How to Talk Minnesotan: The Power of the Negative

My favorite segment from the 1993 TPT video "How To Talk Minnesotan" by Howard Mohr, based on his book of the same name. The full video can be watched here: www.tpt.org/how-to-talk-minnes...

[@TheFreeAmericanPress]

A guy could almost enjoy this video if he wasn't careful.

[@infinityinfinityinfi]

I think you could've done worse on the quiz.

[@supergeeky7529]

your response is...different!🤣

[@bonnie_gail]

lol

[@LibertyPrimeV1]

As a Scandinavian, I think people from Minnesota understands us more than they might realize. This is beautiful.

[@georules]

"This is beautiful." Translation please?

[@ichbinein123]

A majority of Minnesotans originally comes from Scandinavia and northern Germany, so this makes perfect sense.

[@LibertyPrimeV1]

georules I've seen better.

[@ichbinein123]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_Americans You can see a map of the concentration of Americans with Scandinavian descent here.

[@LibertyPrimeV1]

IchBinEin Wow you weren't kidding? 32.1%? It explains a lot actually. They even look kinda Scandinavian haha. Thanks for the info :) I didn't know any of this.

[@MonkeyspankO]

i wasn't entirely disappointed by this video

[@thehonkening1]

A man could almost say he enjoyed it

[@MonkeyspankO]

A man could, but i wouldn't go that far

[@IordanIovkov]

You could do worse in KZbin.

[@OptimusPrimal1337]

It was better than that time I saw a video of a girl pooping in a cup and another girl eating the excrement.

[@smartiboo]

Haha I didn't not hate your comment, I thought it was not unfunny.

[@DerangedDurain]

As a Minnesotan, this video would have been good enough to make me chuckle on the right kind of day. Maybe.

[@megajmd1870]

me too

[@davidritchie9344]

Don't ya know it

[@Daveyjdigital]

I’m from Minnesota I’m the hood we say doe u kno. Example: I tried calling you when I was at the store doe u kno

[@odinlindeberg4624]

Some places in Norway, when you've found your new favorite food and want to remark on it, you say "this is really edible."

[@bonnie_gail]

lol

[@Christopherthomas123]

As a native Minnesotan, the layers of humor and truth here are astounding.

[@agentCDE]

This video's not so bad. An improvement on all the other stuff on KZbin I wasted two minutes on.

[@bjoernsjut9478]

In the southern part of Germany, Swabia, there's a saying: "not condemning it is enough praise". ("Net gschimpft isch globt gnug"). Sounds they would get along well in Minnesota :)

[@g00se0885]

Actually early Minnesota consisted of a lot of people emigrated from the Germanic regions. So that makes a lot of sense.

[@TelecastPropellor96]

sounds like a stretch

[@g00se0885]

whatever floats yer boat.

[@anderson52ma]

Bjoern Sjut seeing that a large group of the original settlers was German it makes sense that there's a shared sense of compliment

[@johannesruf5903]

Kinda the same in Altbayern. "Bassd scho" (It's alright/It's acceptable) is pretty much the highest compliment you can get...

[@johnaldag3645]

Native Minnesotan here; video isn't far off the mark.

[@danzeman4520]

John Aldag I see what you did there!

[@seltzer30]

Not too bad.

[@RJ_Ehlert]

It could be worse, that's for sure.

[@HighlyThoughtful]

"Not too bad" is a staple of this state

[@stevenseagal4987]

Not too bad, pass the butter please.

[@KyleJo]

Congratulations on your anniversary

[@Y2Kvids]

Wife:What's my purpose in Life? Husband: you pass butter.

[@miket9563]

This is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. "Not too bad. Pass the butter please."

[@bbcat-3972]

As a Minnesotan born and raised now living in Japan, having this video pop up provides me a sudden realization I'm very far away from my kind. Well, things could be worse, I suppose.

[@charlonova]

we noticed your limping anyway.

