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 small and precious native Pennsylvania Brook Trout caught or pursued 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 over an open fire. Commonly served with a Busch Light.