Regional vocabularies of American English
faucet (North) and spigot (South)
frying pan and spider, both of New England origin (the former brought over by the English), and skillet (Midland);
clapboard (North) and weatherboard (Midland and South);
gutter (South), now the mainstream term, as opposed to eaves trough (North) and spouting (parts of Mid-Atlantic);
pit (North, from Dutch) and seed (Midland);
teeter-totter (originally Northern, now also Western), seesaw (Midland), and "dandle" (Rhode Island);
firefly (North) and lightning bug (Midland);
swill (North; garbage for hogs) and slops (Midland and South);
pail (North) and bucket (Midland and South).
The Northeast
brook: creek. Mainly New England, northern New Jersey, and parts of New York, term creek is thought of as a smaller brook.
(shopping) carriage: (esp. Southern New England & Northern New Jersey) shopping cart.
cellar: alternate term for basement. [1]
sneaker: although found throughout the U.S., appears to be concentrated in the Northeast. Elsewhere (except for parts of Florida) tennis shoes is more common. [2]
soda: usual term for soft drink.
stoop: from Dutch, traditionally associated with New York City, now found throughout the Northeast.
whiffletree: piece of wagon gear elsewhere known as whippletree, swingletree, etc.
New England
basement: (local) a lavatory (as in a school).
bubbler (Boston): a water fountain.
bulkhead: cellar hatchway.
clicker: television remote control.
grinder: submarine sandwich (except usu. ME)
hosey: (esp. parts of MA & ME) to stake a claim or choose sides, to claim ownership of something (sometimes, the front seat of a car)
intervale: (also spelled interval) bottomland; mostly historical
johnnycake: (also journey cake, esp. RI jonnycake, also called Shawnee cake) a type of cornmeal bread
leaf peeper: a tourist who has come to see the area's vibrant autumn foliage (also colloquially leafer)
masshole: derogatory term applied to someone from the state of Massachusetts; sometimes used with pride by Bay Staters
necessary: outhouse, privy.
packie: (chiefly MA and CT) Short for package store, a regional variation of liquor store, derived from the use of brown bags or shallow boxes to package and conceal the purchased bottles.
quahog (Rhode Island): Pronounced "koe-hog," it properly refers to a specific species of clam, but due to its abundance in RI, most Rhode Islanders refer to any clam as a "quahog"; it is also used to refer to stuffed clams.
rotary: traffic circle.
spa: (mainly Eastern NE) soda fountain.
tilt, tilting board, totter, dandle, teedle board: seesaw, teeter-totter
tonic (Boston): soft drink. One of the few variations from the general split in the United States between "soda" and "pop".
wicked
adv.) very, extremely (this has gained popularity throughout the U.S. in popular culture[citation needed], especially among younger people) also, cool
frappe (Boston, Eastern MA): a Milkshake
barrel (Boston): Trash Can
Northern New England
ayuh, or ayup: "yes" or affirmative.
bulkie: a kaiser roll. Common throughout Maine and as far south as Boston.
"The County": Aroostook County, Maine, so called due to its large size.
camp: usually waterfront vacation cabin or cottage.
dinner: sometimes used to describe the practice of going out for dessert after the evening meal.
dooryard: area around the door of a house, typically including the driveway.
flatlander, flattie: describes a person "from away" (q.v.). In NH occasionally used for a person from the extreme southern part of New Hampshire (which lacks mountains).
from away: phrase describing a person from another state or country (or as is sometimes the case in Northern Maine, a person from Southern Maine).
Italian sandwich: (ME) submarine sandwich.
Kaybecker: a lumberjack who is a native of French-speaking Quebec (alteration of Quebecer).
logan, pokelogan: a shallow, swampy lake or pond (from Algonquian).
shmunk: forshortened term for a Chipmunk.
outfit: a group of people (e.g. "What are you doing hanging around with that outfit?" meaning "Why are you associating with those people?")
rooked: to be swindled, "i got rooked on that deal"
Mid-Atlantic
New York City Area
BOCES: a derogatory term for special education children. Derives from the acronym for the Board of Cooperative Educational Services.
bodega: a convenience store, most often in a Spanish-language (usually Puerto-Rican or Dominican) neighborhood.
catty corner: to place something on an angle to a corner
"The City": Manhattan.
"Goosey Night": a term used almost exclusively by natives of Passaic County for "Mischief Night."
have a catch: To throw a ball back and forth. "Play catch" elsewhere.
hero: submarine sandwich.
