Words that tell everyone your hometown!

[jebartle]

After my morning visit to Curves, there was some discussion about the word
"bubbler".....If you are from Boston, I've been told that is a "water fountain".
Do you have some words to add to this list?

[TheVillageChicken]

Neutral Ground for the median between roadways....strong clue that one is from NOLA.

[JSR22]

The Shore
New Jersey

[jebartle]

When the ole boy opened his practice in North Carolina, we both thought that we had moved to a foreign country, with words like "You'ins", We'ins", and expressions like "headin to the house"...Good hard-working people with lots of love and kindness.... We moved here and found that same virtue in Villagers....

[njbchbum]

When the ole boy opened his practice in North Carolina, we both thought that we had moved to a foreign country, with words like "You'ins", We'ins", and expressions like "headin to the house"...Good hard-working people with lots of love and kindness.... We moved here and found that same virtue in Villagers....

That reminded me of the day my substitute teaching sister had to report to an elementary school math class. Students were suffering from a failure to catch on to the principle of division. When she realized the difficulty she went on to explain to the class that all they have to do is remember their 'gazintas'. Fearing she had created more confusion, she went on to provide an example: 3 gazinta 12 four times! The 'gazintas' put the students in a much happier place! :)

[Villager Joyce]

How about "happier than a dead pig in the sunshine." Not sure where that saying originated but purdy sure it twernt new York city.

[onslowe]

This is bad. I do it an awful lot and my wife used it the other day in Ocala.

"The City." We Noo Yawkers are a wee bit parochial I guess! Everyone else in this great country must live in villages, or hamlets, or towns to listen to us. If you hear it (and the accent hasn't given us away) you can be sure it's NYC.

I went to a NYS student council convention in 1964 at the beautful University of Rochester. One of the kids from NYC asked a security guard where she could get a plane to 'the city.' Since we were just outside Rochester, he looked at her like she was nuts! :)

[dbussone]

I got the "vapors" meaning I feel faint. TN

[gomoho]

pop - Ohio talk for soda.

[manaboutown]

"The big I" is the term used by locals for the intersection of I-25 and I-40 in Albuquerque. I have not heard that term used elsewhere to connote the intersection of two interstate highways. In a New Mexican restaurant when a person orders a meal the waitperson will ask "Red or green?" which I have seen confuse visitors and tourists. He/she is asking whether one wants red or green chili on their order.

In Florida I have noticed folks refer to "the west coast" which causes me to think of California /Oregon/Washington before it dawns on me they are referring to the west coast of Florida, not the US.

In California people consider most of the interstates freeways and refer to them as "the 5", "the 405" and so on. They call other roads and streets "surface streets".

[northwoods8683]

I grew up in Waterbury, CT. WE ALWAYS CALLED IT A BUBBLER. Most of my friends and coworkers also in CT have no idea of what I am talking about.

[Lauren Sweeny]

I think every city had ; dead mans curve, lovers lane, make out place and a popular burger joint.
In or near Cleveland we used terms from a tv show , rat fink, knif, cool it with the boom booms, .
" You're wearing white socks? So Parma!" " Barneby says Hello" or "you can' t fool mom" Do not to forget The keeper of the keys " at Christmas time.

[OBXNana]

After almost 40 years of marriage to my Pittsburgh guy, gum band still makes me stop to remember he means a rubber band.

He claims he can tell when someone is from Pittsburgh because of their accent. So far, he has been correct 100% of the time. I can't tell a difference, but he can spot someone from Pittsburgh as soon as they open their mouth and speak.

[Average Guy]

pop - Ohio talk for soda.

The use of the word "pop" does not distinguish someone from being from Ohio. It is used throughout the Midwestern states.

[dbussone]

The use of the word "pop" does not distinguish someone from being from Ohio. It is used throughout the Midwestern states.

Tonic is what we call all sodas in Boston.

