# Is it Pop or soda where you live? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 6, 2000, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776 "2000-07-06T18:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/21 "2000-07-06T20:41:30Z")
When I was growing up it was Pop. It was “COLD POP\>\>\>\>\>\>ICE COLD POP”. “Yes Sir Fifteen cents sir,Thank you sir” ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/22 "2000-07-06T20:45:17Z")
I’m from Minnesota. I say soda, everyone else says pop. I picked up the term soda from my brother’s girlfriend, who comes from Colorado. So, I’ll ask you for a soda or I’ll be specific with my request. (Can I get a Mountain Dew?) ---
**Author:** ![jayron\_32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/41988e/32.png) [@jayron\_32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayron_32)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/23 "2000-07-06T20:46:49Z")
I grew up in New England, where to this day, many grocery stores have a Tonic and Diet Tonic aisle. My mom was from the “tonic” portion of New England (Roughly Boston north through Southern NH) though my dad came from a “soda” family in South Central Massachusetts. No one ever said pop, and I always thought it sounded antiquated, like what they would say in old Little Rascals shorts. However, I got to Chicago, and lo-and-behold, everyone says “pop” Go figure. New England is rife with localisms not found elsewhere from “frappe” meaning what the rest of the world calls “milkshake” (except for Rhode Island, where they are called “cabinets”) to your parents sisters being “AH-nts” and not “AY-nts.” Water Fountains are “bubblers” and Trash is “rubish.” Liquor stores are “package stores”, submarine sandwhiches are “grinders.” Most of these words I’ve found are local to New England. ---
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/24 "2000-07-06T21:57:55Z")
In North Carolina it’s get you a drink, or would you like a Coke. Coke is the term used for any type of soft drink. ---
**Author:** ![SoMoMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@SoMoMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoMoMom)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/25 "2000-07-06T23:05:09Z")
Hubby and I grew up in St. Louis where it is “soda”. We have since lived in southern Missouri where it goes either way. What I noticed about Southern MO folks is that they call any soda machine a “Coke machine” even if it says “Pepsi” or “Dr. Pepper” right on the front of it in huge letters. Not too many years ago we moved to Kansas City where it is called “pop”. My husband says, “I AM a pop. You can’t drink a pop.” Anyway, since it is soda that my daughter had her severe allergic reaction to, I have to write on all emergency forms (and also when I’m talking to people on the internet because who knows where they’re from) “sodapop” so there is no confusion as to what it is that I am referring. ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/26 "2000-07-06T23:08:35Z")
I have been laughed at by people in Tennessee and Alabama for this. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/27 "2000-07-06T23:15:33Z")
's Pop here in Illinois. At least, in east central Illinois. But usually we’ll say the brand name of whatever. * * * Sorry, folks. I realize that’s not one of my most coherent posts ever, but try to decipher. I just got home from work and I’m tired. ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/28 "2000-07-06T23:16:35Z")
Its pop here in Edmonton. Soda is something you bake with. ---
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/29 "2000-07-06T23:19:28Z")
soda - in LA ---
**Author:** ![Jeannie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@Jeannie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeannie)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/30 "2000-07-06T23:21:05Z")
I’m from Chicago. Most people say “pop.” For some reason, I say “soda.” I have no idea why. No one in my family calls it soda. All of my friends call it pop. I guess I just like to be unique. ---
**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/31 "2000-07-06T23:35:49Z")
D. C. - soda (never soda pop), or Pepsi 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/32 "2000-07-06T23:38:12Z")
In San Diego it was all Coke… Here in Vancouver/Portland-- Pop. Screeme ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/33 "2000-07-07T00:04:59Z")
Meanwhile over in the Old World…Soft drink of fizzy drink - neither are any good without the Gin. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/34 "2000-07-07T00:12:36Z")
In L.A., soda. But those damn Johnny Rockets employees keep calling it pop as to sound more retro. Damn them! ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/35 "2000-07-07T00:22:56Z")
It’s pop here in Iowa, and I get a lot of crap for saying soda. My husband is the worst about giving me a hard time because I have never been out of Iowa. Soda just sounds better to me. I have relatives in and our third is from the Carolinas. Maybe that is where I get it. If not then who knows! ---
**Author:** ![Cam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Cam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cam)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/36 "2000-07-07T00:40:49Z")
Well it’s 'Do you want a COKE" in New Zealand. You guys are crazy with your ‘pop’ and ‘soda’. ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/37 "2000-07-07T00:54:56Z")
I call anything with dark syrup a cola (Coke Dr Pepper, Pepsi) and all clear ones Soda. Osip ---
**Author:** ![T\_G\_I\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@T\_G\_I\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_G_I_F)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/38 "2000-07-07T00:55:52Z")
Pop for me in California. When I lived in Michigan, they had a brand called Faygo that came in flavors Grape, Orange, and\*\* Red Pop \*\*(strawberry-cherry) ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/39 "2000-07-07T01:07:01Z")
As Sue and Topaz already mentioned, it’s pop here. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776/40 "2000-07-07T01:10:22Z")
From the land of the Coca Cola company, here in Atlanta, it’s all coke. I went to college in Maine, and was totally confused when I ordered a coke the first time I ate out and got…a coke. I meant a diet coke. A small side note- any New England people like Moxie? I acquired the taste up there, but can’t get it here. Dang. -Lsura [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-pop-or-soda-where-you-live/24776.md?page=3)