The United States is as diverse as the terrain found from end to end so you would find different communities who all have their own way of speaking.
Slang terms will vary for each state, so it would be best to brush up and learn how each part talks.
The locals may even become your friends once you break that awkward barrier of communication.
Alabama


Head to Alabama to discover that “a ways” is a distance between 10 minutes to two hours when talking about travel time.
If you hear “Butter my butt and call me a biscuit” means to express delight or surprise for the current situation.
To “chunk it” means to toss something in the trash.
And if you have “Hankerin’s” then you are craving something.
Alaska
You will need “Bunny boots” when you go to Alaska. Those oversized insulated boots will keep your feet warm when it gets cold.
And if you’re new, then you’re a “cheechako”.
A “break up” is the season between winter and summer when the river ice breaks up, so it’s not as heartbreaking.
“Going outside” means you are leaving the state to go elsewhere as Alaska is considered “inside”.


Arizona
Visit Arizona to get “chizhii” which means rough or dry skin that’s similar in appearance to firewood.
“Oven Mitts” are what people wear when driving because that steering wheel is hotter than any oven you’ll find.
Which means you’ll need a “Swamp box”, a term used for an air conditioner.
A “Carneceria” is the butcher shop, while “Chubasco” is torrential rain, usually taking place in August.


Arkansas
The state of Arkansas has a lot of “bottoms” which means bottomland, a flat, fertile land by a river
And if a local is “Spun up” then watch out since they are all worked up.
That local is “madder than a wet hen” meaning he or she is very, very angry which will take awhile.
“That boy ain’t got the sense God gave a goose” means a person is being foolish.


California
Californians will call anything good “bomb” but being stuck in freeway traffic means that a “Sig alert” will make the drive much longer.
So take a “drag” of that cigarette and just “post up” somewhere, which literally means smoke and just stand on a good spot.
Don’t forget to “rock” what you’re wearing.


Colorado
Skiers driving up to Colorado will be hoping for “pow-pow,” a term for fresh snow or powder.
Be sure to bring some “Colorado Kool-Aid” though (Coors beer).
Head on to “LoDo”, short for Lower Downtown (in Denver) and check out the nightlife.


Connecticut
An “ah-BEETZ” (“apizza”) is a Neapolitan-style pizza topped with clams or shrimp and you have to try it.
A “Nutmegger” is someone from Connecticut who probably enjoys a “Grinder roll”. That’s a type of sandwich.
Find your favorite bottle at the “Package store” or “Packie”, since that’s their liquor store.
And be careful when making a “U-e”, since a U-turn can be risky.


Delaware
Locals in the southern half pronounce cauliflower as “colley flare.”
An “Igner” describes someone being mean or rude to you.
“Baggin’ up” is their version of cracking up or laughing.


Florida
A “Jit” is a kid, or anyone younger than you in the state of Florida.
“We’re parked in Goofy” means you have parked a very long distance from your destination.
Then “no-see-ums” are little bugs that seem to be invisible.


Georgia
In Georgia, a “brick” is a long measure of time, while “one monkey don’t stop no show” means get it done or keep working.
If you hear “That dog won’t hunt”, that means that the person talking is suspicious of what he just heard.


Hawaii
Hawaii will have you calling food “grinds”, with really delicious meals going as “ono grinds.”
“Chicken skin” is you having goosebumps hearing island stories.
And say “shoots” to agree to something proposed to you by a “Lolo” (crazy).


Idaho
A “crick” is basically a “Creek” but the locals swear by their pronunciation.
The car’s glove compartment is the “jockey box.”
And a “rig” is anything bigger than a car, be it a crossover or an SUV and more.


Illinois
Illinois is a “vibe”, because they stay positive so a “drip” refers to clothing and style which you can “flex”.
“Slay” your look if you are confident enough to do so.


Indiana
Potluck dinners are called a “pitch-in dinner.”
“Failful” means difficult, when referring to a task at hand.
And do use your “sweeper” to vacuum the floor.


