Regional vocabularies of American English
Encyclopedia
Regional vocabularies of American English
vary. Below is a list of lexical
differences in vocabulary that are generally associated with a region. A term featured on a list may or may not be found throughout the region concerned, and may or may not be recognized by speakers outside that region. Some terms appear on more than one list.
, especially the North, the Midland
, and the South; many of these terms spread from their area of origin and came to be used throughout the nation. Many today use these different words for the same object interchangeably, or to distinguish between variations of an object. Such traditional lexical variables include:
Many differences however still hold and mark boundaries between different dialect areas, as shown below. From 2000-2005, for instance, The Dialect Survey queried North American English speakers' usage of a variety of linguistic items, including vocabulary items that vary by region. These include:
Below are lists outlining regional vocabularies in the main dialect areas of the United States.
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....
vary. Below is a list of lexical
Lexicon
In linguistics, the lexicon of a language is its vocabulary, including its words and expressions. A lexicon is also a synonym of the word thesaurus. More formally, it is a language's inventory of lexemes. Coined in English 1603, the word "lexicon" derives from the Greek "λεξικόν" , neut...
differences in vocabulary that are generally associated with a region. A term featured on a list may or may not be found throughout the region concerned, and may or may not be recognized by speakers outside that region. Some terms appear on more than one list.
Regionalisms
Historically, a number of everyday words and expression used to be characteristic of different dialect areas of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, especially the North, the Midland
Midland American English
The Midland dialect of American English was first defined by Hans Kurath as being the dialect spoken in an area centered on Philadelphia and expanding westward to include most of Pennsylvania and part of the Appalachian Mountains...
, and the South; many of these terms spread from their area of origin and came to be used throughout the nation. Many today use these different words for the same object interchangeably, or to distinguish between variations of an object. Such traditional lexical variables include:
- faucet (North) and spigot (South);
- frying panFrying panA frying pan, frypan, or skillet is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods. It is typically in diameter with relatively low sides that flare outwards, a long handle, and no lid. Larger pans may have a small grab handle opposite the main handle...
(North and South, but not Midland), spider (New England), and skillet (Midland, Gulf States); - clapboardClapboard (architecture)Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
(chiefly Northeast) and weatherboard (Midland and South); - gutterRain gutterA rain gutter is a narrow channel, or trough, forming the component of a roof system which collects and diverts rainwater shed by the roof....
(Northeast, South), eaves trough (in-land North, West), and rainspouting (chiefly Maryland and Pennsylvania); - pit (North) and seed (elsewhere);
- teeter-totter (widespread), seesawSeesawA seesaw is a long, narrow board pivoted in the middle so that, as one end goes up, the other goes down.-Mechanics:Mechanically a seesaw is a lever and fulcrum....
(South and Midland), and dandle (Rhode Island); - fireflyFireflyLampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies...
(less frequent South and Midland) and lightning bug (less frequent North); - pail (North, north Midland) and bucketBucketA bucket, also called a pail, is typically a watertight, vertical cylinder or truncated cone, with an open top and a flat bottom, usually attached to a semicircular carrying handle called the bail. A pail can have an open top or can have a lid....
(Midland and South).
Many differences however still hold and mark boundaries between different dialect areas, as shown below. From 2000-2005, for instance, The Dialect Survey queried North American English speakers' usage of a variety of linguistic items, including vocabulary items that vary by region. These include:
- generic term for a sweetened carbonated beverage
- drink made with milk and ice cream
- long sandwich that contains cold cuts, lettuce, and so on
- rubber-soled shoes worn in gym class, for athletic activities, etc.
Below are lists outlining regional vocabularies in the main dialect areas of the United States.
The Northeast
- brook - creek. Mainly New England, now widespread but especially common in the Northeast.
- cellar - alternate term for basement.
- sneaker - although found throughout the U.S., appears to be concentrated in the Northeast. Elsewhere (except for parts of Florida) tennis shoe is more common.