[@adamsanchez9288]

How's life in Japan. I hope it got better.

[@phongphong4640]

@@adamsanchez9288 He is enjoying the "Japanese nice."

[@psychotropictraveler514]

Cant complain

[@davetroll5027]

I honestly thought the Japanese were similar

[@onnirant]

As a Finn, this sounds completely normal. (A lot of Finns emigrated to the USA, especially to Minnesota)

[@GuitarRulezd00d97]

onnirant Hyvää pyvää, my family was included. So many similarities between Minnesota and Finland

[@oliversoderberg299]

110% correct as my family comes from Finland and Sweden and im from MN!

[@cavramau]

That's not such a bad thing.

[@HrHaakon]

It's the same thing in Norway and Sweden too. And probably Denmark.

[@JHaras]

@@GuitarRulezd00d97I’m from Sweden, but that’s “Hyvää päivää”

[@speeballs9876]

I am Minnesotan and my gosh this just hits home for sure. Every aspect is a literal truth. MN, the Canada of the States.

[@nikku1166]

Sounds like my kind of people. I'm from the West Coast, and people here think if you're not smiling you're not having fun. I never smile, and I have fun all the time (well, nobody has fun all the time, but you catch my drift). I don't need a stupid grin on my face to let people know things and going to bad for me.

[@infctdppt]

nick siden your profile pic checks out. You look like your not having to bad of a day.

[@Farout397]

It’s good to see the ol winds haven’t started to blow your way

[@fredrichl]

Quite scandinavian, but not so scandinavian it outshines our northern scandinavians. I went to see a sousin some years back, drove 1500 km, haven't seen eachother for half my life. The guy just tossed his head and said "Jaha. Nå hej." which translates to something like "Oh...well, hello." And that was that. We're good at brevity, and at holding subtle eternal grudges.

[@Soren59]

Hey, that's not too bad.

[@infctdppt]

Xenos could be worse.

[@InvisiMan2006]

The quality is not so good, though.

[@ShadovvV]

In summary, it's called Political Correctness.

[@versnellingspookie]

i'm from Groningen, which is a state in the northern part of the Netherlands, i think we're very similar to Minnesotans because we say things like "if you act normal you're already crazy enough" and "could be worse / could be less" all the time We have the reputation of being harsh and unfriendly people, but i feel that we're just very direct and no-nonsense, just like Minnesotans! I know which place im gonna visit if i ever get to America ;^). I love Minnesota already ❤

[@cavramau]

You mean you expect not to dislike Minnesota.

[@versnellingspookie]

@@cavramau yes exactly Chris that is exactly what i wanted to say when i wrote this comment 4 years ago, however i wouldn't want you to think that i'm not thankful for your reply. Kind regards from over here 🙏

[@DCJello]

I lived in Minnesota from 1992 - 1996. This video was like a flashback to that time. Hilarious

[@rookcrow1968]

Lived in MN for a year and with a native Minnesotan... and this was life. LOL Love it.

[@noiserrr]

was gonna say reminds me of how people express themselves in sweden, then i realized we're talking about minnesota lol, where all the swedes ended up during the 1800's.

[@kaidokp]

This is about as accurate of a video of MN as it gets (coming from a Minnesotan). It's not like those videos where people are over exaggerating on the "DONTCHA KNOW" thing knowing almost none of Central and Northern MN says something like that. Not to bad. The video could use a little more depth so those who don't know can understand, but overall, not to bad indeed.

[@stubbystudios9811]

I know that the Dontcha Know is more on the heavier accent of minnesotans. sadly the heavier accents have pretty much died out. but a lot of stuff in the video is still accurate.

[@MrKane-vx6qu]

You know, this comment wouldn’t be too bad if you hadn’t used the wrong form of too

[@john-paul9551]

There's a lot of depth in this video, it's a full half hour special actually when seen in its entirety, and it's not too bad at all

[@WitchyShelbs]

I know him! He is so great! Goes to my church.

