It is used in Philadelphia and surrounding Pennsylvania regions as a catch all noun that can refer to any person, place, thing, or event, essentially a stand in for any noun when the specific word isn't needed or known. People typically say "Pass me that jawn" or "That jawn was crazy" or "He's a cool jawn" in casual conversation. The term originated in Philadelphia African American Vernacular English (AAVE) during the 1970s or 1980s, later becoming a beloved local identifier and spreading modestly through hip hop and social media.

What does "jawn" mean in Philadelphia slang?

jawn

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The structure is a simple adverb borrowed from the adjective meaning evil or morally bad, repurposed as an intensifier similar to "very" or "extremely." It is used in Massachusetts (and broader New England) to intensify an adjective or adverb, such as "wicked good," "wicked cold," "wicked fast," or "wicked awesome." People typically say "That's wicked cool" or "It's wicked hot today" in casual conversation.

What does "wicked" mean in Massachusetts slang?

wicked

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The structure is a simple noun borrowed from the tool used for grinding, repurposed as a name for a sandwich, possibly because the hard bread required grinding teeth to chew. It is used in New England (and parts of the Northeast) to describe a long sandwich, typically filled with meats, cheese, and vegetables, similar to a sub, hoagie, or hero. People typically say "I'll have a turkey grinder" or "Let's grab grinders for lunch" when ordering from delis or pizza shops.

What does "grinder" mean in New England slang?

grinder

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The structure is an elongated, emphasized variation of "yo" or "your," stretched out with multiple "r" sounds for added energy and attitude. It is used in New York, particularly in Bronx and Harlem hip hop culture, as a casual greeting, attention getter, or exclamation, often replacing "hey," "what's up," or "yo." People typically say "YERRR!" when entering a room, greeting friends, or hyping someone up.

What does "yerrr" mean in New York slang?

yerrr

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The structure is a simple adjective borrowed from its literal meaning of being crisp or crunchy, repurposed to describe something cool, fresh, or stylish. It is used in parts of Pennsylvania (and surrounding regions) to mean impressive, neat, or well put together, similar to "cool" or "sharp." People typically say "That outfit is crispy" or "He's looking crispy today" when complimenting appearance or style.

What does "crispy" mean in Pennsylvania slang?

crispy

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It is used in New York (and broader East Coast urban slang) to describe staring at someone angrily or intensely, often as a form of confrontation, intimidation, or silent challenge. People typically say "Why you grilling me?" or "She grilled him across the room" when someone is being stared down with hostility.

What does "to grill" mean in New York slang?

to grill

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The structure is a simple adjective borrowed from the literal hardness and coldness of a brick, repurposed to describe frigid weather. It is used in New York and parts of the East Coast to describe extremely cold or freezing temperatures, often in winter when the wind makes it feel unbearable. People typically say "It's brick outside" or "Brick city today" when complaining about the cold.

What does "brick" mean in New York slang?

brick

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The structure is a simple noun borrowed from Yiddish "schmear" (to spread or smear), brought into English through Jewish deli culture. It is used in New York to describe a spread of cream cheese, typically on a bagel, often ordered with specific amounts like "a light schmear" or "a generous schmear." People typically say "I'll take a bagel with a schmear" when ordering from a deli or bagel shop.

What does "schmear" mean in New York slang?

schmear

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It is used in New York (and other Northeastern cities) to refer to pizza, typically a whole pizza or large pie rather than a single slice. People typically say "Let's grab a pie" or "I ordered two pies for the party" when ordering from a pizzeria. The term originated in early 20th century Italian American communities in New York, where the round shape and sliced serving style reminded immigrants of fruit pies, and remains common in local pizza culture.

What does "pie" mean in New York slang?

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The structure is a simple noun borrowed from Dutch "stoep" (a flight of steps), brought into American English through early New York (New Amsterdam) Dutch settlers. It is used in New York to describe the steps in front of a city apartment or brownstone, often used for sitting, socializing, or hanging out with neighbors. People typically say "I'll meet you on the stoop" or "Sitting on the stoop on a summer night."