- soda - a soft drink
New England
- bulkhead - cellar hatchway
- Cabinet – (Rhode Island) - milk shake
- frappe (eastern Massachusetts) - milkshakeMilkshakeA milkshake is a sweet, cold beverage which is made from milk, ice cream or iced milk, and flavorings or sweeteners such as fruit syrup or chocolate sauce....
- grinder - submarine sandwichSubmarine sandwichA submarine sandwich, also known as a sub among other names, is a sandwich that consists of a long roll of Italian or French bread, split lengthwise either into two pieces or opened in a "V" on one side, and filled with various varieties of meat, cheese, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces. The...
- hosey - (esp. parts of Massachusetts & Maine) to stake a claim or choose sides, to claim ownership of something (sometimes, the front seat of a car)
- intervale - bottomland; mostly historical
- johnnycake (also Rhode Island jonnycake) – a type of cornmeal bread
- leaf peeper - a tourist who has come to see the area's vibrant autumn foliage
- necessary - outhouse, privy
- packie - a liquor store (package store)
- quahog - pronounced "koe-hog," it properly refers to a specific species of clam but is also applied to any clam
- rotary - traffic circleTraffic circleA traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
- tonic (eastern Massachusetts) - soft drink
Northern New England
- ayuh - "yes" or affirmative
- dooryard - area around the main entry door of a house, specifically a farmhouse. Typically including the drivewayDrivewayA driveway is a type of private road for local access to one or a small group of structures, and is owned and maintained by an individual or group....
and parking area proximal to the house - Italian (sandwich) - (Maine) submarine sandwichSubmarine sandwichA submarine sandwich, also known as a sub among other names, is a sandwich that consists of a long roll of Italian or French bread, split lengthwise either into two pieces or opened in a "V" on one side, and filled with various varieties of meat, cheese, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces. The...
- logan (also pokelogan) - a shallow, swampy lake or pond (from AlgonquianAlgonquian languagesThe Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
) - muckle - to grasp, hold-fast, or tear into
New York City Area (including adjacent New Jersey and Connecticut)
- catty corner - on an angle to a corner
- dungarees (archaic) - jeansJeansJeans are trousers made from denim. Some of the earliest American blue jeans were made by Jacob Davis, Calvin Rogers, and Levi Strauss in 1873. Starting in the 1950s, jeans, originally designed for cowboys, became popular among teenagers. Historic brands include Levi's, Lee, and Wrangler...
- egg creamEgg creamAn egg cream is a beverage consisting of chocolate syrup, milk, and soda water, probably dating from the late 19th century, and is especially associated with Brooklyn, home of its alleged inventor, candy store owner Louis Auster. It contains neither eggs, cream, nor ice cream.The egg cream is...
- a mixture of cold milk, chocolate syrup, and seltzer - hero - submarine sandwich
- kill - a small river or strait, in the name of specific watercourses; e.g. Beaver Kill, Fresh KillsFresh KillsFresh Kills is a stream and freshwater estuary in the western portion of the New York City borough of Staten Island...
, Kill Van KullKill Van KullThe Kill Van Kull is a tidal strait between Staten Island, New York and Bayonne, New Jersey in the United States. Approximately long and wide, it connects Newark Bay with Upper New York Bay. The Robbins Reef Light marks the eastern end of the Kill, Bergen Point its western end...
, Arthur KillArthur KillThe Arthur Kill is a tidal strait separating Staten Island, New York from mainland New Jersey, USA, and a major navigational channel of the Port of New York and New Jersey. Kill is from the Middle Dutch word kille, meaning "riverbed" or "water channel"...
(from Dutch) - potsy - hopscotchHopscotchHopscotch is a children's game that can be played with several players or alone. Hopscotch is a popular playground game.- Court and rules :- The court :...
- punchballPunchballPunchball is a sport spawned by and similar to baseball, but without a pitcher, catcher, or bat.The "batter" essentially plays "fungo" without a bat, bouncing or tossing up the ball and then using a volleyball-type approach to put the ball in play, punching the ball with his closed fist...
- a baseball-like game suitable for smaller areas, in which a fist substitutes for the bat and a "spaldeen" is the ball - scallion - spring onion
- stoopUrban stoopIn urban architecture, a stoop is a small staircase ending in a platform and leading to the entrance of an apartment building or other building.-Etymology:...