[@patrickbecher4677]

Hahahahahaha I've lived in Minnesota my whole life this is so relatable I'm actually tearing up oh my god.

[@LeahLuciB]

+Patrick Becher Have you seen the whole thing? It cracks me up every time. This guy just nails it.

[@PercivalC]

We Canadians talk just like this too. Must be the cold. Maybe it's just me. I'm part Swedish myself, that might explain it.

[@Checkedbox]

Gravsten A lot of people I know are like this over here in England.

[@nokomismn9685]

I'm a Minnesotan of Irish ancestry. Maybe that explains why I'm a bit more communicative than the average Minnesotan. Which isn't saying much. ;-)

[@wholesome122]

this applies to Michigan and Wisconsin to some extent too lol

[@Idontwantahandle1111]

beachballer It applies the most to Yoopers I think

[@MooseheadStudios]

PA here

[@josefblack]

I'm a Yooper and yeah you're right.

[@engletinaknickerbocker5380]

Actually, from Palmer, Alaska, we'd feel right at home, maybe.

[@dawaigocha]

This video's not as bad as it could've been. I almost liked it.

[@EasterIsland_EGO]

I just thought this was common English vernacular. Well, i haven't really been out of Minnesota much so I never really heard otherwise...

[@JackFlakne]

I recall seeing this back in the 90s. It's not to bad a deal to rediscover it now.

[@jfuite]

We just made some preserves at home today with berries from my wife's garden. I tasted the first batch, was quite pleased, and said, 'you know Honey, that's not too bad!'. Then I thought of this video.

[@jcbarber]

Thank you for posting! This segment and the rest of the video are so funny... because it's all true!

[@TrustATinOwl]

As a Scottish man, I have literally no frame of reference for this.

[@AlphaKenyThing]

Well, this video was an improvement on that other stuff we sat through a 30 second ad to watch and have people dump Pepsi down our necks and ask us to subscribe through the whole thing.

[@mikethemaniac1]

This reminds me of when I went to Wisconsin, where Ma's side of the family is from. I just talked like my uncle and they hardly noticed I don't live there. I mean, keeping the profanity in check was a bit of a thing to be conscious of, but besides that, I'd be pretty difficult to catch in a crowd.

[@abbigalechacich4030]

This is really relatable. I live in MN

[@TheRoshan89]

"If you're feeling average or okay, which is about all a guy can expect really So true!"" 😂😂😂 So true!

[@WakeSideLife]

my favorite is California english Yeah no: no No yeah: yes Yeah no definitely: yes for sure

[@Fudz4]

My brain hurts.

[@ZoomZip]

yeah i saw that meme

[@Kelsie154]

We use 'yeah no' and 'yeah no definitely' in Ohio, as well... But 'no yeah' just sounds so weird. 😂 And "Yeah no" means yes and no, depending on the context.

[@gamingnewscloud7156]

Kelsie LeCrone it's pronounced "nooo yeah". My only way of explaining is no is meant to be like why would you assume it wasn't a yes? followed by a yeah which is correcting their thought that it might be a no.

[@youcanhaveacoke1]

everybody in the world talks like this

[@maccraft2014]

I'm from the south and I say "not bad", "not too bad", and "not that bad" on a regular basis. I feel like my spirit is Minnesotan.

[@HansBomers]

I think this is a northern thing. In the Netherlands, people from Twente (part of Overijssel) are known for expressing their 'excitement' this way. Let's have some fun, this is gonna be a great evening --> 'Kieken wa-t-wordt.' (Let's see what we can expect.) I'm feeling great! --> 'Kon minder..." (Could be worse.)

[@Alex1710XVII]

dank je! Ik woon in Twente sinds drie jaar en nu pas merkte ik op waarom mijn manier van emoties uitdrukken altijd wat...ongepast lijkt

[@thomasdequincey8227]

Google Translate says 'Kieken wa-t-wordt"means "Chicks wake up". So... to have a great evening, you wake up the chickens? That's kind of messed up, dude.