"The Island": Long Island (not including Brooklyn and Queens). In NYC, it can also refer to Rikers Island, particularly when used in a context such as saying that one got "sent to the island."
johnny pump (archaic): fire hydrant.
a kill: (from [Dutch]) a small river or strait, in the name of specific watercourses. E.g.: "Beaver Kill", "Fresh Kills", "Kill Van Kull", "Arthur Kill".
light and sweet: a method of serving coffee, with lots of milk and sugar. Also common in New England.
to wait/stand on line: to wait/stand in line (e.g. "I stood on line for 5 hours to get these tickets.")
on accident: Not used by all New Yorkers, but is not uncommon, contrasting "on purpose". For example, "I didn't mean to; I did it on accident." While all Americans use the term "on purpose," most non-New Yorkers use "by accident."
pie: an entire pizza; a cheese pie or a plain pie has no toppings other than cheese and sauce.
regular coffee: 10 oz. coffee with whole milk and two sugars; by contrast, plain coffee is black, no sugar
slice: one piece of a pizza.
take the train: Ride the subway (in New York City). In New York City, other local commuter rail lines are often referred to by name – i.e., in New Jersey, one might say, "I'm on the PATH" – However, on Long Island, riders of the Long Island Rail Road say the same. Ditto Metro North.
to stay: in the question "to stay or to go?" Many New York eateries use the term "takeaway" in place of "to go". Other regions use the phrase "for here or to go?"
upstate: the part of New York state that excludes New York City, Long Island and the northern suburbs of Westchester and Rockland counties. Some natives of the region go so far as to refer to anything outside of the five boroughs of New York City as "upstate."
wedge (mostly in Westchester and Putnam suburbs): submarine sandwich.
youse: you (plural). (compare with Chicago youse guys)
Delaware Valley (Philadelphia and environs, including southern New Jersey and northern Delaware)
driveway: back alley-way.
fireplug: fire hydrant.
food store: grocery store, supermarket
hoagie: submarine sandwich.
pavement: sidewalk.
pork roll: a meat product made of pork. Usually served fried (cut in slices with a slit).
rowhomes: attached houses.
Shoobie: A visitor to the beach (typically the South Jersey shore) for the day (as contrasted with an overnight visitor). Supposedly derives from the practice of taking the train from Philadelphia to the coastal town of Atlantic City with one's belongings in a shoebox. Similar to Benny, though Benny is more commonly used in the northern beach counties of Ocean and Monmouth.
shore: beach; often associated with South Jersey speech, esp. in the phrase "down the shore" (at the beach).
get a shower: Idiomatic construction, equivalent to 'take a shower.'
wooder: the way many people pronounce the word "water"
water ice: italian ice
The North
Cheesehead: a native of Wisconsin; considered derogatory in Illinois and Minnesota, but a term of pride in Wisconsin (well known across the U.S. through sports media).
pop: generic term for any brand of soft drink, except in parts of Wisconsin; more at Soft drink
Iowa
cave: basement or cellar
sack: (Grocery) bag
North Dakota
slush burgers: sloppy joe's (Western North Dakota, only; unheard of in the rest of the state)
uffda: word of Norwegian origin, used to express exclamation; essentially, "Wow" (e.g. "Uffda that stinks!")
Fargo-Moorhead : the largest city in the state; as opposed to calling it just Fargo. Also known as F-M.
Note: The Eastern North Dakota Red River Valley dialect shares many more terms, usages, and pronunciations with Minnesota than it does with the rest of the state.
Michigan
Davenport (sofa): Used to refer to a sofa, or couch. Used in southern regions of the state.
Devil's Night: The night of October 30. Used especially in Detroit.
Downstate: The lower half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, used by people in the northern half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
Fudgie: Tourists, because they buy fudge made by locals.
Outstate: Name used by people in the Metro Detroit area to describe the rest of the state.
Troll: Name jokingly used by people in the Upper Peninsula to refer to residents of the Lower Peninsula, as they live "under The Bridge" (i.e., south of the Mackinac Bridge that connects the two peninsulas).
Up North: Used throughout Michigan to describe the northern half of the state.
Yooper: People who reside in the Upper Peninsula.
Wisconsin
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blinker: a turn signal.
bubbler: drinking fountain (most common in Eastern Wisconsin).
to budge: to cut in line.
flatlander or FIB [stands for "Fucking Illinois Bastard," or, when less hostile, "Friendly Illinois Brethren"]: a person from Illinois (most common in Southern Wisconsin) (FIB is most often used in reference to Illinoisian perceived inferior driving abilities).
Mud Duck: a person from Minnesota (most common in Western Wisconsin).
on top of: distance to the north (e.g. "The lake is about a mile on top of the highway.")
over home: at home (e.g. "I stopped over home to pick up the tickets." or "He looked for me at the store, but I was over home.")
soda: soft drink (most common in Eastern Wisconsin)
till: a cash register.
Minnesota
to budge: to cut in line
The Cities: the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. Specifically, the central cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Duck duck gray duck: a children's game, more commonly called Duck duck goose.
hot dish: a simple entree cooked in a single dish, related to but not the same as a casserole.
The Lakes: (general) The region of Northern Minnesota most heavily affected by the most recent ice age, known for its great number of large, shallow lakes and widely used as a summer playground for Twin Citians.
