By BrainFall Staff - Updated: April 2, 2024
Upstate New York slang, it’s a thing. Do you know the difference between a Beef on Weck and a Texas Hot? See how much you know and how well you could converse and understand this dialect of New York. Take the quiz and test your knowledge!
How Well Do You Actually Know Upstate New York Slang?
Ever ventured north of the Big Apple and found yourself bafflingly unhip to the local lingo? Upstate New York is a linguistic wonderland all its own—where "pop" isn't just a sound and "garbage plates" are a delicacy, not an insult to your cooking. Oh, and let’s not forget, every carbonated drink is not a “soda” up here. If that's not confusing enough, try to decode what exactly a "bomber" is when you're in line at a deli in Buffalo. Hint: it's not what you think.
We Upstate New Yorkers like to think we've got a charm that just can't be found in the city. There's a hometown pride that comes with knowing your "wicked" from your "mad," and yes, they mean entirely different things on this side of the state line. It's about time you test your savvy on the truly important aspects of Upstate culture—our slang. Are you ready to stray from the downstate dialect and speak like a true local from Upstate NY?
Demystifying Upstate Jargon
Let's take a whimsical wander through the linguistic labyrinth of Upstate New York, where the local lingo is as rich and varied as the region's landscapes. From regional delicacies that'll have your taste buds doing backflips to colloquialisms that'll make you feel right at home, we're the sheriffs in town to deputize you with the vernacular of the Empire State's northern enclaves.
From A-Bay to Wegmans
We're not meandering from some tropical hideout to a grocery store, my friends. When we say "A-Bay," we're cozying up with the cool kids at Alexandria Bay, a slice of paradise in the Thousand Islands. And if you don't already worship at the altar of Wegmans, let's just say it's the supermarket sanctuary where Upstaters go to achieve grocery nirvana. Remember, whether you're at a boisterous bash in Buffalo or grabbing groceries in Syracuse, dropping these names gets you one step closer to convincing everyone you’re local.
Foods and Feasts
Hold on to your forks, because you're about to dig into the delicacies that define our delectable dialect. Let's get our chow vocab on the grill:
- Wedges/Hero: Downstate might toast to their heroes, but we're carving up wedges here. It’s not math class, it’s a sandwich – a colossal, scrumptious one, at that.
- Steamed Hams: A cheeky nod to our mythical culinary creation, it's a quirky code for hamburgers, popularized by a certain animated show.
- Garbage Plate: A dish that is nothing short of a heroic assembly of meats, fries, beans, and salads, seasoned with a pinch of culinary chaos.
- Spiedies: These marinated morsels of meaty magic will have you skewered by their deliciousness.
- Riggies: Pasta swaying in a tomato-cream sauce so divine, angels sing its praises.
- Salt Potatoes: They're not just any spuds, they're tiny tubers transformed by brine into bite-sized bliss.
Nature and Nurture
Get ready to embrace the greenery and gusto, Upstate style. White Hots, Upstate's twist on hot dogs, are more than a lakeside snack – they're a culture. And if you've never cozied up to a campfire while the symphony of cicadas serenades you near one of our ethereal Finger Lakes, you're missing out on the kind of peace that only 'Nature's Nurture' can offer. Not to mention, these are prime times to whisper sweet nothings in Upstate-ese to your fellow nature nurturers.
Lifestyle and Culture
Before we dive into Upstate New York jargon, let's set the scene with the local lifestyle and culture—it's the canvas for our linguistic artwork, folks.
Weather or Not
Upstate New Yorkers are as familiar with the word "snow" as they are with their own backyards. We've got wardrobe options for every occasion: from "It's a bit nippy" to "I can't feel my face." In Saratoga or the Adirondacks, don't be surprised if the word "breezy" means hanging onto your hat for dear life or that a winter chat often starts with, "Cold enough for ya?"
Sports and Leisure
Us locals are all about having a good time, whether it's by throwing on a Labatt Blue jersey and playing some street hockey or debating which creek has the best fishing spots for a lazy Sunday. And if you're really from here, you've had your fair share of fish fry Fridays and know that the real debate is whether to spend the day in a boat or at one of our many scenic campgrounds.
The Great Upstate Exodus
You might hear whispers of the "Great Upstate Exodus," but let me tell you, those who stay understand the allure of a laid-back jawn by the campfire. It's true, some folks have traded Adirondack chairs for city bar stools, but we maintain that the smoky-sweet sense of community found at a local fish fry is worth sticking around for.