[@natefliszar1348]

I'm from Minnesota and I can't complain he is kinda right on how I talk

[@Fluffimuff]

The video shapes up pretty well for the shape its in

[@whycuds]

1990's, aye. Love the motif.

[@user-dj1eb9ed5x]

being asian myself, this is like how the elders talk most of the time tbh

[@Ricardo1906]

The moment I realise that Minnesotan people use more or less the same expressions that we use in Portugal.

[@duartesilva7907]

That's true!

[@CiudadanaHerzeleid]

Dear lord! I'm teaching a student to understand how minesotans speak, ad now I'm here... And besides that we both are mexicans 🤣🤣🤣🤣 It helps, i'll use it 😁

[@ironhead108]

Now that’s it’s been explained to me as a native St. Louisan, I can see it’s not so bad up there in MN.

[@NEWYORKERZ360]

A very Scandinavian mentality 😂 that gives you the the superpower of never getting disappointed !

[@ChrisMenning]

This is my philosophy in life. Expect the worst, and everything else is a bonus!

[@copymizer]

@@ChrisMenning in denmark we say, expect the worst, but hope for the best

[@bobbyf640]

This video is enough to pass the time

[@flo201]

Absolutely hilarious! Made my day :)

[@lazlo09]

Minnesotans would fit right in in Scandinavia, especially in Sweden and Finland. But then again a lot of Minnesotans have scandinavian ancestry so no wonder.

[@jackjacobson3893]

Yes we are love you guys ❤️

[@rodrigovitorino3750]

Not too bad

[@Mooncalf2012]

I'm not going to say this video wasn't helpful, but then I did grow up in the midwest.

[@MorticiaObscurum]

Starting to feel like my soul was born there

[@pwrofrob]

From NJ, living in NC...talking like this sounds exhausting but folksy, so I like it...lol

[@bobloblaw10001]

I grew up in Texas of northern european stock and I can't escape this way of talking..

[@markcollins8326]

True scandinavians - well put - as an american in sweden I loved it!

[@ProGangstaShit]

Legendary! Funhaus brought me here

[@nsxdarin]

Minnesotan here. don't just use the negative, use the triple negative, which counts as negative but with extra negatives.

[@stannisthemannisbaratheon1039]

I can't complain about this video

[@Towert7]

Please tell me there are other parts to this series! I could eat these all up!

[@raider54DJ]

god damn it this was accurate. I'm from Minnesota.

[@unslept_em]

I can't say I'm from minnesota, but it's certainly not far off the mark

[@cellytron]

Can't complain.

[@paulvalentine9617]

well said!

[@ampersandman757]

I can't wait for Ingmar Bergman to be reborn Minnesotan

[@Vaportrail70]

A guy could say this video is not too shabby

[@alexdr8595]

I think Finns have spread their optimism in Minnesota

[@davidkasquare]

Yeah, this is just SO Nordic. ❤ (As in Scandinavia + Finland, and yeah, Iceland too)

[@henningberg7975]

Jesus this sounds like me and i am from Norway... i think you guys got some of my genes

[@me-fv4qy]

Where is the long goodbye one? Great work by the way. Ty

[@koselig402]

i didnt even realize this, born and raised minnesotan too. haha

[@Yoshgunn]

I wouldn't want you to think I don't like this

[@MythOfEchelon]

This is very similar to the UK.

[@winniepor3038]

Yea! fir sure! You betcha!

[@Alas85]

There ain't no nice like Minnesota nice

[@g00se0885]

It's called passive aggression, thank you.

[@Sconi71]

Wisconsin nice as well.

