Regional slang terms across America that people actually use, and what they mean

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Regional slang terms across America that people actually use, and what they mean

With a total area of over 3.8 million square miles, the United States is a massive country with many regional differences. Cuisine and culture are two that easily come to mind, but variations in conversational slang are just as prevalent.

Regional slang connects people and can form a unique social identity. As Penn State Professor James Lantolf explains, slang develops out of geographic isolation and cultural exchange. This fascinating phenomenon can be immediately apparent to an outsider who visits an area. So what are some of the most common? PeopleWin covers 10 popular regional sayings found in the U.S. today.

1. California: ‘Hella’

All California residents will tell you that “hella” is a result of the dialect from the San Francisco Bay Area. Its prominence arose in the late 1970s. UC Berkeley linguist Geoff Nunberg believes it transferred from Black English, likely originating in the Oakland area.

Hella essentially translates to “very much so.” It’s possibly a variation of hellacious or, less likely, helluva, according to English-language historian Michael Adams.

2. Massachusetts: ‘Wicked’ and ‘bubbler’

The area of Massachusetts around Boston has one of the most widely recognized accents in the U.S. It’s characterized by dropping the letter R from the end of words and adding it to the end of other words, says Wendy Wiberg, a speech-language pathologist.

The history of the slang word “wicked” is a bit convoluted. Regardless, it’s commonplace in Massachusetts. Wicked essentially means “very” or “extremely.” For example, “The pizza is wicked good.”

A “bubbler,” a slang term common to southeastern parts of the state and Rhode Island, is simply another name for a water fountain.

3. New York City: ‘Deadass’ and ‘brick’

New York City has one of the most vibrant cultures in the United States. As such, many unique slang terms have arisen from the area.

Deadass and brick are both frequently heard when talking with any hip, NYC local. Dictionary.com describes deadass as meaning “seriously.” Brick is used to describe intense cold. Oxford English Dictionary reports its first use back to 1995 in the Daily News.

4. Florida: ‘Dale’

Florida is a melting pot, and Latin American culture is widespread. Dale is a slang term used in Miami and other regions of the state.

Dale is a Cuban word popularized by the Miami rapper Pitbull. NPR describes that it has a loose, contextual translation to “give it” or “go ahead.” It can be a phrase of encouragement or an order.

5. Midwest: ‘Ope’

The Midwest has plenty of slang words and a different way of pronouncing many common English words. Margaret Hostetler, a linguistics professor at the University of Wisconsin, notes in the Oshkosh Northwestern that Midwesterners like to shorten words.

As the Oshkosh Northwestern describes, “ope” is another way of saying “oops” or “oh.” It’s a bit of a filler word, and likely developed as a way to close off the open-ended sound of oh.

6. Pennsylvania: ‘Jawn’ (Philadelphia)

Jawn is unique to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Greater Delaware Valley, according to the Philadelphia Encyclopedia.

It’s a variation of the word “joint” found in New York City. It means “thing,” and is used in conversation to describe something that does not need a formal name.

7. Louisiana: ‘Lagniappe’

Lagniappe is a Cajun-French word that’s explicitly understood by everyone who lives in Louisiana and, more specifically, New Orleans.

It basically means “a little extra,” and embodies the spirit of being generous. Southern Living says that it can be practiced in many different ways. At restaurants, it could be seen as an extra appetizer or dessert that wasn’t ordered.

8. Hawai‘i: ‘Da Kine’

Da Kine is an expression from Hawaiian pidgin English. Like many slang words, it doesn’t have a singular meaning. In general, it means “that kind,” according to the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Hawaiʻi Magazine offers a more comprehensive explanation. It can be used like “whatchamacallit.” As the magazine describes, it may seem like the person saying it can’t think of the word they want to use, but actually, it’s that the people speaking already know what’s being said, and there’s no need for additional words.

9. Colorado: ‘The Fort’ (Fort Collins) and ‘Breck’ (Breckenridge)

Shortening the names of cities is a common practice for many locals around the country. Colorado is no different.

Fort Collins and Breckenridge are two popular places in the state, and they’ve earned nicknames from locals and visitors alike. While you might only hear The Fort from people who actually live there, Breck is a popular phrase that’s used by people coming to the area to ski.

10. The South: ‘Bless Your Heart’

Southern Living describes how “bless your heart” has a myriad of meanings that are all dependent on context. It can be an authentic expression of sympathy, or it can be an expression of judgment for someone’s behavior. Knowing how to use this phrase or how to respond to it in a Southern social setting takes practice.

The language of locals

Every region around the U.S. has its own unique personality, culture, and slang that can take time to learn. For the places on this list, some slang has become mainstream and is recognized across the country. Despite this, slang remains a way to connect the people of a local culture together, allowing them to bond over a mutual understanding of implicit language.

These phrases might feel unnatural to visitors, but to locals, they’re as common as any other word in the English language. Keep an eye out for these slang terms and others the next time you travel. You might be surprised at what you hear.

This story was produced by PeopleWin and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.