# Words (or syllables) that give an indication of where you're from **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 30, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789 "2019-05-30T20:28:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/21 "2019-05-31T00:46:20Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Here’s [the dialect map](https://cdn0.wideopeneats.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/lets-ignore-the-east-coastwest-coast-split-and-notice-that-wisconsin-and-rhode-island-call-a-water-fountain-a-bubbler.png) for “water fountain” (red), “drinking fountain” (blue), and “bubbler” (green). Two little green blobs. 😃 > > The term [may have come from a particular design of drinking fountain made by the Kohler Company](http://whoonew.com/2015/03/closer-look-why-bubbler-in-wisconsin/) (based in eastern Wisconsin), though it’s not entirely clear. Anecdotal evidence: as kids, we were hiking down some railroad tracks (outside Milwaukee) to see where they went (picture “Stand By Me”), when we spotted an abandoned baseball diamond. The outfield was overgrown, the old ads painted on the wooden fences were faded, but there was a funny fountainish contraption. And it worked! You turned a valve and water squirted straight up maybe four inches until gravity made it flop over. Or rather, bubble over. [Like this, but even older…](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--g7hU5vZyeU/TqbYM12J0PI/AAAAAAAAALU/CxvDanxVw_A/s760/bubble-font.JPG) \*"That’s \*why they call it a _bubbler!"_ we shouted and danced around, linguistic archeologists prouder than Ponce De Leon was with his fountain. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/22 "2019-05-31T02:47:02Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Interesting article. Conventional big bottle of water dispensers still seem like the most likely explanation. No. The one in the photo was used long before those five-gallon bottles were common. I heard people say “bubbler” in my youth, though it wasn’t common. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/23 "2019-05-31T03:32:30Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > No. The one in the photo was used long before those five-gallon bottles were common. > > I heard people say “bubbler” in my youth, though it wasn’t common. Right, and I have seen them advertised for sale as bubblers. These particular ones attached to the faucet on the outside of the house. The garden house attached to it also. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/24 "2019-05-31T03:44:18Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > No. The one in the photo was used long before those five-gallon bottles were common. > > I heard people say “bubbler” in my youth, though it wasn’t common. > [@mixdenny](#): > > Right, and I have seen them advertised for sale as bubblers. These particular ones attached to the faucet on the outside of the house. The garden house attached to it also. That is possibly true. However the term is used in some rather isolated places and may not have the same origins everywhere. ‘Bubbla’ can refer to any kind of water dispenser around here, but mainly the water fountain type. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/25 "2019-05-31T04:41:09Z")
If you hear a Virginian say the words “coat” or “boat” you will learn two things. First of all, you will instantly know that they are from Virginia, (You’ll think “Oh! That must be what TruCelt was on about the one time!”). And, secondly, you will finally understand why the “a” is there in the spelling of those two words. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/26 "2019-05-31T05:25:36Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > “Pues” was taught when I took Spanish in high school (many, many years ago, now). My dad (from Chile) always scoffed. But he was very jingoistic about Chile (South America, 2nd). For example, when I told him that we’d learned “alpinismo” as a word for “skiing” in Spanish, his response was something along the lines of: “‘Alpinismo’? Hogwash! In Chile we say ‘andinismo’!” (he was/is a VERY proud _Chileno_ [although he later became a naturalized citizen of the U.S.]) In Spain _alpinismo_ doesn’t mean skiing, it’s mountain climbing. I join your dad in sneering at the teacher. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/27 "2019-05-31T05:30:38Z")
In Western NY, a carbonated soft drink used to be called a pop. But I’ve noticed that this usage has faded away and it’s usually called a soda now. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/28 "2019-05-31T05:41:28Z")
Hey, y’all! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/29 "2019-05-31T05:43:37Z")
When you pronounce the ‘N’ word correctly. Nevada ---
**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:** [May 31, 2019, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/30 "2019-05-31T10:52:20Z")
If you say “warsh” instead of “wash”, you’re in the swath of territory that runs from MO, through southern IL, s. IN, s. OH and s. PA. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > In Western NY, a carbonated soft drink used to be called a pop. But I’ve noticed that this usage has faded away and it’s usually called a soda now. When I moved from Ohio to NYC, I had to learn to say “soda” rather than “pop”. Then when I moved back here, I had to re-learn “pop”, as well as the Mary-marry-merry thing. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/31 "2019-05-31T12:18:54Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > If you say “warsh” instead of “wash”, you’re in the swath of territory that runs from MO, through southern IL, s. IN, s. OH and s. PA. That overlaps the region where crayon is pronounced ‘crown’. ---
**Author:** ![yendis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed8c4c/32.png) [@yendis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yendis)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/32 "2019-05-31T12:20:09Z")
I have been told that the way I say ‘fish’ lets people know that I’m from Durban, South Africa. But I cannot for the life of me hear what I’m pronouncing differently, at all, ever. Curiously the next closest accent to my own from outside South Africa is a New Zealand one, and they are also accused of saying fish incorrectly. Thus I can only conclude that we are saying fish correctly and the rest of you are wrong :p. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/33 "2019-05-31T13:53:28Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > …Yinzers tend to use the word “leave” and “let” interchangeably in ways that they aren’t used elsewhere in the country. > … The first time I heard the ex (raised in the Chicago suburbs) say she was going to leave the dogs out, I (raised in the Chicago suburbs) thought “What the hell would you want to do that for?” And I sometimes hear myself say “da” instead of “the” and I feel a little ashamed. Thanks, SNL Superfans, now I have a complex. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/34 "2019-05-31T13:59:23Z")
I’ve been mocked by visitors for daring to say “howdy” when meeting someone. ??? Pretty freakin’ common here in the West. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/35 "2019-05-31T14:22:55Z")
> [@campp](#): > > I’ve been mocked by visitors for daring to say “howdy” when meeting someone. ??? Pretty freakin’ common here in the West. Sometimes it’s the way you say it. If you sound like a sidekick from an oater with exaggerated glee then it is kind of funny. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/36 "2019-05-31T14:39:33Z")
West coast: “miniature golf”/“mini golf” East coast: “putt putt” West coast: “soda” (sometimes “coke” is used as a generic for any soda) Midwest: “pop” SF bay area: “flea market” southern California: “swap meet” ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/37 "2019-05-31T14:44:31Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Sometimes it’s the way you say it. If you sound like a sidekick from an oater with exaggerated glee then it is kind of funny. Are you suggesting that not everyone says it like [Minnie Pearl](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjX1LpSow_g)?! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/38 "2019-05-31T14:46:45Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Are you suggesting that not everyone says it like [Minnie Pearl](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjX1LpSow_g)?! Not so much among Easterners, but everyone else says it exactly like that. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/39 "2019-05-31T14:49:20Z")
> [@cormac262](#): > > West coast: “miniature golf”/“mini golf” East coast: “putt putt” The East Coast usage is likely due to the existence of the [Putt-Putt](https://puttputt.com/locations/) chain of miniature golf courses, which is based in North Carolina, and the locations of which are primarily in the Southeast. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789/40 "2019-05-31T15:31:01Z")
This thread reminded me of a really weird and violent book I read once, set in the ancient Middle East, where some people trying to deny their ethnicity to escape an act of ethnic cleansing were outed by pronouncing a word in a signature way, resulting in them all getting killed. Does this ring a bell for anyone? 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-syllables-that-give-an-indication-of-where-youre-from/834789.md?page=3)