Yamagata dialect

The Yamagata dialect (山形弁, Yamagata-ben) is the local dialect spoken in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. It is a form of Tōhoku-ben, and can itself be broken down into sub-regional branches that vary from area to area within Yamagata.

Yamagata-ben was used for comic effect in the Japanese film Swing Girls, 2004, to suggest that the film was set in a rural, 'backward' location. However, some Yamagata residents feel that the film used the dialect in an unnatural and patronising way. The dialect has also had Japan-wide exposure through Daniel Kahl, an American who has made a TV career as the gaijin talent who can speak fluent Yamagata-ben.

Sample

List of Yamagata-ben words (not all of which are spoken throughout the prefecture):

• oshoushina - thank you
• oshoshi- thanks
• arigatou sama - thank you
• sasukune - no problem/ you're welcome
• domosu - thank you / greeting
• kiyotsu - take care
• ohayosu - G'morning
• oban desu - Good evening
• obanwasu - G'morning
• oban kata - Good evening
• hisashibe - it's been a while (since we last met)
• n dasu - it is so
• n da - yes
• n ne - no
• na shite -why is this?
• omoshaibe - interesting
• muzurikado -difficult
• jonda - great! skillful!
• igube - let's go
• aibe - let's go
• migi sa muzaru- turn right
• migi sa muziru- turn right
• hidari sa muzaru- turn left
• hidari sa muziru- turn left
• shaikosunna- stop interfering/bothering me
• sawannazu!- don't touch me!
• tentsu- lie
• agarashai - welcome
• ke- a statement made to offer one food
• ku- a statement made accepting one's offer of food
• ～nan da be? (～nan desu ka?) - ...is what?
• n dakara - therefore
• agae/agayae- please eat