Pennsylvania has a language all its own, shaped by its mix of rural traditions, steel towns, and Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Here are some funny phrases you’ll hear only in the Keystone State:
“Yinz”
Pittsburgh’s answer to “y’all,” used to address a group of people: “Are yinz coming to the game?”
“Jeet?”
Short for “Did you eat?”—often heard as a greeting or invitation: “Jeet yet?”
“Red up”
Meaning to clean or tidy up: “I need to red up the house before company comes.”
“Dippy eggs”
Refers to eggs cooked sunny-side up, perfect for dipping toast.
“Jimmies”
Chocolate sprinkles for your ice cream, especially in the eastern part of the state.
“Nebby”
Describes someone who’s nosy or overly curious: “Don’t be so nebby!”
“Gumband”
What Pennsylvanians call a rubber band.
“Sweeper”
A vacuum cleaner: “Run the sweeper over the carpet.”
“Crick”
A small stream or creek: “Let’s go play down by the crick.”
“Macadam”
Refers to pavement or asphalt: “They’re fixing the macadam on Main Street.”
These quirky expressions are just a taste of Pennsylvania’s unique regional flavor and are sure to make outsiders do a double-take.
Source:
- interests.regional_culture.pennsylvania