The Lakes: (Minneapolis) The city's famous system of lakes, especially the lakes of Chain of Lakes Park.
Minnewegian: The common accent of rural Minnesota, a variation of North Central American English. A portmanteau of Minnesota and Norwegian.
Outstate: any part of Minnesota that is not part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Pop: the common name used for carbonated beverages.
Spendy: expensive
Sucker: lollipop
Timberpuppies, Twinkies, Viqueens: derogatory terms for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings, respectively.
Northerns: insulated boots.
The Midland
dinner: the mid-day meal (esp. on farms); generally applied to the largest meal of the day whether at mid-day or in the evening.
for here: in the question "for here or to go?" Other regions use the phrase "to stay or to go?"
hoosier: someone from Indiana; also a hick or a redneck, low class (esp. in St. Louis and surrounding areas).
husker: someone from Nebraska.
pop: soft drink.
suckers: lollypop.
to: used in place of the word "at"; especially in the phrase "I have to be to work by 6:00".
tower: (esp. in OK) job or work, as in "I'm off to work my tower"; originally related to the oil industry.
where all, who all, and what all: the plural form of these words (i.e., "Who all went out for your birthday, and what all did you do?"); one step away from y'all.
Northern and Eastern Missouri (Saint Louis, Columbia, Missouri, and Surrounding Areas)
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On Accident: By accident
brights: high-beam headlights (compare with western Missouri driving lights)
hoosier: Hicks or anyone considered lower class (i.e., someone who neglects the care of their house or lawn); often used with county name, i.e.: Jefferson County hoosier
to love on someone: to show love to someone or love someone.
outer road: frontage road
soda: a soft drink
tenny-treads: tennis shoes or sneakers, more often used in urban areas, such as St. Louis City and County
tug-up: to have tagged a base in Baseball, e.g. He tug-up on second base.
Kansas and Western Missouri (including Kansas City)
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Arkansas River: pronounced "Ar Kansas," not "Arkansaw" [The pronunciation changes officially at the Kansas borders as it enters from Colorado and leaves into Oklahoma.]
Arkansas City: a city in south central Kansas. pronounced "Ar Kansas," not "Arkansaw" [Most folks avoid the conflict and simply call it Ark City.]
driving lights: high-beam headlights (compare with eastern Missouri and Kansas City brights)
pert near: from "pretty near" – very close (to); almost.
rack: a unit of measure of food in barbecue; usually refers to one dozen.
rah-cheer: slang for "right here".
reckon: to guess, bet, or gamble on; speculate; or reason.
rub: a mix of herbs, spices and seasonings used in barbecue; to apply a mix of seasonings to food in preparation of barbecuing. The term is not unique to Kansas and Missouri but is commonly used in any barbecue culture (e.g. the Southeast and Texas.) A dry rub refers to the use of a coarse and dry spice mix; a wet rub consists of spices mixed with a fluid.
slab: a unit of measure for food in barbecue, usually refers to one pound (16 ounces). A paved area of concrete.
taters: cooked or prepared potatoes.
The South
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Please improve this article if you can (June 2006).
billfold: a man's wallet
broke out: To have a lot of or more than you need. "You need to get that cat fixed or we're gonna be broke out in kittens here soon."
buggy: shopping cart
car tag: license plate
carry: To transport something or someone in a vehicle. "Do you want me to carry you to town when I go?"
chicken and pastry: Chicken pot pie.
chunk or chuck: Toss or throw an object. "Chunk that ball over here to me so I can look at it."
coke: Any brand of soft drink (also less frequently cocola). Shortened form of Coca-Cola. See soft drink.
craw dads: Crayfish.
crocus sack (Atlantic), croker sack (Gulf): burlap bag
cut on/off: To turn on/off. For example, "Cut the lights off." Sometimes "cut out" is used instead of "cut off."
directly: in a minute; soon; momentarily
eye: Burner or heating element of a stove. Turn on that front eye and cook boil some butter beans.
fair: (verb, of the weather, used with off or up) to clear up, also used to denote a state of well-being, possibly short for "fairly well" as in a response to the question of "How are you?"
fix: To get ready, to be on the verge of ("I'm fixing to leave"). The terms "fitntuh" or "finna" are short for "fitting to," a similar phrase.
hose pipe: Not the actual hose itself but the point at which the hose attaches to the water supply (usually on a house/side of a building). Does not apply to fire hydrants.
lay out of: be absent from an obligated activity, namely work or school; to "play hooky," as rendered elsewhere in the U.S. ("Why did you lay out of school today, young lady?")
mash: Used to describe virtually any action that involves applying any sort of pressure. Including, but not limited to, pushing, smashing, stomping, pressing.
maters: Tomatoes
might could: May be able to. For example, "I might could do that."
nabs: Crackers or cookies from vending machines.
peepeye: Peekaboo.