Iowa
In Iowa, a “parking ramp” is your actual garage, and if you want to avoid traffic, “going gravel” means taking the backroads.
A “Squinnies” is a squirrel and “Padiddle” is a car game for those who grew up there.


Kansas
You will hear “Caddy Corner” which is the opposite corner of whichever direction you’re headed.
And the “burnt ends” are tasty barbecue bits so don’t throw those away.
“That’s nice” could mean a person doesn’t give a damn, while a chicken isn’t a chicken. It’s a “yardbird.”


Kentucky
What’s Kentucky without KFC? Except they refer to it as “Dirty Bird”.
And you will want some “Betty” after, their term for dessert.
If a local says “I haven’t seen you in a month of Sundays” then that means they haven’t seen you in a long time.


Louisiana
In Louisiana, “Lagniappe” means a bonus, which could go to “Dressed” sandwiches. Those are toppings.
Or hit up a nice spot and “pinch the tail and suck the head”, when eating Crawfish.
That’s enough for an “envie” (craving).


Maine
It is Maine so it won’t be complete without a “bug” (lobster).
Saying “Ayuh” is an agreement, like “Ayuh, I love the food.”
And when someone is “Right Out Straight” then they are very busy.


Maryland
They will say “Jeet yet” which just means Did you eat yet
A “Jimmy” is a blue crab which will have locals saying “bet” when they see one.
Couples like calling each other “hon”, as in honey.


Massachusetts
A submarine sandwich or hoagie is called a “grinder”while a “rotary” is a roundabout.
“Wicked” means really cool, while “Wicked Pissah” is really, very cool.
Then you have a “Townie”, who is someone that grew up and still lives in a certain Boston neighborhood.


Michigan
A tourist such as yourself is a “fudgie”, one who needs “choppers”, or those deerskin mittens with a wool mitten insert to keep your hands warm.
“Yooper” refers to an Upper Peninsula resident while “Trolls” are Lower Peninsula residents.


Minnesota
It may be cold in Minnesota but they have amusing terms like “Oh, for cute!” which refers to anything adorable.
“Uff-da” is used to express surprise, relief, exhaustion, astonishment, and dismay.
And you will hear “Holy buckets” which is their version of Jeez Louise.


Mississippi
“Sipp” is how the locals refer to Mississippi because they like to keep it short.
“Nabs” are peanut butter crackers.
If something is “finer than frog’s hair,” then it must be really fine whatever they are referring to.


Missouri
In this state, someone “jeffin” means they are being helpful to someone they don’t like.
“T-ravs” are toasted ravioli while a “sack” is a grocery bag.
And they will “sweep the carpets” when using a vacuum cleaner.


Montana
“Prairie maggots” are sheep but they are also known as meadow maggots.
“A Buck Ninety Eight” means an item is expensive.
You should try “Rocky Mountain Oysters” (fried bull testicles) though.


Nebraska
In this state, a “farmer wave” is when one raises his index and middle fingers from the steering wheel to give a friendly greeting.
They do love their “red beer”.
That’s beer with hot sauce, but it may not go with a “Dorothy Lynch” (salad dressing of sorts).


Nevada
You will find a lot of “Slot Zombies”, basically people with a gambling addiction.
“Excalibur” is a Las Vegas casino while “Spaghetti Bowl” is a freeway interchange.


New Hampshire
“The Old Man” is a series of granite cliffs in the White Mountains resembling a man’s face (“The Old Man of the Mountains”).
A “bubbler” is a water fountain, and “fluffernutter” is a sweet sandwich.
And “bang” means to move quickly.


New Jersey
Walk along and look for a “hoagie” (sandwich) if you get hungry.
They’ll probably call you a “shoobie”, a term for seaside tourists.
“I gotta hit the MAC” means they need the ATM.


New Mexico
You will hear “orale wey” at the beginning of sentences, and that could mean anything.
Restaurant servers also ask, “Red, green or Christmas?” so choose between red, green, or both types of chile.
“Land of mañana” means doing it tomorrow so don’t rush anyone.