- a small porch or steps in front of a building, originally from Dutch
Other Mid-Atlantic areas
- breezeway - the space between two groups of rowhouses in the middle of a city block
- hoagie - submarine sandwichSubmarine sandwichA submarine sandwich, also known as a sub among other names, is a sandwich that consists of a long roll of Italian or French bread, split lengthwise either into two pieces or opened in a "V" on one side, and filled with various varieties of meat, cheese, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces. The...
- jimmies - sprinklesSprinklesSprinkles are very small pieces of confectionery used as a decoration or to add texture to desserts—typically cupcakes, cookies, doughnuts, ice cream, frozen yogurt, and some puddings...
(ice cream topping) - Mischief nightMischief nightMischief Night is an annual tradition in parts of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, and the United States when people take a degree of license to play...
- night when, by custom, preteens and teenagers play pranks; usu. 30 October - parlor - living roomLiving roomA living room, also known as sitting room, lounge room or lounge , is a room for entertaining adult guests, reading, or other activities...
- pavement - sidewalkSidewalkA sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
- ShoobieShoobieShoobie is a term used in South Jersey to describe a tourist who visits the seashore for a day , primarily to use the beach during the summer months. Shoobie is used in resort towns along the southern Jersey Shore, between the areas of Long Beach Island and Cape May...
- A visitor to the beach (typically the South JerseySouth JerseySouth Jersey comprises the southern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey between the lower Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. The designation is a colloquial one, reflecting not only geographical but perceived cultural differences from the northern part of the state, with no official...
shore) for the day (as contrasted with an overnight visitor)
The North
- braht or brat - bratwurstBratwurstA bratwurst is a sausage usually composed of veal, pork or beef. The plural in German is Bratwürste....
- breezeway (widespread) - a hallway connecting two buildings
- bubblerBubblerBubbler is a trademarked name that refers to what some may call a drinking fountain.-History of device:The Bubbler' was developed in 1889 by the then-small Kohler Water Works in Kohler, Wisconsin, which was already well-known for its faucet production...
(esp. Wisconsin and the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys) - a water fountain - clout (originally Chicago, now widespread) - political influence
- davenportDavenport (sofa)Davenport is the name a series of sofas made by the now-defunct Massachusetts furniture manufacturer A. H. Davenport Company. Due to the popularity of the furniture at the time, the name "Davenport" has become a genericized trademark. It is often used as a synonym for "sofa", especially in the...
(widespread) - a sofa, or couch - euchreEuchreEuchre or eucre, is a trick-taking card game most commonly played with four people in two partnerships with a deck of 24 standard playing cards. It is the game responsible for introducing the joker into modern packs; this was invented around 1860 to act as a top trump or best bower...
(throughout the North) - card game similar to spades - fridge (throughout North and West) - refrigeratorRefrigeratorA refrigerator is a common household appliance that consists of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump that transfers heat from the inside of the fridge to its external environment so that the inside of the fridge is cooled to a temperature below the ambient temperature of the room...
- hot dish (esp. Minnesota) - a simple entree cooked in a single dish, related to casseroleCasseroleA casserole, from the French for "saucepan", is a large, deep dish used both in the oven and as a serving vessel. The word casserole is also used for the food cooked and served in such a vessel, with the cookware itself called a casserole dish or casserole pan...
- paczkiPaczkiPączki are pastries traditional to Polish cuisine . Pączki is the plural form of the Polish word pączek , though many English speakers use paczki as singular and paczkis as plural. In English, the common pronunciation imitates the Polish pronunciation, but some speakers pronounce the word or...