piled up: Sleeping or in the bed at times other than normal sleeping hours. "Here it is 1 p.m. and Joe is piled up in the bed sleeping after laying out all night."
poke: a paper bag, a sack. Used primarily among older Southerners.
put up: put away, put back in its place
Shag: Carolina Shag.
snowbird: a person from a Northern state who vacations in a Southern state during the winter season, and has thus "flown" down to the South only to get away from the snow of their native state. Generally refers to a tourist, or someone who is clearly not a full-time resident ("In December I rent out a room in my apartment to some snowbirds from New York"; "I had to explain to some snowbird where the nearest gas station is"; "This whole town is flooded with snowbirds right around January")
sorry: of poor quality
standing in the need: having a requirement for something. "It is so hot outside, I'm standing in the need of cool drink of water."
straight drive, straight shift: Manual transmission in an automobile; referred to as stick shift in most other regions.
sweet tea: Sweetened iced tea with sugar.
swimming hole: Lake or pond used for swimming.
tump over: To capsize, tip, or fall over. Probably alteration of thump or tumble, or from British dialect tumpoke.
tote: to carry ("Tote that bag in the house for me.")
toter's card: Concealed carry handgun permit.
ugly: discourteous, rude ("You're actin' ugly.")
wide open: hyperactive, full of energy
yonder: "over there"
yon: referring to an item that is over yonder. For example, "Can you go and fetch me yon lawnmower?"
y'all: Contraction for "you all"; the plural form of the pronoun "you".
South Louisiana
alligator pear: avocado
banquette: (old-fashioned) sidewalk
bobos: Any kind of wound, especially a bruise.
Boo or Booboo: affectionate name for a baby or small child, sometimes used with adults
by location: to be at or in someplace (e.g. "by your mama's [house]"); to pass by (location): to stop and visit someplace
Cap: sir (from "captain")
cold drink: soft drink
(to make) dodo: (To go to) sleep. From French "faire dodo", from "faire dormir" or to "make sleep"
Dirty Rice: A Cajun rice dish consisting of rice, spices, herbs and either ground beef, chicken giblets, or both.
Fais Dodo (Fay Doh Doh): a party
Flying Horses: carousel, merry-go-round
gout ("goh"): (old-fashioned) a little taste
hickey: a bump on one's head
How's your mama an 'em: "How is your family (mother and them)?"
lagniappe: a little bit of something extra
locker: closet
Make (age): Have a birthday ("He's making 16 tomorrow.")
to make groceries: to go shopping for groceries
neutral ground: median strip
Parish: county (There are no counties in LA, only parishes)
Pass a good time: Have fun, as in "Come pass a good time at da Fais dodo, y'all".
passion mark: a love bite/hickey
po' boy: a sandwich in which French bread (baguette) is hollowed out and typically stuffed with fried oysters, clams, or shrimp.
To save (dishes, laundry, etc.): to put away something
Throw me something, Mister!: The plea for beads, trinkets, etc. during a parade
T'rows: "throws", or the beads, trinkets, toys and stuffed animals thrown during a Mardi Gras parade
Where y'at?: "How are you doing?" Hence yat.
The West
Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, and Alaska)
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Beauty Bark (Washington), Bark Dust (Oregon): landscape or garden mulch consisting of chipped bark.
crummy: a vehicle used to transport forest workers.
davenport: couch or sofa.
grip: an abundant amount.
gyppo: contract work (or worker). Corruption of "gypsy".
Jefferson: a mostly rural area of Southern Oregon and Northern California known for its secessionist movements.
Packing a card: to be a member of a union, such as the Wobblies.
Pecker pole or Peckerwood: a small tree, often found in the understory of old growth.
Second-growth: timber that has grown back on a previously harvested unit, either by natural reseeding or replanting.
Skid road or Skid Row: the path over which oxen pulled logs; it came to mean the part of a city where loggers congregate and eventually refer to slums.
Snoose: damp snuff or dipping tobacco.
Spendy: Expensive.
Till: a cash register.
Timber Tiger: Chipmunk (lumberjack jargon).
Weak Sauce: slang term for something that is disappointing (used by youth).
Chinook Jargon was a trade language (or pidgin) of the Pacific Northwest, which spread quickly up the West Coast from Oregon State, through Washington State, British Columbia, and as far as Alaska. The following words were borrowed from it:
Chechaco: Derogatory term for new comers to the Northwest. A Chinook Jargon word.
Potlatch: a social gathering.
Skookum: good, strong, best, powerful, ultimate and first rate.
Tyee: Chief, boss, etc. Also, high muckymuck, literally "a big eater".
Alaska
outside: outside Alaska
Sourdough: Person who has lived in Alaska since before the oil boom.
preacher: fallen tree in river (as the Yukon River) hindering navigation; snag.
