Regional Slang in the United States
Across the United States, each state has its own unique slang words that might cause confusion for those who are not familiar with them. This diversity in language is what makes each state unique, as cultures and languages come together in a single place.
Tri-State Area Slang
In New York and New Jersey, the term "mad" is often used to add emphasis, replacing words like "many" or "very." For example, someone might say something was "insanely cool" or use the adjective to describe the amount of something, such as "There were crazy people in the restaurant." In Philadelphia, the word "jawn" is a collective noun that can refer to pretty much any noun. If you’re in Philly and you use "jawn" to refer to a person, place, or thing, the people around you will understand what you mean.
The word "jawn" is believed to be derived from the slang word "joint," which means "restaurant," and is commonly used in the New York dialect. In Pittsburgh, "yinz" is used as a second-person plural pronoun, similar to "y’all." Someone living in Pittsburgh might ask, "Yinz want to get something to eat?" The term "yinz" probably came from Scottish immigrants and was a shortened version of "you ones."
New England Slang
In Boston, the word "wicked" is used for emphasis, similar to "really" or "very." For example, someone might say something is "wicked good." In New Hampshire, the term "janky" refers to something that is of poor quality or messed up. In Maine, "Ayuh" is an informal version of "yes," pronounced something like "ey-yeah." When New England locals need to buy alcohol, they go to the "Packie," which is what locals call liquor stores. The term "Packie" is short for "Package Store," which dates back to the Prohibition era.
Midwest and West Coast Slang
In Wisconsin, a drinking fountain is called a "Bubbler." The origin of this term is unclear, but it is also used in Rhode Island and Australia. In the Midwest, the term "ope" is used in place of "whoops" or "oops" when someone does something accidentally. On the West Coast, particularly in California, the term "hella" is used to add emphasis, similar to "really" or "very." Someone who has moved from New York to California might be "nervous as hell" about changing their dialect, but they would say they are "hella nervous."
