Pronunciation Question

[BrookTroutLover]

Embarrassing question from an incurable Pennsylvanian like me:

Gemmie: hard or soft G?

And what is the derivation? Like they are little “gems?”

What part of PA is this common?

My Western Pennsylvania ears never heard this until I started reading the Board 20 years go.

 

[jifigz]

The "G" should sound like a "J," just like in the word "gem."

What's the root of it? Beats me, but I use the term.

 

[PennKev]

What part of PA is this common?

It's not common in actual conversation.

My Western Pennsylvania ears never heard this until I started reading the Board 20 years go.

That's because it's an internet phrase and is now often used to mock the way some people fuss over tiny native trout.

 

[jifigz]

It's not common in actual conversation.

That's because it's an internet phrase and is now often used to mock the way some people fuss over tiny native trout.

As far as I know, gemmie was coined on this board, right?

 

[poopdeck]

As far as I know, gemmie was coined on this board, right?

This is the only place I’ve ever heard or seen it used. I just call them itty bitty super easy to catch fish that I have no desire to fish for. Maybe I should just call them gemmies for short.

 

[foxfire]

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gem

In our case - a precious fish.

 

[Swattie87]

Gemmie (Jem-ie). Noun. A usually small native Pennsylvania Brook Trout caught by an angler on PAFF. Commonly used on the online fishing message board paflyfishing.com by the migratory Brown Trout proponents as a tongue in cheek reference to the small size and poor fighting quality of Brook Trout.

Related - Gemmie Fries. Noun. Frying whole sublegal flour dredged Gemmies in peanut oil. Traditionally stream side in a cast iron vessel.