Montana
crick: creek
Wyoming
barrow pit: ditch
goats: antelope
outfit: vehicle
faucet (North) and spigot (South)
frying pan and spider, both of New England origin (the former brought over by the English), and skillet (Midland);
clapboard (North) and weatherboard (Midland and South);
gutter (South), now the mainstream term, as opposed to eaves trough (North) and spouting (parts of Mid-Atlantic);
pit (North, from Dutch) and seed (Midland);
teeter-totter (originally Northern, now also Western), seesaw (Midland), and "dandle" (Rhode Island);
firefly (North) and lightning bug (Midland);
swill (North; garbage for hogs) and slops (Midland and South);
pail (North) and bucket (Midland and South).
The Northeast
brook: creek. Mainly New England, northern New Jersey, and parts of New York, term creek is thought of as a smaller brook.
(shopping) carriage: (esp. Southern New England & Northern New Jersey) shopping cart.
cellar: alternate term for basement. [1]
sneaker: although found throughout the U.S., appears to be concentrated in the Northeast. Elsewhere (except for parts of Florida) tennis shoes is more common. [2]
soda: usual term for soft drink.
stoop: from Dutch, traditionally associated with New York City, now found throughout the Northeast.
whiffletree: piece of wagon gear elsewhere known as whippletree, swingletree, etc.
New England
basement: (local) a lavatory (as in a school).
bubbler (Boston): a water fountain.
bulkhead: cellar hatchway.
clicker: television remote control.
grinder: submarine sandwich (except usu. ME)
hosey: (esp. parts of MA & ME) to stake a claim or choose sides, to claim ownership of something (sometimes, the front seat of a car)
intervale: (also spelled interval) bottomland; mostly historical
johnnycake: (also journey cake, esp. RI jonnycake, also called Shawnee cake) a type of cornmeal bread
leaf peeper: a tourist who has come to see the area's vibrant autumn foliage (also colloquially leafer)
masshole: derogatory term applied to someone from the state of Massachusetts; sometimes used with pride by Bay Staters
necessary: outhouse, privy.
packie: (chiefly MA and CT) Short for package store, a regional variation of liquor store, derived from the use of brown bags or shallow boxes to package and conceal the purchased bottles.
quahog (Rhode Island): Pronounced "koe-hog," it properly refers to a specific species of clam, but due to its abundance in RI, most Rhode Islanders refer to any clam as a "quahog"; it is also used to refer to stuffed clams.
rotary: traffic circle.
spa: (mainly Eastern NE) soda fountain.
tilt, tilting board, totter, dandle, teedle board: seesaw, teeter-totter
tonic (Boston): soft drink. One of the few variations from the general split in the United States between "soda" and "pop".
wicked
adv.) very, extremely (this has gained popularity throughout the U.S. in popular culture[citation needed], especially among younger people) also, cool frappe (Boston, Eastern MA): a Milkshake
barrel (Boston): Trash Can
Northern New England
ayuh, or ayup: "yes" or affirmative.
bulkie: a kaiser roll. Common throughout Maine and as far south as Boston.
"The County": Aroostook County, Maine, so called due to its large size.
camp: usually waterfront vacation cabin or cottage.
dinner: sometimes used to describe the practice of going out for dessert after the evening meal.
dooryard: area around the door of a house, typically including the driveway.
flatlander, flattie: describes a person "from away" (q.v.). In NH occasionally used for a person from the extreme southern part of New Hampshire (which lacks mountains).
from away: phrase describing a person from another state or country (or as is sometimes the case in Northern Maine, a person from Southern Maine).
Italian sandwich: (ME) submarine sandwich.
Kaybecker: a lumberjack who is a native of French-speaking Quebec (alteration of Quebecer).
logan, pokelogan: a shallow, swampy lake or pond (from Algonquian).
shmunk: forshortened term for a Chipmunk.
outfit: a group of people (e.g. "What are you doing hanging around with that outfit?" meaning "Why are you associating with those people?")
rooked: to be swindled, "i got rooked on that deal"
Mid-Atlantic
New York City Area
BOCES: a derogatory term for special education children. Derives from the acronym for the Board of Cooperative Educational Services.
bodega: a convenience store, most often in a Spanish-language (usually Puerto-Rican or Dominican) neighborhood.
catty corner: to place something on an angle to a corner
"The City": Manhattan.
"Goosey Night": a term used almost exclusively by natives of Passaic County for "Mischief Night."
have a catch: To throw a ball back and forth. "Play catch" elsewhere.
hero: submarine sandwich.