[@Tbbyupthatsme99]

Sconi71 Nah

[@crystalgunderson2088]

GrijashCX this is crap, none of it is true

[@nokomismn9685]

"Minnesota nice" is a phrase the media invented. In my opinion, Minnesotans tend to be reserved, in a manner that seems to fit our cold climate. Just under the surface, though, many of us are kind and will help our neighbors.

[@Dhruvbala]

As a Minnesotan, I agree with the first part, but the examples in the quiz were way off

[@stubbystudios9811]

not for off. It depends on the situation. But I believe they used it to make it a tough quiz. an easy quiz would be to easy.

[@jorgeclarkson4639]

As a brit I think I would enjoy living in Minnesota.

[@veggiesaremurder]

Jorge Clarkson nobody enjoys living in Minnesota. Especially people from Minnesota.

[@nokomismn9685]

I'm a lifelong Minnesotan of Irish/English descent. Come on over as I delight in the British accent and British humor, not to mention Irish storytelling. Maybe I'm slightly out of place here as many Minnesotans seem to be less expressive.

[@tonymusic720]

I'm terrified of negative numbers... I'll stop at nothing to avoid them.

[@infectedmethod]

Rumor has it, that every cast member of Fargo (TV Series) has to watch this KZbin Video, to be an approved cast member.

[@Sunnytales]

as a minnesotanthis is spot on

[@gusugsugus]

damn i immediately tried to press that play button at the start of the video god damn

[@Sebman1113]

I love being Minnesotan

[@SWEmanque]

Feels like we Swedes should fit quite well in Minnesota..

[@DW-bj5wr]

Yabetcha!

[@starvingindiedeveloper1020]

32% of Minnesotans are descended from Swedes and Norwegians. There are numerous families named Carlson, Larson, Nordstrom, Nordquist, Sandquist, Lund, Lundstrom, etc, etc.

[@nsavage1995]

Not all heros wear capes.

[@warrenphillips69]

It's like a video of how to understand Kimi Raikkonen.

[@StandingNomad]

I wonder if Minnesota had a lot of German immigrants, because this is a very German way of doing things. In Germany they say "nicht schlecht" which is literally "not bad", but it's used as a replacement for "pretty good".

[@Yuttles]

You're correct on that assumption

[@zabunia]

Yes, you're definitely right. Germans made up the single biggest immigrant group in Minnesota, followed by Scandinavians.About 70% of the population can trace their ancestry back to those two groups. A lot of what's said in the video feels very familiar to me as a Swede.

[@nokomismn9685]

My former in-laws were Minnesotans of German descent. Very stoical and unemotional in my view.

[@caseybeck7010]

As a North Dakotan. can confirm this works here also

[@Ellie_3621]

The marriage part is so true

[@h8potus972]

"Borrow me twenty bucks..." means you want your friend to lend you $20.00...always thought this was odd. :)

[@burhanbudak6041]

As a swede, I approve

[@TheNerdyCoty]

I want to move to Minnesota now

[@velajuel9028]

Coty Ellis Its not to bad

[@biophyser]

I've slept "not too good" on a guest bed with a bar in my back and said it was "not too bad."

[@jamesmack5110]

Now my family will understand

[@sarcasmo57]

Got two weeks of vacation time coming after working all year down at big Roy's heating and plumbing. Ya'll still got that big ball of twine there?

[@zhukie]

This is also what we say in Australia

[@mplsridah]

Minesotan: How's it goin' Me: I've had better days, ya know

[@TheCrusaderRabbits]

As a Canadian, I speak Minnosotan and never knew it.

[@alldayjt]

You betcha

[@mariopinot9884]

Nice.

[@JeremiahBurns]

_Not too bad. Pass the butter, please._

[@theinternetkilledmusic2054]

I liked teh bit when he said those things he says in the video.

[@JesseDylanMusic]

If I may refrain from speaking like a North Dakotan for a moment, this video is fricking amazing. First time I've laughed in a week. Oh sorry, I mean, this video isn't too bad.