New York
It’s NY and to “Grill” is to stare at someone in a judgmental or angry way, or to look at a person for a long period of time.
Going to “cop” something means they are going to purchase the item.
A “fire barn” is a fire station, and they have really nice ones.


North Carolina
In North Carolina, “Yonder” means far, far away. Yonder is a location so far away one can’t even begin to describe where it is.
Then you have “Toboggan” which is a knit hat, while “Fixin'” is when someone is about to do something.


North Dakota
In North Dakota, a prairie dog is a “flickertail”.
“Supper” is dinner and they will say “you betcha” when agreeing to something.


Ohio
In Ohio, a “Goetta” is a sausage patty and a “Polish Boy” is a sausage sandwich.
Locals may come up to you and ask “Chubinuptu?” (What have you been up to?).


Oklahoma
The locals have been known to say “What in tarnation?” and you know what that means.
A “Billfold” is a wallet, a term used usually by older people.
Look for a “Fraidy Hole” if there is a tornado. That’s an underground shelter.


Oregon
In Oregon, the term “Spendy” means expensive.
“Sunbreak” is a moment of sunshine, or they will say “The mountain is out” when it is a sunny day.


Pennsylvania
Locals will say something “needs washed,” as compared to it “needs to be washed.”
“Gum bands” are what they call rubber bands and “dippy eggs” are soft cooked eggs.


Rhode Island
Rhode Islanders love “coffee milk” which is just milk flavored with coffee syrup, while in Providence, a drinking fountain is called a “bubbler.”
“Steamers” are steamed clams and a “rotary” is a roundabout.


South Carolina
They still say “crank” when starting a car, which is an old school term.
And yes, “shine” is Moonshine, then there’s “pig pickin'” which is hog roast.


South Dakota
The locals will say “kattywampus” when something is in a diagonal direction or confused.
Also, a “tavern” isn’t a bar, but a sloppy joe.
“Plumb tuckered out” means someone is extremely tired.


Tennessee
The locas will say “Cathead” in reference to a large biscuit. They are so named because they are as big as a cat’s head.
“Meat and three” is a Classic Southern dinner, and “Blinked/Blinky” is what they call sour milk.


Texas
“The season” means football, while “sorry” can be used as an insult like, “her sorry excuse of a brother.”
And you’re all familiar with “howdy”, “neighbor”, and even “honey”.


Utah
“Fry Sauce” is their ketchup mixed with mayonnaise and sometimes a little pickle relish mixed in it.
“Spaghetti Bowl” refers to the network of highway connections since they look like a spaghetti bowl when seen from overhead.
A “ward” is the term for a congregation of Mormons.


Vermont
In Vermont, a “flatlander” is an out-of-towner, someone who wasn’t born in Vermont.
“Green Up Day” means clean up day, while “chinin'” is snow machining.


Virginia
Coke or Pepsi, or any carbonated drink is simply called a “drink.”
“Stamp” is I swear. For example, “This place does the best pizza in all of Virginia, I stamp.”
“Geeks/Geeker” means funny.


Washington
“S.L.U.T.” stands for the South Lake Union Trolley, and a “web-footer” is not a duck, but the natives of Seattle.
A “jumble sale” is a yard sale so watch out for those.


West Virginia
In West Virginia, locals refer to coke as “co-cola.”
“Bamma” means someone very homey or country in terms of style.
Should there be something or somewhere close by, it is “pert near.”


Wisconsin
Locals tend to ask, “Do you wanna come with?” while leaving off the “me” or “us” at the end of their question.
But if you are asked, “How’s by you?” your response would be, “Fair to middlin’.”
And traffic lights are “stop and go lights”.


Wyoming
In Wyoming, heavy rain is referred to as a “gully washer”.
Locals call Colorado residents “greenies” thanks to green license plates.
And if you like cowboys then you are a “buckle bunny”.


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