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AmyStrange

(7,989 posts) Wed Sep 16, 2020, 03:33 PM Sep 2020

East Coast word usage versus West Coast... [View all]

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I'm now living in Seattle, but I'm originally from the East Coast (EC), and I've noticed that some of the descriptive words are different out here.

What got me thinking about it was someone posting a question about Teeter Totters, and what I can gather from that thread is that West Coasters (WC) tend to use that word instead of See Saw.

Personally, Teeter Totter makes more sense to me.

Another example is Basement vs Cellar. ECs tend to call it a cellar.

Dresser (WC) vs Bureau (EC) is another one.

Rubber Bands (WC) vs Elastics (EC) is also another one.

I'm sure I've missed a million of them, but since the characters in my books go back and forth from coast to coast, they're all worth knowing.

Any help would be deeply appreciated, and thank you in advance.
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252 replies

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Highlight:

East Coast word usage versus West Coast... [View all] AmyStrange Sep 2020 OP

I am from the east coast. Other than "see saw" I don't use any of the terms you attribute Squinch Sep 2020 #1

So, you call them rubber bands... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #3

To throw more wood on the fire... Guilded Lilly Sep 2020 #17

Ha, ha, ha, I like that. AmyStrange Sep 2020 #21

Definitely a yinzerism. n/t cloudbase Sep 2020 #132

I'm the same as Squinch. Where are you from on the east coast? smirkymonkey Sep 2020 #64

I'm from New England, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #88

I live in Boston, and there are some words/phrases here that are strange to me as smirkymonkey Sep 2020 #90

I know what you mean... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #91

That's one generational difference right there... malthaussen Sep 2020 #115

I'm beginning to see that you're right... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #118

Oh, Pitsburgh is full of interesting dialect... malthaussen Sep 2020 #122

Is the Pennsylvania Turnpike still called that? AmyStrange Sep 2020 #124

Yep, that's usage all over the state. malthaussen Sep 2020 #126

I have more colorful terms for it. lagomorph777 Sep 2020 #223

I'll bet...He, he, he AmyStrange Sep 2020 #224

And "h" is pronounced "haitch." tblue37 Sep 2020 #152

Guilty! n/t AmyStrange Sep 2020 #160

That's a Pennsylvania Dutch thing! tblue37 Sep 2020 #162

And an Ayotte Family thing also... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #163

For a primer on the Pittsburgh vocabulary (and accent)... malthaussen Sep 2020 #199

Everyone thinks THEIR family is crazy, but mine really is, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #200

You Tube, he has a million videoes. n/t malthaussen Sep 2020 #207

Thanks AmyStrange Sep 2020 #208

Same here Sanity Claws Sep 2020 #8

Yeah, I'm an old fart, 64. AmyStrange Sep 2020 #13

I grew up in KY and it was a teeter-totter nt yellowdogintexas Sep 2020 #191

Here on the East Coast... uberblonde Sep 2020 #2

Exactly. Maybe Canada? soothsayer Sep 2020 #4

Could be Canada, because... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #11

Ah. What did they call bandages? soothsayer Sep 2020 #12

That's a good question... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #15

Ha! Makes sense. soothsayer Sep 2020 #18

Well, they do call band-aids, band aids, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #20

Technically... Band-Aids are bandages. Not an East coast thing, thought maybe Canada would go plaste soothsayer Sep 2020 #39

Guaranteed sterile UNTIL opened... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #49

I've read a lot and in print I've seen many references to bandages as "sticking plaster". abqtommy Sep 2020 #37

That's a new one on me, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #51

You're entirely welcome. Yet I understand every word used! abqtommy Sep 2020 #53

Someone else mentioned that... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #6

I never heard the term "hair elastic" until now but I am familiar with the word "scrunchie". abqtommy Sep 2020 #32

It's one of those words that are fun to say... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #58

I'm in MA and have always said elastics not rubber bands. seaglass Sep 2020 #203

Yup, could be an age thing, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #204

My sister (RI) calls them rubber bands, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #206

He calls them rubber bands n/t AmyStrange Sep 2020 #205

I'm from the east coast too and I find it tremendously funny how fierywoman Sep 2020 #5

I know. It took me a couple months to get that one. AmyStrange Sep 2020 #9

Des Moines? Oregon? fierywoman Sep 2020 #34

Folks out here in the wild west tend to think of cellars... Thomas Hurt Sep 2020 #7

Maybe it's just my family... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #10

I use both cellar and basement. That is because to me a basement is more of a place where you keep Doreen Sep 2020 #14

I'll have to explain that to my family, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #16

