My Mom and Grandmother (and several other people) used the term, " I swany" or "eye swuny" as an exclamation. Example: "Well I swuny, I think he gonna be late." Does any one know where this came from or what it means?
2006-08-13 05:10:01 · 9 answers · asked by Beware the fury of a patient man 6 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The Oxford English Dictionary has "swan" as a verb, labeled U.S. slang, derived probably (it says) from northern England dialectal "Is' wan," literally "I shall warrant" = I'll be bound; later taken as a mincing substitute for "swear." The first use in print recorded in the dictionary is from the year 1823.
Both *swan* and *swanny* mean 'to swear' or 'to declare', and are used only in exclamations in the first person singular. Both are Americanisms; *swan* is first recorded in the late eighteenth century, *swanny* in the early nineteenth.
2006-08-13 05:20:34 · answer #1 · answered by Shintz62 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I swany- I swear honey I think he's going to be late. It kind of sounds like a Jeff Foxworthy joke.
2006-08-13 05:23:04 · answer #2 · answered by tiger 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am from the south and my family also uses this term. I have heard it since I was born, but have no idea what it means. I will have to keep checking back to see if anyone answered it. Good question.
I will ask my family and if I get an answer, I will post it.
2006-08-13 05:15:18 · answer #3 · answered by historybug 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means "I swear". Older folks don't like to swear so they often substitute words. Just like when they end a statement about somebody with"bless his heart" which basically means what an ******. There are many examples of this.
go to the link below for more.
2006-08-13 05:17:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's I swan. Swans are rumored to sign beautifully at the time of their death, from which comes "Swan song". The expression is similar to "Well, don't that beat all?" as to being superior, and probably the last time you will see such a thing.
2006-08-13 06:15:20 · answer #5 · answered by oklatom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
swan·ny (swn) KEY
intr.v.
Chiefly Southern U.S.
To declare; swear. Used in the phrase I swanny as an interjection. See Regional Note at vum.
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ETYMOLOGY:
Probably alteration of dialectal (I) s' wan ye, (I) shall warrant ye
and this does not mean an inadequate education..it's just the way some older southerners speak...they prefer not to swear.
2006-08-13 05:17:15 · answer #6 · answered by shynomore 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Inadequate education.
2006-08-13 05:14:23 · answer #7 · answered by sirbobby98121 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's "I swan", and I believe its like "oh my goodness". I think it comes originally from "I swear."
2006-08-13 05:13:56 · answer #8 · answered by Catspaw 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"I swuny" - my grandmother's generation had been tought not to swear, so said "swuny" rather than "I swear."
2006-08-13 05:18:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