"The Island": Long Island (not including Brooklyn and Queens). In NYC, it can also refer to Rikers Island, particularly when used in a context such as saying that one got "sent to the island."
johnny pump (archaic): fire hydrant.
a kill: (from [Dutch]) a small river or strait, in the name of specific watercourses. E.g.: "Beaver Kill", "Fresh Kills", "Kill Van Kull", "Arthur Kill".
light and sweet: a method of serving coffee, with lots of milk and sugar. Also common in New England.
to wait/stand on line: to wait/stand in line (e.g. "I stood on line for 5 hours to get these tickets.")
on accident: Not used by all New Yorkers, but is not uncommon, contrasting "on purpose". For example, "I didn't mean to; I did it on accident." While all Americans use the term "on purpose," most non-New Yorkers use "by accident."
pie: an entire pizza; a cheese pie or a plain pie has no toppings other than cheese and sauce.
regular coffee: 10 oz. coffee with whole milk and two sugars; by contrast, plain coffee is black, no sugar
slice: one piece of a pizza.
take the train: Ride the subway (in New York City). In New York City, other local commuter rail lines are often referred to by name – i.e., in New Jersey, one might say, "I'm on the PATH" – However, on Long Island, riders of the Long Island Rail Road say the same. Ditto Metro North.
to stay: in the question "to stay or to go?" Many New York eateries use the term "takeaway" in place of "to go". Other regions use the phrase "for here or to go?"
upstate: the part of New York state that excludes New York City, Long Island and the northern suburbs of Westchester and Rockland counties. Some natives of the region go so far as to refer to anything outside of the five boroughs of New York City as "upstate."
wedge (mostly in Westchester and Putnam suburbs): submarine sandwich.
youse: you (plural). (compare with Chicago youse guys)
Delaware Valley (Philadelphia and environs, including southern New Jersey and northern Delaware)
driveway: back alley-way.
fireplug: fire hydrant.
food store: grocery store, supermarket
hoagie: submarine sandwich.
pavement: sidewalk.
pork roll: a meat product made of pork. Usually served fried (cut in slices with a slit).
rowhomes: attached houses.
Shoobie: A visitor to the beach (typically the South Jersey shore) for the day (as contrasted with an overnight visitor). Supposedly derives from the practice of taking the train from Philadelphia to the coastal town of Atlantic City with one's belongings in a shoebox. Similar to Benny, though Benny is more commonly used in the northern beach counties of Ocean and Monmouth.
shore: beach; often associated with South Jersey speech, esp. in the phrase "down the shore" (at the beach).
get a shower: Idiomatic construction, equivalent to 'take a shower.'
wooder: the way many people pronounce the word "water"
water ice: italian ice
The North
Cheesehead: a native of Wisconsin; considered derogatory in Illinois and Minnesota, but a term of pride in Wisconsin (well known across the U.S. through sports media).
pop: generic term for any brand of soft drink, except in parts of Wisconsin; more at Soft drink
Iowa
cave: basement or cellar
sack: (Grocery) bag
North Dakota
slush burgers: sloppy joe's (Western North Dakota, only; unheard of in the rest of the state)
uffda: word of Norwegian origin, used to express exclamation; essentially, "Wow" (e.g. "Uffda that stinks!")
Fargo-Moorhead : the largest city in the state; as opposed to calling it just Fargo. Also known as F-M.
Note: The Eastern North Dakota Red River Valley dialect shares many more terms, usages, and pronunciations with Minnesota than it does with the rest of the state.
Michigan
Davenport (sofa): Used to refer to a sofa, or couch. Used in southern regions of the state.
Devil's Night: The night of October 30. Used especially in Detroit.
Downstate: The lower half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, used by people in the northern half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
Fudgie: Tourists, because they buy fudge made by locals.
Outstate: Name used by people in the Metro Detroit area to describe the rest of the state.
Troll: Name jokingly used by people in the Upper Peninsula to refer to residents of the Lower Peninsula, as they live "under The Bridge" (i.e., south of the Mackinac Bridge that connects the two peninsulas).
Up North: Used throughout Michigan to describe the northern half of the state.
Yooper: People who reside in the Upper Peninsula.
Wisconsin
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blinker: a turn signal.
bubbler: drinking fountain (most common in Eastern Wisconsin).
to budge: to cut in line.
flatlander or FIB [stands for "Fucking Illinois Bastard," or, when less hostile, "Friendly Illinois Brethren"]: a person from Illinois (most common in Southern Wisconsin) (FIB is most often used in reference to Illinoisian perceived inferior driving abilities).
Mud Duck: a person from Minnesota (most common in Western Wisconsin).
on top of: distance to the north (e.g. "The lake is about a mile on top of the highway.")
over home: at home (e.g. "I stopped over home to pick up the tickets." or "He looked for me at the store, but I was over home.")
soda: soft drink (most common in Eastern Wisconsin)
till: a cash register.
Minnesota
to budge: to cut in line
The Cities: the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. Specifically, the central cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Duck duck gray duck: a children's game, more commonly called Duck duck goose.
hot dish: a simple entree cooked in a single dish, related to but not the same as a casserole.
The Lakes: (general) The region of Northern Minnesota most heavily affected by the most recent ice age, known for its great number of large, shallow lakes and widely used as a summer playground for Twin Citians.