It is just what I think. Doreen Sep 2020 #22

Good point about the dirt floor... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #30

Midwesterner here MrsMatt Sep 2020 #234

Yup. We had a basement to play in... Guilded Lilly Sep 2020 #73

That sounds so cool. Doreen Sep 2020 #82

It really was. The basement was huge and we could roller skate in it if we avoided ... Guilded Lilly Sep 2020 #92

I had a similar transition Sanity Claws Sep 2020 #19

Yup, sack and bag are good examples also, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #26

I had a friend from Texas who used "poke." malthaussen Sep 2020 #116

Based on personal experience, "freeway" as a synonym for interstate/highway is WC RockRaven Sep 2020 #23

Freeway vs highway! AmyStrange Sep 2020 #29

Where I am, "freeway" is the portion of the interstate that goes thru the city SharonClark Sep 2020 #40

I rarely hear "freeway" on the East Coast. Tommy_Carcetti Sep 2020 #62

Turnpike, too. Totally Tunsie Sep 2020 #94

Yup, turnpike is one I've heard, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #98

Wifey from Michigan Brainfodder Sep 2020 #111

Expressway in NE Ohio, too. we can do it Sep 2020 #252

Basement vs Cellar SharonClark Sep 2020 #24

Yup, storm cellar... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #27

The provenance of "cellar" is from "root cellar." malthaussen Sep 2020 #119

Yup, that was my understanding also, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #121

Perfect description. We had both but all in one house! n/t Guilded Lilly Sep 2020 #74

Some on the EC have trouble pronouncing Oregon. Sneederbunk Sep 2020 #25

Orygone? AmyStrange Sep 2020 #28

In SoCal we pronounce Oregon like organ, but with a slight drag on the first syllable. Iggo Sep 2020 #85

Big differences between North and South. rickford66 Sep 2020 #31

Yup, north and south have their vagaries also... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #38

Sub vs Grinder... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #33

or a Hero. I think that comes from Gyro, yonder Sep 2020 #48

yup, Hero and gyro are two I've heard before, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #55

This is likely true in other states, but in Iowa we have town names like. . . SharonClark Sep 2020 #35

Interesting (it is, really), and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #44

The 'Arkansaw River becomes Our-'Kanzass River yonder Sep 2020 #57

Is it really KansASS? AmyStrange Sep 2020 #77

gotta be from the same Indian word - Arkansas and Kansas yonder Sep 2020 #79

Kansas in Arkansas and Kansas aren't even pronounced the same, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #81

"Cairo" in Illinois is pronounced "Kayro." n/t malthaussen Sep 2020 #123

Acouple from KY yellowdogintexas Sep 2020 #190

We call the interstates I 70 or the interstate in LA doc03 Sep 2020 #36

In old days, there was supposedly a divide in Iowa south of Des Moines. SharonClark Sep 2020 #41

In Ohio I70 is the dividing line for a southern acsent. nt doc03 Sep 2020 #43

In the south, bamagal62 Sep 2020 #60

Pop vs. Soda: area51 Sep 2020 #93

That is definitely THE SITE, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #103

That's the one that I was thinking about. My little cousin from Colorado ordered "pop" Rhiannon12866 Sep 2020 #195

Yeah. You hear people say, " What kind of coke do you want? Sprite? 7-up? Root beer? " tblue37 Sep 2020 #153

In Central Florida we usually said cold drink for carbonated bevs. lpbk2713 Sep 2020 #251

A couple more: yonder Sep 2020 #42

All good stuff, and since I'm from New England, another tip off is... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #46

yes, good one. a drawing becomes a drawring yonder Sep 2020 #50

Weirdly enough, Bostonians take the R out of garbage... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #52

in the southwest we don't have creeks, cricks, or brooks Kali Sep 2020 #54

Yup, I lived in Arizona for a spell, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #56

Yup, gullies are probably used more than washes up here in S. Idaho. yonder Sep 2020 #59

Known as "Wadis" in Arabic... malthaussen Sep 2020 #127

yep and good question Kali Sep 2020 #133

That's good. Or even Wadi Wade, as wade in the crick? yonder Sep 2020 #134

But Arabic is not Indo-European. malthaussen Sep 2020 #198

Creek/crik/brook, in VA some were called "runs" JustABozoOnThisBus Sep 2020 #61

"Runs". That's a new one for me. yonder Sep 2020 #67

from etymonline.com, northern English dialect, 16th century JustABozoOnThisBus Sep 2020 #109