[applesoffh]

"You take the LIE to the Grand Central, and take the exit to the Interboro, uh, I mean Jackie Robinson, and get off at Myrtle Avenue. And don't forget the cawfee." Queens, NYC

[WhoDat]

"Where ya at" New Orleans slang for how are you doing.

[NYGUY]

Here is a link to questions to answer that will tell you where you are from. When I took it, it got me dead nuts on!!

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/12/20/sunday-review/dialect-quiz-map.html

[CFrance]

After almost 40 years of marriage to my Pittsburgh guy, gum band still makes me stop to remember he means a rubber band.

He claims he can tell when someone is from Pittsburgh because of their accent. So far, he has been correct 100% of the time. I can't tell a difference, but he can spot someone from Pittsburgh as soon as they open their mouth and speak.
Oh, you beat me on that one! gum band it is. Also jagoff. And the accent. And red up. Or is it redd up.
Another Pgh. native.

[DigitalGranny]

"please?" Is Cincinnati for "I'm not sure I heard you, please repeat that".

[gerryann]

After my morning visit to Curves, there was some discussion about the word
"bubbler".....If you are from Boston, I've been told that is a "water fountain".
Do you have some words to add to this list?

Seriously....Bubbler from Boston?? That's a Milwaukee term not Boston.

[beachx4me]

Our small city (was a town till 1975) has a few grocery stores and restaurants, two gas stations, couple of drug stores, a hardware store, and the typical dollar store. Not a whole lot more. So for any real needs you have to "go over town". A typical Poquoson, Va saying.
It is the expression for going shopping. I still catch myself saying it!!

[Doro22]

How about "gem clips"! Southern for paper clips. 🌴

[Madelaine Amee]

That reminded me of the day my substitute teaching sister had to report to an elementary school math class. Students were suffering from a failure to catch on to the principle of division. When she realized the difficulty she went on to explain to the class that all they have to do is remember their 'gazintas'. Fearing she had created more confusion, she went on to provide an example: 3 gazinta 12 four times! The 'gazintas' put the students in a much happier place! :)

It took me forever to work out you meant "goes into's", but that is a great way to learn rather than a formal approach.

[Madelaine Amee]

Seriously....Bubbler from Boston?? That's a Milwaukee term not Boston.

Well, "bubbler" is definitely a drinking fountain in Boston!

[DeanFL]

On a similar topic, it's amusing to hear folks say "if you don't like the weather in _______ just wait - it will change in a few minutes". Heard folks say that about their particular town all over the country, as if it only applies to their locale...

Spent 20 years living outside of Boston. Rubber band is 'elastic' - perhaps a New England term too.

I lived in Leesburg for 8 years before moving to TV last year. Just after moving to FL in '05, I drove up to the TV area to shop at a (then) new strip-store area on 441. Was walking to the new store before all signage was up, and coming close to the front doors I encountered a couple that was entering also. I said to them "excuse me, is this the Bed Bath and Beyond store?" They said yes, and immediately "What part of Chicago are you from?". Blew me away (was born/raised in Chicago), they caught my accent right away.

[Number 6]

The use of the word "pop" does not distinguish someone from being from Ohio. It is used throughout the Midwestern states.

Western New York as well. One of my college classmates from NYC told me he went into a restaurant and ordered a "soda". He was shocked when they put ice cream in it!

[DianeM]

This is bad. I do it an awful lot and my wife used it the other day in Ocala.

"The City." We Noo Yawkers are a wee bit parochial I guess! Everyone else in this great country must live in villages, or hamlets, or towns to listen to us. If you hear it (and the accent hasn't given us away) you can be sure it's NYC.

I went to a NYS student council convention in 1964 at the beautful University of Rochester. One of the kids from NYC asked a security guard where she could get a plane to 'the city.' Since we were just outside Rochester, he looked at her like she was nuts! :)

This one is such a truism. As a native we always went either into "the city" or "out the island" if we were heading to Suffolk.

[Carla B]

"Tits in the Ditch" , as I learned from someone from Texas, is something or someone who is belly up, done, finished.

