busy.)