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Slang Words No One Outside Your State Will Understand

Updated on Jul. 25, 2025

These regional slang words will leave your out-of-state friends scratching their heads

Your slang is showing

Language isn’t just how we speak—it’s how we tell on ourselves. Say the wrong thing in the wrong place (looking at you, “pop” drinkers in the South), and you’ll out yourself as an out-of-towner faster than you can say “y’all.” Whether you’re calling a sub sandwich a grinder, referring to sneakers as tennis shoes or describing something a little “off” as janky, the words you reach for can spill your hometown secrets in an instant.

These quirky, lovable terms are known as regional slang (or regionalisms, if we’re feeling fancy). They’re the homegrown words and phrases that sneak into your vocabulary early and stick around for life. You never notice them—until someone gives you that “What did you just say?” look across the dinner table.

Some regional slang terms come from immigration patterns, others from geography or local history. But whatever their backstory, they’re packed with personality. And they make the country’s linguistic map way more interesting.

Ready to see how your knowledge of slang stacks up—and maybe learn a few new terms along the way? Read on for 12 regional slang phrases.

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Pennsylvania state's slang word Yinz on the speech bubble with the state map in yellow against a blue background.
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Pennsylvania: Yinz

The South has y’all, but Pennsylvanians call out to a group with yinz.

Massachusetts state's slang word Rotary on the speech bubble with the state map in yellow against a blue background.
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Massachusetts: Rotary

Don’t worry, Massachusettsans have upgraded from rotary phones to keypads. A rotary in the Bay State refers to a traffic circle.

Florida state's slang word Snowbirds on the speech bubble with the state map in yellow against a blue background.
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Florida: Snowbirds

If you live in a colder area but flee south for warm weather in the winter, the locals in the Sunshine State have a name for you: snowbird.

Wisconsin state's slang word Bubbler on the speech bubble with the state map in yellow against a blue background.
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Wisconsin: Bubbler

When Wisconsinites are parched, they’ll ask where the bubbler is. Hopefully, the water won’t be carbonated though—it’s just slang for “water fountain.”

Minnesota state's slang word On Sale Liquor on the speech bubble with the state map in yellow against a blue background.
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Minnesota: On-sale liquor

Sorry, but in Minnesota, on-sale liquor doesn’t mean you’re getting a great deal on booze. In the state, you consume on-sale liquor where you buy it (like at a bar) but take off-sale liquor somewhere else (like away from the liquor store or gas station) to open and drink it.

North Dakota state's slang word Hotdish on the speech bubble with the state map in yellow against a blue background.
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North Dakota: Hotdish

It’s not strictly North Dakotan, but around the Midwest, you’ll hear entrees called hotdishes. Anywhere else in the country, you’d probably call the food a casserole; the term just refers to a main course served in a baking dish.

Alabama state's slang word Cattywampus on the speech bubble with the state map in yellow against a blue background.
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Alabama: Cattywampus

Cattywampus (a variant spelling of catawampus) means “askew or awry,” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. So, for example, you might say that your hair is all cattywampus when you first wake up.

Arizona state's slang word Bear Down on the speech bubble with the state map in yellow against a blue background.
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Arizona: Bear Down

Anyone familiar with University of Arizona sports teams will know bear down means to “go get ’em.” When student president and athlete John Byrd Salmon passed away after a car crash in 1926, his last message to his coach was “Tell the team to bear down,” according to the university. Nearly a century later, his message stands.

Massachusetts state's slang word Slush on the speech bubble with the state map in yellow against a blue background.
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Massachusetts: Slush

Prepare to be pleasantly surprised if you order a slush in the Boston area. The spoon-eaten treats are closer to what you’d probably call “Italian ice,” and locals say they’re way tastier than a convenience-store slushie.

Alaska state's slang word Sourdough on the speech bubble with the state map in yellow against a blue background.
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Alaska: Sourdough

Native and longtime Alaskans call themselves “sourdoughs.” No, it doesn’t mean they have not-so-sweet personalities. Because the state is so isolated, it had to use sourdough instead of shipping in yeast and baking powder to leaven bread, according to Atlas Obscura. Even now, the name sticks.

New Hampshire state's slang word Janky on the speech bubble with the state map in yellow against a blue background.
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New Hampshire: Janky

In the Northeast, people say janky as slang for something that’s poor quality. So if you step into a not-so-clean restaurant, you might wrinkle your nose at how janky it is.

Pennsylvania state's slang word Jawn on the speech bubble with the state map in yellow against a blue background.
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Pennsylvania: Jawn

Not all Pennsylvanians use this, but around Philadelphia, you might think there are an uncanny number of people named John. Nope—people just use the word jawn as a slang catchall, like “thing.”

Regional slang might sound strange to outsiders, but that’s what makes it special. It’s a little verbal badge of honor that says, “Yep, I’m from there.” And whether you’ve stayed close to home or moved miles away, those words stick with you—just like the place that taught you to say them.

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