(in Polish settlement areas, esp. Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin) - a jelly donut - pop (widespread in North and West) - a soft drink, carbonated soda
- soda (parts of Wisconsin) - soft drink
- Yooper (Michigan) - people who reside in the Upper Peninsula of MichiganUpper Peninsula of MichiganThe Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
The Midland
- barn-burner (now widespread) - an exciting, often high-scoring game, esp. a basketball game
- dinner (widespread) - the mid-day meal; the largest meal of the day, whether eaten at mid-day or in the evening
- hoosierHoosierHoosier is the official demonym for a resident of the U.S. state of Indiana. Although residents of most U.S. states typically adopt a derivative of the state name, e.g., "Indianan" or "Indianian", natives of Indiana rarely use these. Indiana adopted the nickname "Hoosier State" more than 150...
(esp. Indiana) - someone from IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
; (outside of Indiana, esp. in the St. Louis, Missouri area) a person from a rural area, comparable to redneckRedneckRedneck is a historically derogatory slang term used in reference to poor, uneducated white farmers, especially from the southern United States... - mango - green bell pepperBell pepperBell pepper, also known as sweet pepper or a pepper and capsicum , is a cultivar group of the species Capsicum annuum . Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in different colors, including red, yellow, orange and green. Bell peppers are sometimes grouped with less pungent pepper varieties as...
, sometimes also various chili pepperChili pepperChili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The term in British English and in Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries is just chilli without pepper.Chili peppers originated in the Americas...
s - outer road - a frontage roadFrontage roadA frontage road is a non-limited access road running parallel to a higher-speed road, usually a freeway, and feeding it at appropriate points of access...
or other service road - pop - a soft drink (except in a large area centered on St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, where soda predominates)
The South
- alligator pear - avocadoAvocadoThe avocado is a tree native to Central Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel...
- banquette (southern Louisiana) - sidewalkSidewalkA sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
, foot-path - billfold (widespread, but infrequent Northeast, Pacific Northwest) - a man's wallet
- cap (also Midlands) - sir (prob. from "captain")
- chill bumps (also Midlands) - goose bumps
- chunk - toss or throw an object
- coke - any brand of soft drink
- commode (also Midlands) - bathroom; restroom; particularly the toiletFlush toiletA flush toilet is a toilet that disposes of human waste by using water to flush it through a drainpipe to another location. Flushing mechanisms are found more often on western toilets , but many squat toilets also are made for automated flushing...
- crocus sack (Atlantic), croker sack (Gulf) - burlap bag
- cut on/off - to turn on/off
- directly - in a minute; soon; momentarily
- dirty rice (esp. Louisiana) - Cajun rice dish consisting of rice, spices, and meat
- fais-dodo (southern Louisiana) - a party
- fix - to get ready, to be on the verge of doing; (widespread but esp. South) to prepare food
- house shoes - bedroom slippers
- lagniappeLagniappeA lagniappe is a small gift given to a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase , or more broadly, "something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure." The word is chiefly used in the Gulf Coast of the United States, but the concept is practiced in many countries where...
(Gulf, esp. Louisiana) - a little bit of something extra - locker (esp. Louisiana) - closetClosetA closet is a small and enclosed space, a cabinet, or a cupboard in a house or building used for general storage or hanging clothes. A closet for food storage is usually referred to as a pantry...
- make (age) (Gulf, esp. Louisiana) - have a birthday; "He's making 16 tomorrow."
- neutral ground (Louisiana, Mississippi) - median stripCentral reservationOn divided roads, such as divided highways or freeways/motorways, the central reservation , median, parkway , median strip or central nature strip is the area which separates opposing lanes of traffic...
- po' boyPo' boyA po' boy is a traditional submarine sandwich from Louisiana. It almost always consists of meat, usually roast, or seafood, usually fried, served on baguette-like New Orleans French bread, known for its crisp crust yet fluffy center.-Preparation:A key ingredient that differentiates po' boys from...
(scattered, but esp. South) - a long sandwich, typically made with fried oysters, clams, or shrimp - put up - put away, put back in its place
- yankee - northerner; also damn yankee, damned yankee
- yonder (esp. rural) - over there, or a long distance away; also over yonder
The West
- barrow pit (esp. Rocky Mountains) – a ditch to conduct water off a surface road
- davenport (widespread) - couch or sofa
- pop (widespread in West and North) - carbonated beverages; soda predominates in California, Arizona, southern Nevada
- snowmachine (Alaska) – a motor vehicle for travel over snow. Outside Alaska known as a snowmobileSnowmobileA snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
Pacific Northwest
- chechaco - derogatory term for newcomers to the Northwest. (from Chinook JargonChinook JargonChinook Jargon originated as a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest, and spread during the 19th century from the lower Columbia River, first to other areas in modern Oregon and Washington, then British Columbia and as far as Alaska, sometimes taking on characteristics of a creole language...
