There are a number of dialects found throughout Japan, the most famous of which is the Kansai dialect, known as Kansai-ben. It is spoken by the people of Ôsaka and surrounding areas, and commonly used by comedians, many of whom hail from the region. 

Hakata-ben, the dialect spoken in and around Fukuoka City, is another well-known patois. In addition to many other idiosyncrasies, it uses the suffix "-to" to mark the past tense as well as questions.

For example, "What are you doing?" in Standard Japanese is "Nani o shite iru no?" In Hakata, however, people often use either of these two phrases: "Nanba shiyotto?" or "Nan shitôtô?"

The most widely known Hakata-ben phrase has to be Tottôto (とっとーと). This means to take something for oneself or reserve something, as seen in the following examples:

A. この席、とっとーと？ 

Kono seki tottōto?

Is this seat taken?

B. とっとーと。

Tottōto.

Yes, it’s taken.

E. あんた、お菓子たべんと？

Anta okashi tabento?

Aren’t you going to eat the sweets? 

F. あとで、食べるけん、とっとーと。

Atode taberuken, totōto.

I’m going to eat them later, so I’ve “got dibs” on them.

Several years ago, a new souvenir went on sale in Fukuoka. Called Tottôto, it is a pie made with sweet bean filling. The amusing commercial for this confectionary features Hakata-ben. Have a look:

とっとーと？

とっとーと。