Y'all is short for "you all." The correct spot to place the apostrophe is after the "y" but before the "a," because it's the word "you" that's being shortened.

While most barbecue outside of Texas uses pork, Texas barbecue is primarily beef. And it's served with a slice of white bread, macaroni and cheese, sliced onion, jalapenos and pickles.

For more than a decade the vendors at the State Fair of Texas have been deep frying, well, pretty much anything they can think of, including deep-fried balls of frozen butter (with dipping sauce), deep-fried cherry Jell-O and deep-fried Coke. Deep-fried cookie dough remains a favorite at the fair since it was introduced years ago.

Not to be confused with "fixings," if you're "fixing to" do something, it doesn't mean you're about to literally fix something. (Although it might, it just depends on the context.) It means you're about to start on something, such as a task.

No. Texas chili never has and never will have beans. It's called chili con carne -- and that means "with meat."

Not to be confused with the phrase, "That dills my pickle!" (that makes you upset), Texans have known for a long time that drinking pickle juice may be better at relieving cramping caused by dehydration than drinking just water. Plus, it's low calorie.

"Jeet yet?," your friend asks you. "Squeat?" you reply, asking if your friend wants to go eat. But if you're Texan, you knew that.

Austin, originally incorporated under the name "Waterloo" when it was first settled in 1835, was selected as the capital in 1839. Its selection replaced Houston as capital city. In 2017, Austin was named the best place to live in the U.S., by U.S. News & World Report.

In 1835, the Alamo was a former Franciscan mission located near present-day San Antonio. And Texas, at this time, was not an independent country, nor was it one of the states in the United States yet -- it was part of Mexico. The Battle of the Alamo, in which Mexico was victorious, was about Texas fighting for its independence. Today, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas manages the Alamo and has since 1905.

Outside the U.S., "yank" or "yankee" is used to describe any American. And it's been used as a nickname for anyone living north of the Mason-Dixon line, during the Civil War. But in Texas, the slang means anyone living north of the Red River, which forms the state boundary between Texas and Oklahoma.

"All the fixins," not to be confused with "fixing to," are the sides that accompany a meal. (And if you're a Texan, that 'g' is silent.)

Stephen F. Austin was the first secretary of state for the Republic of Texas, but because of his work recruiting families from poor regions to move to Texas, he's known among Texans as the "Father of Texas."

If you're very young, Texans might use the idiom, "knee-high to a grasshopper," to describe you.

Those table tents used to mark meal orders at WAB are striped, orange and white.

The Dallas Cowboys, who play in the NFC East, have won five NFL championships, in the years 1996, 1994, 1993, 1978 and 1972.

Never hand a Texan a cold tea with a spoonful of sugar, and expect them to agree it's sweet tea -- that's tea with a spoonful of sugar. Southern sweet tea is in a different class. It is very sweet to anyone who lives outside of Texas (or the South). But there's a little secret to making sure your sweet tea doesn't taste bitter: baking soda. Adding a pinch of baking soda before you steep your tea will neutralize the tannins in black tea.

After winning independence from Mexico in 1836, Texas set up its own independent country, the Republic of Texas. It was its own republic for almost 10 years -- from March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846 -- until it became part of the United States.

Texas is 268,596 square miles, making it the second-largest state. Alaska, at 663,300 square miles, is the largest state in the nation.

Six flags have flown over Texas, including the flags of Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederacy and the United States. The flag of Great Britain, the Union Jack, has never flown over Texas, though.

Pitching a conniption fit is throwing a tantrum, basically, and it can be thrown by anyone at any age. It's a hysterical outburst, usually with yelling and gesturing.

Both Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson were native Texans. But while George W. Bush, as well as his father, George H.W., are associated with being from Texas, neither were born there -- W. was born in Connecticut and H.W. in Massachusetts.

The slogan, "Don't mess with Texas," was first heard when it aired during the 1986 Cotton Bowl as part of an anti-litter campaign. Today, you can be fined up to $500 for trash (less than or equal to five pounds or five gallons) on your first offense. Repeat offenders can face fines of up to $2,000 and 180 days in jail.

"Texas caviar" has nothing to do with sturgeon or salt-curing. This dish is made from black-eyed peas in a vinaigrette dressing, often eaten with tortilla chips.

Friday nights in Texas are for football. What else is there?

You'd bring hot brisket, cold potato salad and a dish of banana pudding, of course. The banana pudding is negotiable, though, and can be added or subtracted based on the seriousness of the situation.

Texans taunted the Mexicans at the Battle of Gonzales with the words, "come and take it." They even flew a battle flag with a lone star and these words.

Most of Texas is in the Central Time Zone. But, two counties in the far west of the state fall into the Mountain Time Zone, and that includes El Paso County where El Paso is located.

Bluebonnet flowers, called so because they resemble the bonnets pioneer women wore, became the state flower of Texas in 1901. Since then, there's also an official bluebonnet city named Ennis, a festival called the Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival, a song and a tartan.

Kolaches (ko-lah-chees) are Czech pastries that are also popular for breakfast in Texas. Traditionally, these stuffed dough "pillows" are filled with fruit, although it's not unheard of to have meat or cheese as filling, too.

The most common choice for chicken-fried steak is top round or top sirloin that's been tenderized and flattened -- called "cube" steak.

Miriam "Ma" Ferguson was the first woman to serve as governor of Texas. She began her political career indirectly, as first lady of Texas. Ferguson was married to Texas Governor Jim Ferguson and then succeeded him as governor, from 1925 to 1927. Her campaign slogan was, "Two Governors for the Price of One." "Ma" went on to have a second term, but not consecutively.

While there are hundreds of additions you could make to your breakfast taco, there are three main things you need: scrambled eggs, potatoes and cheese. Fill up a soft flour tortilla and sprinkle with hot sauce.

The speed limit on Texas Highway 130 is the fastest speed limit you'll find in the country -- 85 mph.

The origin of Frito Pie is unclear. It may have been invented at a lunch counter in New Mexico in the 1960s. Or maybe it was a short-order cook in the 1950s in Louisiana. The oldest documented recipe for the "taco-in-a-bag" was published in 1949, in Texas. Wherever it came from, and whatever you like to call it, it's basically just three ingredients: chili, cheese and corn chips.

"Deep in the Heart of Texas" begins, "The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas ..." It was written in 1941, by Don Swander (music) and June Hershey (lyrics). Bonus if you know where to clap.