) - crummy - a vehicle used to transport forest workers
- gyppo - contract work (or worker). Corruption of "gypsy"
- potlatchPotlatchA potlatch is a gift-giving festival and primary economic system practiced by indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and United States. This includes Heiltsuk Nation, Haida, Nuxalk, Tlingit, Makah, Tsimshian, Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka'wakw, and Coast Salish cultures...
- a social gathering; a Native American festival during which the chief gives away his possessions (from Chinook JargonChinook JargonChinook Jargon originated as a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest, and spread during the 19th century from the lower Columbia River, first to other areas in modern Oregon and Washington, then British Columbia and as far as Alaska, sometimes taking on characteristics of a creole language...
) - Skid road or Skid rowSkid rowA skid row or skid road is a run-down or dilapidated urban area with a large, impoverished population. The term originally referred literally to a path along which working men skidded logs. Its current sense appears to have originated in the Pacific Northwest...
- a path made of logs or timbers along which logs are pulled; (widespread) a run-down, impoverished urban area - skookumSkookumSkookum is a Chinook jargon word that has come into general use in the Pacific Northwest region of North America.The word skookum has three meanings:# a word in regional English that has a variety of positive connotations;...
- good, strong, powerful, first rate. (from Chinook JargonChinook JargonChinook Jargon originated as a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest, and spread during the 19th century from the lower Columbia River, first to other areas in modern Oregon and Washington, then British Columbia and as far as Alaska, sometimes taking on characteristics of a creole language...
) - snooseSnusSnus , or Swedish snuff, is a moist powder tobacco product originated from a variant of dry snuff in the early 19th century in Sweden, consumed by placing it under the lip for extended periods of time. The precursor of snus, the dry form of snuff inhaled through the nose, was introduced in Europe...
- chewing snuffSnuffSnuff is a product made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is an example of smokeless tobacco. It originated in the Americas and was in common use in Europe by the 17th century...
or dipping tobaccoDipping tobaccoDipping tobacco, traditionally referred to as moist snuff, is a type of finely ground or shredded, moistened smokeless tobacco product. It is commonly and idiomatically known by various terms – most often as dip and sometimes rub or chew...
, especially taken by loggers - tyee - Chief, boss, a person of distinction. (from Chinook JargonChinook JargonChinook Jargon originated as a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest, and spread during the 19th century from the lower Columbia River, first to other areas in modern Oregon and Washington, then British Columbia and as far as Alaska, sometimes taking on characteristics of a creole language...
)
See also
- American and British English differencesAmerican and British English differencesThis is one of a series of articles about the differences between British English and American English, which, for the purposes of these articles, are defined as follows:...
section Lexis (vocabulary) - BaltimoreseBaltimoreseThe Baltimore dialect, most popularly known as Baltimorese , is a dialect of American English in the Mid-Atlantic United States that originated among the White blue-collar residents of South and Southeast Baltimore...
- Pittsburgh EnglishPittsburgh EnglishPittsburgh English, popularly known by outsiders as Pittsburghese, is the dialect of American English spoken by many especially older residents of Pittsburgh and parts of surrounding Western Pennsylvania in the United States, a group referred to by locals and others as Yinzers.-Overview:Many of the...
- General AmericanGeneral AmericanGeneral American , also known as Standard American English , is a major accent of American English. The accent is not restricted to the United States...
- List of dialects of the English language
- SociolinguisticsSociolinguisticsSociolinguistics is the descriptive study of the effect of any and all aspects of society, including cultural norms, expectations, and context, on the way language is used, and the effects of language use on society...
External links
- Dictionary of American Regional English
- City Dictionary - User-generated dictionaries for regional language in the United States