The Lakes: (Minneapolis) The city's famous system of lakes, especially the lakes of Chain of Lakes Park.
Minnewegian: The common accent of rural Minnesota, a variation of North Central American English. A portmanteau of Minnesota and Norwegian.
Outstate: any part of Minnesota that is not part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Pop: the common name used for carbonated beverages.
Spendy: expensive
Sucker: lollipop
Timberpuppies, Twinkies, Viqueens: derogatory terms for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings, respectively.
Northerns: insulated boots.
The Midland
dinner: the mid-day meal (esp. on farms); generally applied to the largest meal of the day whether at mid-day or in the evening.
for here: in the question "for here or to go?" Other regions use the phrase "to stay or to go?"
hoosier: someone from Indiana; also a hick or a redneck, low class (esp. in St. Louis and surrounding areas).
husker: someone from Nebraska.
pop: soft drink.
suckers: lollypop.
to: used in place of the word "at"; especially in the phrase "I have to be to work by 6:00".
tower: (esp. in OK) job or work, as in "I'm off to work my tower"; originally related to the oil industry.
where all, who all, and what all: the plural form of these words (i.e., "Who all went out for your birthday, and what all did you do?"); one step away from y'all.
Northern and Eastern Missouri (Saint Louis, Columbia, Missouri, and Surrounding Areas)
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On Accident: By accident
brights: high-beam headlights (compare with western Missouri driving lights)
hoosier: Hicks or anyone considered lower class (i.e., someone who neglects the care of their house or lawn); often used with county name, i.e.: Jefferson County hoosier
to love on someone: to show love to someone or love someone.
outer road: frontage road
soda: a soft drink
tenny-treads: tennis shoes or sneakers, more often used in urban areas, such as St. Louis City and County
tug-up: to have tagged a base in Baseball, e.g. He tug-up on second base.
Kansas and Western Missouri (including Kansas City)
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Arkansas River: pronounced "Ar Kansas," not "Arkansaw" [The pronunciation changes officially at the Kansas borders as it enters from Colorado and leaves into Oklahoma.]
Arkansas City: a city in south central Kansas. pronounced "Ar Kansas," not "Arkansaw" [Most folks avoid the conflict and simply call it Ark City.]
driving lights: high-beam headlights (compare with eastern Missouri and Kansas City brights)
pert near: from "pretty near" – very close (to); almost.
rack: a unit of measure of food in barbecue; usually refers to one dozen.
rah-cheer: slang for "right here".
reckon: to guess, bet, or gamble on; speculate; or reason.
rub: a mix of herbs, spices and seasonings used in barbecue; to apply a mix of seasonings to food in preparation of barbecuing. The term is not unique to Kansas and Missouri but is commonly used in any barbecue culture (e.g. the Southeast and Texas.) A dry rub refers to the use of a coarse and dry spice mix; a wet rub consists of spices mixed with a fluid.
slab: a unit of measure for food in barbecue, usually refers to one pound (16 ounces). A paved area of concrete.
taters: cooked or prepared potatoes.
The South
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Please improve this article if you can (June 2006).
billfold: a man's wallet
broke out: To have a lot of or more than you need. "You need to get that cat fixed or we're gonna be broke out in kittens here soon."
buggy: shopping cart
car tag: license plate
carry: To transport something or someone in a vehicle. "Do you want me to carry you to town when I go?"
chicken and pastry: Chicken pot pie.
chunk or chuck: Toss or throw an object. "Chunk that ball over here to me so I can look at it."
coke: Any brand of soft drink (also less frequently cocola). Shortened form of Coca-Cola. See soft drink.
craw dads: Crayfish.
crocus sack (Atlantic), croker sack (Gulf): burlap bag
cut on/off: To turn on/off. For example, "Cut the lights off." Sometimes "cut out" is used instead of "cut off."
directly: in a minute; soon; momentarily
eye: Burner or heating element of a stove. Turn on that front eye and cook boil some butter beans.
fair: (verb, of the weather, used with off or up) to clear up, also used to denote a state of well-being, possibly short for "fairly well" as in a response to the question of "How are you?"
fix: To get ready, to be on the verge of ("I'm fixing to leave"). The terms "fitntuh" or "finna" are short for "fitting to," a similar phrase.
hose pipe: Not the actual hose itself but the point at which the hose attaches to the water supply (usually on a house/side of a building). Does not apply to fire hydrants.
lay out of: be absent from an obligated activity, namely work or school; to "play hooky," as rendered elsewhere in the U.S. ("Why did you lay out of school today, young lady?")
mash: Used to describe virtually any action that involves applying any sort of pressure. Including, but not limited to, pushing, smashing, stomping, pressing.
maters: Tomatoes
might could: May be able to. For example, "I might could do that."
nabs: Crackers or cookies from vending machines.
peepeye: Peekaboo.
piled up: Sleeping or in the bed at times other than normal sleeping hours. "Here it is 1 p.m. and Joe is piled up in the bed sleeping after laying out all night."
