# City nicknames-- do people who live there use them? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080 "2013-02-12T14:38:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/41 "2013-02-13T18:52:25Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Anyone who’s a _real_ New Yorker (especially in Manhattan) just refers to it as “the city.” No NYC, Big Apple, or whatnot. Real New Yorkers live in Brooklyn. (Except Williamsburg. Because fuck those guys.) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/42 "2013-02-13T18:59:18Z")
Many (not all) Nashvillians are proud to live in Music City USA. Some refer to it as Nashvegas. If there are more derogatory names, I’m not familiar with them. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/43 "2013-02-13T19:07:49Z")
I will very very rarely say “Chi town.” Even unironically. I will \*not \*, in any context, ever say “the Chi.” ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/44 "2013-02-13T19:47:48Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Chris Matthews calls it Fluffia, which AIUI is somewhat common among born and raised Fluffians. I came in here to mention Fluffia. I gather it’s more common in south Philly. Other than that, I agree with **Twickster** and **11811**. IME unless somebody is speaking formally, they always say Philly. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/45 "2013-02-13T20:28:55Z")
In my experience, any non-native who tries to pronounce New Orleans like a native (N’Awlins) just looks like an idiot. Ditto for New OrLEENS. It’s “New ORlins” to the rest of us. (I added the “In my experience” as a backstop for when the next person says, “My family has lived in New Orleans for six generations, and we’ve ALWAYS pronounced it ‘New OrLEENS’.” New Orleaneans can be weird about pronunciation.) ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/46 "2013-02-13T22:10:21Z")
Re. New York being called “the city”: that’s _true_, but it’s also true that every metropolitan area does that. If you’re in Evanston, Illinois your “the city” is Chicago; if you’re in the Bay area your “the city” is probably San Francisco. Heck, if you’re in Podunk Suburb, going to Podunk is going to “the city.” Nothing unique about that. “The Big Apple” - never. “Philly” is fairly often used. “Charm City” - yes, I have heard a number of Baltimorons use this. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/47 "2013-02-13T22:58:07Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Rose City-nobody except advertisers and publicity hacks say this. > Portlandia-widely used. Same for Stumptown and Beervana. Some refer to it as PDX. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/48 "2013-02-14T02:16:59Z")
I remember Honolulu occasionally being referred to as the Big Pineapple in the local press, but I don’t think I ever heard anyone actually call it that. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/49 "2013-02-14T02:21:37Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I say “NYC” sometimes. Anyone who uses “the Big Apple” gets a smack upside the head. No, to real New Yorkers, Manhattan is “The City,” and the other boroughs just go by their name. And by the way, I never heard a Long Islander call it “LonGisland.” ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/50 "2013-02-14T02:23:20Z")
Ooh, I have one. Once I went to Indiana and all the local news dweebs kept talking about something called “the Circle City.” I thought they were mispronouncing a crappy electronics retailer until I figured out that Indianapolis is vaguely circular. Whatever happened to “Indy?” ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/51 "2013-02-14T02:29:43Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > Oddly, people don’t react when I call Cleveland “[The Plum](http://rustwire.com/2012/02/14/an-illustrated-history-of-clevelands-varied-attempts-at-rebranding/).” They’ve had more than 30 years to get used to it. Because “The Mistake on the Lake” is more accurate. And I assume you know why my company is called “Flaming River Art.” ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/52 "2013-02-14T02:34:51Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Real New Yorkers live in Brooklyn. (Except Williamsburg. Because fuck those guys.) Ah yes, the bridge-and-tunnel crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/53 "2013-02-14T02:51:02Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I say “NYC” sometimes. Anyone who uses “the Big Apple” gets a smack upside the head. Represent! > [@friedo](#): > > Real New Yorkers live in Brooklyn. (Except Williamsburg. Because fuck those guys.) I’m not sure how real I am, since I was born here. My neighbor, Marty Markowitz (lives about six blocks away), was also born here, though, and I don’t think anyone is a realer Brooklynite – and therefore, a realer New Yorker – than he is. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/54 "2013-02-14T04:32:13Z")
Heh, Marty Markowitz. The guy whose sole political legacy is putting “oy vey!” on the signs welcoming people to Brooklyn. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/55 "2013-02-14T04:37:02Z")
The only time I can remember that I’ve heard “Chi-town” in conversation was in high school (many, many years ago). But that person who said it lived in a suburb. So my answer to the OP is no. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/56 "2013-02-14T05:40:36Z")
My city, Sheffield, S Yorkshire is the Steel City or just Steel City (for it’s manufacturing base). I can’t recall if I’ve ever used it in conversation but I did use it to title a picture on Facebook recently. it got loads of likes fwiw. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/57 "2013-02-14T23:06:02Z")
I hardly ever heard the city I was born and lived the next 25 years in called anything but “Philly”. I was from West Philly and “West Philadelphia” would have been a mouthful. “Brotherly Love” is to laugh at and most of the other choices mentioned on this thread were probably more recent. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/58 "2013-02-14T23:26:18Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I hardly ever heard the city I was born and lived the next 25 years in called anything but “Philly”. I was from West Philly and “West Philadelphia” would have been a mouthful. “Brotherly Love” is to laugh at and most of the other choices mentioned on this thread were probably more recent. Was it the sure-kill expressway back then? ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/59 "2013-02-15T04:36:35Z")
> [@eenerms](#): > > Madison, Wisconsin when I lived there it was Mad Town (that’s when it was cool:D) Yup, I grew up there, and the name “Mad-Town” was understood. We didn’t use it much ourselves, it was more common from the jockeys on the local radio stations - Z104 and 101.5WIBAFM. Dunno if those stations are still around, this would have been back in the 80s and 90s. I was in college there in the early 2000s, but by then nobody listened to radio for music any more. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/60 "2013-02-15T13:47:47Z")
A colleague of mine recently transferred to Houston calls it “Shit Hole.” She has never been one to mince words. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080.md?page=4)