[jebartle]

I feel I could go all over the country and fool them as a native after reading these terms... Of course if you order grits up north, they say Huh???, you must mean cream of wheat!.... Sweet tea, reserved for the south, Right?

[lynwal]

Just to clarify...in Boston we call it a "BUBBLA" ...

[gerryann]

Just to clarify...in Boston we call it a "BUBBLA" ...

That's funny. I always thought Bubbler was a Wisconsin thing. We have Kohler Co. in Wis. and I believe they may have made the first Bubbler......might be wrong though.

[rexxfan]

A frappe is a Boston-ism for a milkshake.
--
bc

[rexxfan]

Soda was also known as "tonic" (in Boston back in the day, anyway).
--
bc

[gap2415]

Serviettes when asking for what is also called napkins

[jebartle]

Just to clarify...in Boston we call it a "BUBBLA" ...

Can't wait to share with my Boston friends...giggle, giggle, snort, snort!

[dbussone]

Serviettes when asking for what is also called napkins

Where are they called this?

[gap2415]

Where are they called this?
Lake Ontario area...we also call erasers rubbers...a no, no down here.

[gap2415]

Must have British background for soda. A soda for us always came with ice cream and the plain old word, pop, was a can of soda pop. Fish and chips always meant French fries, chips didn't meant potato chips.

[TheVillageChicken]

A couple more from New Orleans

Makin' groceries......grocery shopping
Pass a good time......have fun

[Madelaine Amee]

Where are they called this?

Serviettes (obviously a French word) is used all over the European continent as a dinner napkin.

Napkin is a female sanitary product ................... I found out the hard way when living there! Diaper is also known as a nappy.

And, on that note, I am out of here for the rest of the day.:icon_wink:

[Justus]

Growing up in CT, we called roundabouts "rotaries".
You can tell a person is from California if you ask them how far it is to a particular destination and the reply is "about 20 minutes".

[dbussone]

Lake Ontario area...we also call erasers rubbers...a no, no down here.


Thanks - very interesting.

[redwitch]

Growing up in CT, we called roundabouts "rotaries".
You can tell a person is from California if you ask them how far it is to a particular destination and the reply is "about 20 minutes".

Never really thought about it, but oh so true. Anything that takes less than an hour is close by. One to three hours is possible. Over three is a distance. I think it comes from the fact that five miles can take an hour on the right ? freeway. We Californians have no problem with distances, just value our time.

And not sure where I learned it (definitely not California) but I used to call roundabouts circles or traffic circles.

[Yung Dum]

"You take the LIE to the Grand Central, and take the exit to the Interboro, uh, I mean Jackie Robinson, and get off at Myrtle Avenue. And don't forget the cawfee." Queens, NYC
Stay off the Van Wyck and the BQE-they're backed up as always.

[DianeM]

The use of the word "pop" does not distinguish someone from being from Ohio. It is used throughout the Midwestern states.

First time someone offered me a pop, I thought they were weird to be offering me an ice cream or ice on a stick

[SALYBOW]

Please? Said after someone has spoken to you means please repeat what you said to a Cincinnatian.

[CFrance]

pop - Ohio talk for soda.
Also Western Pennsylvania and MI talk for what others erroneously refer to as soda.:evil6:

[joldnol]

Growing up in Key West led to some unique terms. Rust is Conch Cancer, your butt is a boongie and a young lady sitting with knees parted while wearing a dress/skirt was shooting Rollie's. Lobster is crawfish.

[CFrance]

Pittsburghese: n'at. He was drunk n'at. (and that)

[jebartle]

very small without claws....... lobsters, yummy with claws.

side note, we would scuba for tropical fish for our salt water aquarium and brought home two crawfish, 2 weeks later we had 4 crawfish, actually 2 crawfish that had sluffed their shell...




Growing up in Key West led to some unique terms. Rust is Conch Cancer, your butt is a boongie and a young lady sitting with knees parted while wearing a dress/skirt was shooting Rollie's. Lobster is crawfish.