poke: a paper bag, a sack. Used primarily among older Southerners.
put up: put away, put back in its place
Shag: Carolina Shag.
snowbird: a person from a Northern state who vacations in a Southern state during the winter season, and has thus "flown" down to the South only to get away from the snow of their native state. Generally refers to a tourist, or someone who is clearly not a full-time resident ("In December I rent out a room in my apartment to some snowbirds from New York"; "I had to explain to some snowbird where the nearest gas station is"; "This whole town is flooded with snowbirds right around January")
sorry: of poor quality
standing in the need: having a requirement for something. "It is so hot outside, I'm standing in the need of cool drink of water."
straight drive, straight shift: Manual transmission in an automobile; referred to as stick shift in most other regions.
sweet tea: Sweetened iced tea with sugar.
swimming hole: Lake or pond used for swimming.
tump over: To capsize, tip, or fall over. Probably alteration of thump or tumble, or from British dialect tumpoke.
tote: to carry ("Tote that bag in the house for me.")
toter's card: Concealed carry handgun permit.
ugly: discourteous, rude ("You're actin' ugly.")
wide open: hyperactive, full of energy
yonder: "over there"
yon: referring to an item that is over yonder. For example, "Can you go and fetch me yon lawnmower?"
y'all: Contraction for "you all"; the plural form of the pronoun "you".
South Louisiana
alligator pear: avocado
banquette: (old-fashioned) sidewalk
bobos: Any kind of wound, especially a bruise.
Boo or Booboo: affectionate name for a baby or small child, sometimes used with adults
by location: to be at or in someplace (e.g. "by your mama's [house]"); to pass by (location): to stop and visit someplace
Cap: sir (from "captain")
cold drink: soft drink
(to make) dodo: (To go to) sleep. From French "faire dodo", from "faire dormir" or to "make sleep"
Dirty Rice: A Cajun rice dish consisting of rice, spices, herbs and either ground beef, chicken giblets, or both.
Fais Dodo (Fay Doh Doh): a party
Flying Horses: carousel, merry-go-round
gout ("goh"): (old-fashioned) a little taste
hickey: a bump on one's head
How's your mama an 'em: "How is your family (mother and them)?"
lagniappe: a little bit of something extra
locker: closet
Make (age): Have a birthday ("He's making 16 tomorrow.")
to make groceries: to go shopping for groceries
neutral ground: median strip
Parish: county (There are no counties in LA, only parishes)
Pass a good time: Have fun, as in "Come pass a good time at da Fais dodo, y'all".
passion mark: a love bite/hickey
po' boy: a sandwich in which French bread (baguette) is hollowed out and typically stuffed with fried oysters, clams, or shrimp.
To save (dishes, laundry, etc.): to put away something
Throw me something, Mister!: The plea for beads, trinkets, etc. during a parade
T'rows: "throws", or the beads, trinkets, toys and stuffed animals thrown during a Mardi Gras parade
Where y'at?: "How are you doing?" Hence yat.
The West
Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, and Alaska)
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Beauty Bark (Washington), Bark Dust (Oregon): landscape or garden mulch consisting of chipped bark.
crummy: a vehicle used to transport forest workers.
davenport: couch or sofa.
grip: an abundant amount.
gyppo: contract work (or worker). Corruption of "gypsy".
Jefferson: a mostly rural area of Southern Oregon and Northern California known for its secessionist movements.
Packing a card: to be a member of a union, such as the Wobblies.
Pecker pole or Peckerwood: a small tree, often found in the understory of old growth.
Second-growth: timber that has grown back on a previously harvested unit, either by natural reseeding or replanting.
Skid road or Skid Row: the path over which oxen pulled logs; it came to mean the part of a city where loggers congregate and eventually refer to slums.
Snoose: damp snuff or dipping tobacco.
Spendy: Expensive.
Till: a cash register.
Timber Tiger: Chipmunk (lumberjack jargon).
Weak Sauce: slang term for something that is disappointing (used by youth).
Chinook Jargon was a trade language (or pidgin) of the Pacific Northwest, which spread quickly up the West Coast from Oregon State, through Washington State, British Columbia, and as far as Alaska. The following words were borrowed from it:
Chechaco: Derogatory term for new comers to the Northwest. A Chinook Jargon word.
Potlatch: a social gathering.
Skookum: good, strong, best, powerful, ultimate and first rate.
Tyee: Chief, boss, etc. Also, high muckymuck, literally "a big eater".
Alaska
outside: outside Alaska
Sourdough: Person who has lived in Alaska since before the oil boom.
preacher: fallen tree in river (as the Yukon River) hindering navigation; snag.
Montana
crick: creek
Wyoming
barrow pit: ditch
goats: antelope
outfit: vehicle
You should post a regional slang thread or something because I don't talk like that.What the fuck is a pork roll?
