Princess Diana once said “Everywhere I go, I smell fresh paint.”
Block Island is ready for you!
And so you’re ready for us, a quick Rhode Island-to-English tutorial:
7 tips for deciphering the way we tawk in Rhody:
- “AL” is pronounced “AW.” Examples: “Talk” = “tawk;” “call” = “cawl.”
- If there’s an “R” at the end of a word, drop it. If there isn’t, add one. Quick quiz: How would a local pronounce “soda?” or “pizza?”
- “R” at-the-beginning-of-a-word is often “V” in “Vode Island.” “Tell “Vichud.”
- Often, “T” is silent. Example: “Written” is pronounced “wrih-en.” “Newport” becomes “Newporh.’”
- Years ago, “Warwick” was pronounced “Wark.” Now, it’s “Wo-wick.”
- Many — not all — Rhode Islanders pronounce “us” “uz.”
- The Presumed Possessive: “Nordstrom” becomes “Nordstrom’s.”