[applesoffh]

Stay off the Van Wyck and the BQE-they're backed up as always.

Love it! And they're probably STILL back-up from the airport! (Notice, in NYC none of the main roads are known by their numbers. Everything is referred to by its name!)

[Justus]

Never really thought about it, but oh so true. Anything that takes less than an hour is close by. One to three hours is possible. Over three is a distance. I think it comes from the fact that five miles can take an hour on the right ? freeway. We Californians have no problem with distances, just value our time.

And not sure where I learned it (definitely not California) but I used to call roundabouts circles or traffic circles.

And I'll bet you call lollipops "suckers"...and if a person wants to know your location at a given time, he asks where you're "AT"! Just guessing...

[dotti105]

When we first moved to Utah from florida I was stumped by a few words and phrases.
1. does you daughter "tend"?
I'm thinking "sheep"???, but "Tend" means babysit, as in to tend to the children.

2. When I called the school about attendance policies I was told they were real strick about "sloughing". I was really confused until later in the conversation I realize "sloughing" meant "skipping school", it had nothing to do with snakes. ( my only point of reference)

3. Working in the NICU I "bathed" the babies. The locals "Bath-ed" the babies. They would say " I am going to "bath" the baby, Not "bathe" the baby. Still confused on that one.

But you know what, the more time we spent there the more those local expressions made me smile. Wonderful people in Utah!!

[mac9]

Substitute teaching in Alabama is "supplying."
"Jeat" in Philadelphia is asking if one has eaten.

[CarolSells]

In the suburb of Cincinnati that I grew up in all of the commercial establishments were up on "The Avenue". Most people walked there and shopkeepers knew customers by name.

When I moved to Georgia, I cringed when I first heard the expression "fixin' to" as in, "I'm fixin' to go to Winn-Dixie". After being there 35 years I found that it actually covered many situations very nicely!

[2BNTV]

There is a street in my hometown that everyone pronounces Mac Clan. It is really McLean but if you said it that way, no one would know what you were talking about.

The Big Apple......... nuff said.

[Bay Kid]

"The Bay". This is the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. The best!

[graciegirl]

pop - Ohio talk for soda.

Exactly.

AND...we say "please" instead of "huh" when we didn't hear you.

You know that having a three way and playing corn hole are family activities.

If you live on the west side of Cincinnati, most people will ask "Which parish?"

If you wear something a little too much your Columbus mother will tell you not to wear THAT at Broad and High.

Some of us call Cleveland " the mistake on the lake".

Going to hide under the bed now.

[HimandMe]

Lake Ontario - sleigh behind snowmobile is called a cutter

[CFrance]

Substitute teaching in Alabama is "supplying."
"Jeat" in Philadelphia is asking if one has eaten.
Also Pittsburgh. "J'eat yet?? "No, J'you"?

[Fraugoofy]

Plural of you is "yous" in Green Bay WI. "Yous going to the fish fry on Friday with us?" Or some people will say "yous guys". "Yous guys going with us for a brewski?" A brewski is a beer, BTW...

[DianeM]

Also Western Pennsylvania and MI talk for what others erroneously refer to as soda.:evil6:

Because you believe it's pop doesn't make it right. Because I believe it's soda doesn't mean that I'm correct either. We're both right.

[CFrance]

Because you believe it's pop doesn't make it right. Because I believe it's soda doesn't mean that I'm correct either. We're both right.
Which is why the icon was added. All was in jest.:p

[DianeM]

Which is why the icon was added. All was in jest.:p

I knew

[2newyorkers]

On Long Island, those that live in eastern LI and plan on traveling west of the town Riverhead say they are going "up island".

[BobandMary]

Philadelphia.....soda, hoagie, Ac-a-me (Acme supermarket)

[dbussone]

Boston. Words ending in "ER" are pronounced "AH". Tuna fish is pronounced "Tuner"and if you wish to change the channel on a television, you turn the "tuna" not the "tuner".