Some of the words you use carry more history than you’d guess. South Carolinians say many of them without a second thought, from the kitchen to the grocery store. Here’s where these everyday words came from. 1. Goober Gullah speakers kept the African word goober for peanut, according to Folkstreams. Merriam-Webster links goober to Bantu…
Ask one linguist how many dialects North Carolina has, and his answer is anywhere from two to 200. Your family’s way of talking may be part of that mix, especially if your parents or grandparents grew up there. Here are the sayings many boomers still use that leave younger folks confused. 1. Co’ Cola Co’…
Living in Colorado for years doesn’t always make you sound like a native. Lifelong Coloradans pick up on little clues, from how you say a town’s name to which airport you remember. Here are the telltale signs that separate the newcomers from the natives. 1. Native Bumper Sticker The NATIVE bumper sticker lets many lifelong…
You say something perfectly normal at a get-together, and an out-of-state friend asks what it means. Some of what Hoosiers say doesn’t mean much a state or two away. Here’s the vocabulary that can give away an Indiana upbringing, and where a few of those words came from. 1. The Region The Region is a…
Bring up the wrong topic at a Tennessee cookout, and the conversation can heat up fast. Tennesseans can argue about some of these for years without anyone changing their mind. Here are the debates you’re most likely to hear. 1. Smokey the Coonhound Smokey the bluetick coonhound has been the Tennessee Volunteers’ mascot since a…
Some Virginia town names sound more like a punchline than a place. If you grew up there, you’ve probably stopped noticing. But you can bet that out-of-staters definitely notice. These are the Virginia town names that make out-of-staters do a double take. 1. Pound Pound received its town charter in Wise County on April 7,…
Tell a Boston driver you’re lost, and you may be told to bang a U-ey at the next light. Many out-of-staters wince at those words. Here are the Massachusetts sayings that often sound rude to visitors, and what locals mean by them. 1. So Don’t I Tell a coworker in Boston that you have a…
A phrase you’ve used for decades can mean something different to the person hearing it today. Many Ohioans who grew up in the boomer years say some of these out of habit, with no harm meant. Here are the common phrases to rethink, and what you can say instead. 1. Senior Citizens Senior citizen is…
From the highway, an Iowa small town can look like a few blocks and a water tower. Iowans who grew up in one know there’s a lot more going on than city visitors guess. Here’s what small-town life looks like from the inside. 1. Girls’ Six-on-Six Basketball Girls’ six-on-six basketball was a two-court game that…
If you grew up in Florida, your warmest jacket might be a hoodie. That won’t cut it once you move somewhere with real winter. Here’s the cold-weather gear many Floridians end up buying after they head north. Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Driving, snow-removal and fine rules are subject to change. 1….
