Carbonated Beverages
Carbonated beverages such as Coca-Cola/Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Mt. Dew, and Sprite have different names in different places around the U.S. Soda is the most common word, which is used in the California area, the Northeast, and areas in the Midwest and Florida. Pop is also common in the Midwest, and in the Southern states, everything is just called Coke, even if it’s not. Some places even call them soft drinks.
Water fountain, drinking fountain, bubbler
Public water faucets for drinking are called water fountains in the East, drinking fountains in the west, and most uniquely “bubblers” in Wisconsin and part of New England.
Traffic circle, roundabout, or rotary
No one can quite agree what to call the round traffic stop.
Garage sale, rummage sale, yard sale, tag sale
A large sale of used goods is often held in someone’s front lawn, driveway, or garage. The central U.S. agrees on garage sale, while yard sale is popular in the East, with a mix of both in the West. Again, parts of New England and Wisconsin have different names for it.
Y’all vs. you guys
“Hey, everybody!” Turns into “Hey, y’all!” in the American South. The rest of the country says “you guys.”
Garbage vs. trash
Where do we put all the non-recyclable waste? It depends where we live in the United States: for the Pacific Northwest, it goes in the garbage. Everywhere else, we say trash.
Semi Truck, eighteen-wheeler, and tractor trailer
Our large freight-hauling vehicles are mostly called Semi trucks, but the South and the Northeast gave them more inventive names.
Tennis shoes vs. sneakers
Sneakers is the choice word for the Northeast, but the majority of the U.S. says “tennis shoes.”
Discussion Questions:
Does your country have slang in different regions?
Which region above has your favorite words? Do you prefer, for example, garage sale or yard sale? Soda or pop?