Two, actually. malthaussen Sep 2020 #125

Which spelling is it, crik or crick? AmyStrange Sep 2020 #68

"Crick" is a good pronunciation, except ... JustABozoOnThisBus Sep 2020 #108

Forgot about that one, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #113

Crik is the correct spelling... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #114

Names like that are usually referring to the distance from a reference point... malthaussen Sep 2020 #128

+1. yonder Sep 2020 #138

don't be ridiculous - all of them are Coke nt yellowdogintexas Sep 2020 #192

All of those WC words are more commonly used in the Midwest as well. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2020 #45

I seem to get that also n/t AmyStrange Sep 2020 #47

I'm lifelong ECoaster and have always used what you label as WC terminology wishstar Sep 2020 #63

I'm blaming my family, because... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #65

Which one do you use, bag or sack for groceries? AmyStrange Sep 2020 #66

I love threads like this! smirkymonkey Sep 2020 #69

Exactly, and AmyStrange Sep 2020 #71

Ditto. What you said. yonder Sep 2020 #139

Swimming Pool vs. Cement Pond n/t targetpractice Sep 2020 #70

Cement pond is a new one on me, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #72

It's from The Beverly Hillbillies... targetpractice Sep 2020 #75

I remember all those (except cement pond), and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #76

"Vittles" is actually "victuals," a word of long usage. malthaussen Sep 2020 #129

Vittles IS easier to say... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #165

I used to live in California and I learned this there. I spent a weekend in the city of Lompoch. abqtommy Sep 2020 #78

All-munds is my choice. AmyStrange Sep 2020 #80

Definitely. Codeine Sep 2020 #173

Codeine is my choice also n/t AmyStrange Sep 2020 #182

My mom lived there for a spell (for a while). couldn't help it. yonder Sep 2020 #140

the large sitting furniture in the living room rurallib Sep 2020 #83

I've used sofa and couch, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #84

Couch. Iggo Sep 2020 #86

do they make them in Davenport? Kali Sep 2020 #135

Settee. GoneOffShore Sep 2020 #210

Variations in word use and pronunciation wnylib Sep 2020 #87

Interesting info and a funny story too! AmyStrange Sep 2020 #89

Bubbler and water fountain Totally Tunsie Sep 2020 #95

I've used WF, Milkshake and Grinders, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #96

Cabinet may be limited to the lovely state Totally Tunsie Sep 2020 #97

That's where I was born (Lying-In Hospital/Women & Infants), and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #99

The first time I heard it was when I arrived in Providence Totally Tunsie Sep 2020 #100

I lived in the quiet corner (the Putnam, Killingly, and Plainfield area), but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #101

On military bases, liquor is sold in... 3catwoman3 Sep 2020 #226

I've only been on 3 AF bases and I honestly don't remember that, but you might be right AmyStrange Sep 2020 #227

She told me that you're right, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #197

Word origins (or "orgenans" as Chump would say) Totally Tunsie Sep 2020 #201

Yup. Package Stores, for example, is derived from (I think)... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #202

in Massachusetts, you have to order a frappe to get the ice cream yellowdogintexas Sep 2020 #193

Package stores is another one... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #102

Hit 'em with "packie", the MA and RI nickname. Totally Tunsie Sep 2020 #104

Christ, they already think I'm talking about a store that sells boxes... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #105

Just be sure you're not misunderstood by someone Totally Tunsie Sep 2020 #106

Never even thought of that one, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #107

In PA they were State Stores. malthaussen Sep 2020 #130

Used to be called State Liquor Stores here in Washington State, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #131

Package what now? nt Codeine Sep 2020 #174

ha ha ha AmyStrange Sep 2020 #178

I honestly don't know what that is. nt Codeine Sep 2020 #179

It's a liquor store... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #183

Ah! That makes sense. nt Codeine Sep 2020 #185

We used to call overshoes "rubbers". zanana1 Sep 2020 #110

My whole family is French Canadian, and yup, we used rubbers too. AmyStrange Sep 2020 #112

My personal favorite... malthaussen Sep 2020 #117

Here is the PERFECT site for that question... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #120

This message was self-deleted by its author consider_this Sep 2020 #169

NY Times: How Y'all, Youse and You Guys Talk targetpractice Sep 2020 #136

No it wasn't, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #142

handbag/bag vs purse vs pocketbook consider_this Sep 2020 #137

After leaving NE, I haven't heard the word pocketbook either. AmyStrange Sep 2020 #143

Got one more: yonder Sep 2020 #141

Poin-set-tia is definitely an odd pronunciation, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #144

