# Indiana collective noun **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 12, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315 "2015-06-12T03:49:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/1 "2015-06-12T03:49:46Z")
Indianians? Indianites? Indians? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/2 "2015-06-12T03:52:20Z")
Hoosiers ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/3 "2015-06-12T04:13:38Z")
Yes, [Hoosier](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoosier) is the official demonym. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/4 "2015-06-12T04:15:20Z")
Official or not, I’m still going to call them Indianites. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/5 "2015-06-12T04:52:20Z")
For Indianapolis, I prefer Indianapolitans. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/6 "2015-06-12T05:27:11Z")
Indianapolis is known as Naptown, whether it likes it or not. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/7 "2015-06-12T06:37:59Z")
The term is “demonym.” Wikipedia lists them in the right side bar for many cities/states/countries. People from Phoenix, AZ are Phoenicians? Do people actually say that? ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/8 "2015-06-12T12:51:51Z")
Dave Barry is a funny guy… Especially when he [he tells ya all about them folks in Indiana what’s called “Hoosiers”](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=20030112&id=QU9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v-sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6912,2888014&hl=en) ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/9 "2015-06-12T13:03:30Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Dave Barry is a funny guy… > Especially when he [he tells ya all about them folks in Indiana what’s called “Hoosiers”](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=20030112&id=QU9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v-sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6912,2888014&hl=en) “Ya all”? [Y’all](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/y'all?s=t). And, yes, Dave Barry is quite the funny guy. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/10 "2015-06-12T13:10:09Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Indianians? Indianites? Indians? If you’re avoiding Hoosier, I personally would use Indianan (not Indianian.) That’s the one I’m familiar with, and [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_demonyms_for_U.S._states) seems to agree, at least. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/11 "2015-06-12T14:12:48Z")
I would also go with Indianan. And, while I’m here, allow me to register a formal complaint against “Wisconsinite” for my state’s demonym. It sounds like a mineral. I much prefer Wisconsinian. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/12 "2015-06-12T15:14:08Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > I would also go with Indianan. Yeah, also briefly checking Google News for “Indianan,” I found a good number of hits, so that word is definitely in use. Merriam-Webster lists both “Indianan” and “Indianian” as demonyms. (Oh, and for Wisconsin, “Wisconsonian” sounds more pleasing to my ears, at least, and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard it that way, too. Looks like it’s [used by at least some people.](https://thewisconsonian.wordpress.com/)) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/13 "2015-06-12T15:20:08Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > And, while I’m here, allow me to register a formal complaint against “Wisconsinite” for my state’s demonym. It sounds like a mineral. I much prefer Wisconsinian. I thought it was pronounced “cheesehead.”😉 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/14 "2015-06-12T16:31:42Z")
_Hoosier Daddy_ seems to be a popular brand name for [hot sauce](http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/images/news/logos/Hoosier_Daddy_BBQ_Sauce_Logo.jpg) and [beer,](http://newalbanian.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HoosierDaddy12x18.jpg) among other products.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/15 "2015-06-12T16:32:44Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > People from Phoenix, AZ are Phoenicians? Do people actually say that? Yes. Cite: Lived in metro Phoenix for over 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/16 "2015-06-12T16:51:47Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, also briefly checking Google News for “Indianan,” I found a good number of hits, so that word is definitely in use. Merriam-Webster lists both “Indianan” and “Indianian” as demonyms. > > (Oh, and for Wisconsin, “Wisconsonian” sounds more pleasing to my ears, at least, and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard it that way, too. Looks like it’s [used by at least some people.](https://thewisconsonian.wordpress.com/)) I like it, too, but it’s also the name of the last glaciation. Seems we can’t escape geologic demonyms! And **kunilou** , smile when you say that! ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/17 "2015-06-12T17:12:11Z")
**dolphinboy** got it in one, but **pulykamell** gets the second preference. missred, native Hoosier ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/18 "2015-06-12T17:38:06Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > _Hoosier Daddy_ seems to be a popular brand name for [hot sauce](http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/images/news/logos/Hoosier_Daddy_BBQ_Sauce_Logo.jpg) and [beer,](http://newalbanian.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HoosierDaddy12x18.jpg) among other products.😃 There is also, I am forced to report, [Who’s Yer Con](http://whosyergamers.org/wyc.php), a gaming convention operated by [Who’s Yer Gamers](http://whosyergamers.org/). It’s a pun, you see. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/19 "2015-06-12T20:04:21Z")
Lifelong hoosier here (save for an ill-advised year in Illinois). It’s Hoosier, for sure. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-collective-noun/722315/20 "2015-06-14T13:10:25Z")
Some of the stranger demonyms (new word for me): Aquisextains (inhabitant of the Aix-en-Provence, original name Aqui Sextus or Six Waters), Haligonian (Halifax), Trifluvians (Three Rivers, QC).