I've never heard it other than point-set-tia. Codeine Sep 2020 #175

There ya go. yonder Sep 2020 #186

Im from California. Codeine Sep 2020 #187

I mostly grew up and lived in the inland west yonder Sep 2020 #189

lest you forget 'wicked' consider_this Sep 2020 #145

Ha ha ha AmyStrange Sep 2020 #146

Mad is also used in the same way... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #147

Soda vs. pop. tblue37 Sep 2020 #148

Yup, good one, and here's an awesome site for that... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #154

Margarine vs oleo. tblue37 Sep 2020 #149

Curtains vs. drapes. tblue37 Sep 2020 #150

Never call them drapes... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #158

I've heard the word oleo before, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #155

The word "margarine" is just a shortened form of "oleomargarine." nt tblue37 Sep 2020 #157

When I started reading your title, I was thinking the same thing, and you're right. AmyStrange Sep 2020 #159

I never use "oleo,"but older relatives did--but that was in the 1950s & 1960s. nt tblue37 Sep 2020 #161

My grandpa always said the whole thing, Codeine Sep 2020 #188

Garage vs. carport. tblue37 Sep 2020 #151

Very interesting AmyStrange Sep 2020 #156

Here in California those are two very different things. Codeine Sep 2020 #177

That's the way I understand it also. AmyStrange Sep 2020 #180

What's a "Sitting Room"? AmyStrange Sep 2020 #164

Like a parlor, perhaps? consider_this Sep 2020 #167

Parlor vs Living Room vs Sitting Room AmyStrange Sep 2020 #170

Bathroom vs Lavatory (or Lav for short), and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #166

Forget East coast/West Coast. We in PA have E vs W and the great Soda vs Pop debate. progressive nobody Sep 2020 #168

The GREAT soda vs pop debate! AmyStrange Sep 2020 #171

Tag sale vs Garage Sale vs Yard Sale consider_this Sep 2020 #172

Yup, I've heard all three, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #176

We call flea markets "swap meets" here. Codeine Sep 2020 #181

SWAP MEET! That's the name I was looking for... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #184

I've some times but not often heard bazaar for an individual sale. lpbk2713 Sep 2020 #250

Buttered roll IcyPeas Sep 2020 #194

??? AmyStrange Sep 2020 #196

Not so much a difference in words as in a descriptive phrase. Dem2theMax Sep 2020 #209

Is it because of traffic? AmyStrange Sep 2020 #211

Yes, 100% because of traffic! Dem2theMax Sep 2020 #212

Absolutely! Seattle is also on the way to becoming one... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #213

I wouldn't want to be an ambulance driver there, or... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #214

I was born and raised East Coast, but used all the words attributed to West Coast. NNadir Sep 2020 #215

I've come to that conclusion also, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #216

And then, there is The South and a whole other ballgame. nt Laffy Kat Sep 2020 #217

Yup, it's not just EC vs WC, but sometimes within the same state, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #218

A couple I've noticed jmowreader Sep 2020 #219

Have I got a website for you... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #220

Rubber bands vs Elastics FINAL update AmyStrange Sep 2020 #221

Lifelong East Coaster here. I've always used all your "West coast" terms. lagomorph777 Sep 2020 #222

I'm from New England, French and that's why they're alien to you... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #225

The so-called "east coast" terms you cite are not universally used all over the east DFW Sep 2020 #228

I know that now, because of this thread, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #230

I think it turned out alright, anyway. This was almost ten years ago. DFW Sep 2020 #237

What's the name of your book? AmyStrange Sep 2020 #240

Of course he was joking. Stan was ALWAYS joking! DFW Sep 2020 #242

Oh, I forgot DFW Sep 2020 #243

Just got it... sounds interesting, but... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #246

My dad grew up in Chicago. He used to call jelly-filled... 3catwoman3 Sep 2020 #229

Bismarck is a new one on me, but so was a Cabinet, and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #231

'Thread master' is a new one on me too. LanternWaste Sep 2020 #232

I used that once, calling myself the thread master... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #233

I have no idea. I did look it up, and it is... 3catwoman3 Sep 2020 #235

I like reading the history of names and... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #236

In Germany, where I now live, a jelly-filled donut is called "ein Berliner." DFW Sep 2020 #238

So JFK said he was a hot dog, huh? AmyStrange Sep 2020 #239

I was down in France just yesterday DFW Sep 2020 #241

I'm not saying they're all like that, but AmyStrange Sep 2020 #244

I understand French and German just fine DFW Sep 2020 #247

Ha, ha, far, far away, huh? AmyStrange Sep 2020 #248

No place holds a monopoly n/t DFW Sep 2020 #249

Ha, ha, I was just thinking that JFK could also mean... AmyStrange Sep 2020 #245