What does "stoop" mean in New York slang?

stoop

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The structure is a simple verb borrowed from Yiddish "shvitsn" (to sweat), brought into English through Jewish communities in New York. It is used to describe sweating, often from heat, nervousness, or physical exertion, sometimes in humorous or exaggerated contexts. People typically say "I'm schvitzing in this heat" or "He was schvitzing during the interview."

What does "to schvitz" mean in New York slang?

to schvitz

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The structure is a simple adjective repurposed as an intensifying adverb, similar to "very" or "really," while retaining no negative meaning. It is used in New York (and parts of the Northeast) to emphasize an adjective, such as "dumb good," "dumb hot," "dumb expensive," or "dumb loud." People typically say "That pizza is dumb good" or "It's dumb cold today" in casual conversation.

What does "dumb" mean in New York slang?

dumb

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The structure is a simple noun borrowed from Spanish "bodega" (warehouse or wine cellar), repurposed in New York to mean a small convenience store. It is used to describe a small corner store, often open late, selling groceries, snacks, drinks, household items, and sometimes sandwiches or coffee, typically run by Latino or immigrant families. People typically say "I'm going to the bodega for a soda" or "The bodega on the corner has the best bacon egg and cheese."

What does "bodega" mean in New York slang?

bodega

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The structure is a simple verb borrowed from Yiddish "shlepn" (to pull or drag), brought into English through Jewish communities in New York. It is used to describe carrying, dragging, or hauling something, especially when it's heavy, awkward, or inconvenient, often with a sense of effort or annoyance. People typically say "I had to schlep these groceries up five flights" or "Don't make me schlep all the way across town."

What does "to schlep" mean in New York slang?

to schlep

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It is used in New England (especially Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut) to describe coffee made with cream and sugar, as opposed to black coffee. People typically say "I'll take a regular coffee" at a diner or Dunkin' and receive a coffee with cream and one sugar (or adjustable amounts).

What does "regular coffee" mean in New England slang?

regular coffee

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It is used in New Jersey to mean going to the beach, specifically the Jersey Shore region, which includes towns like Seaside Heights, Wildwood, Atlantic City, and Cape May. People typically say "We're going down the shore this weekend" or "I grew up going down the shore every summer." The term originated in mid 20th century New Jersey regional speech, reflecting the state's geography where most residents live north or west of the shoreline, and remains a beloved local phrase, famously associated with the TV show "Jersey Shore."

What does "down the shore" mean in New Jersey slang?

down the shore

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It is used in New Jersey (and surrounding areas) to describe french fries topped with cheese (usually mozzarella or cheddar) and brown gravy, similar to Canadian poutine but distinct in naming. People typically order "disco fries" at diners, late night spots, or boardwalk eateries. The term originated in New Jersey diner culture during the 1970s, possibly because the dish was popular among late night disco goers, and remains a regional specialty.

What does "disco fries" mean in New Jersey diner slang?

disco fries

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It is used in New Jersey (especially near Rutgers University in New Brunswick) to describe a large sandwich stuffed with a mix of items, often including fried foods like chicken fingers, french fries, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, plus meats, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and sauces like ketchup, mayonnaise, or barbecue. People typically order a "fat sandwich" from late night takeout spots or food trucks, with names like "Fat Darrell" (chicken fingers, fries, mozzarella sticks, marinara) or "Fat Cat."

What does "fat sandwich" mean in New Jersey slang?

fat sandwich

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It is used in Pennsylvania (especially the Philadelphia area and surrounding states) to mean going to an ATM to withdraw cash, regardless of the actual network. People typically say "I need to hit the MAC before we go out" or "Let me hit the MAC real quick." The term originated in the 1970s and 1980s when the MAC network was widely used and branded throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, and though the network has since been absorbed, the slang persists locally.

What does "to hit the MAC" mean in Pennsylvania slang?

to [hit] the MAC

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A hoagie is a type of sandwich that is made on a long, cylindrical roll, typically made from Italian or French bread. The roll is sliced lengthwise and filled with a variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and condiments, such as lettuce, tomato, onion, mayonnaise, mustard, and oil and vinegar dressing. Hoagies are similar to subs and are often used interchangeably, although some people may consider hoagies to be a regional variation of the sub. Common meats used for a hoagie include ham, turkey, roast beef, salami, and chicken, while cheeses can range from provolone to American. The sandwich is often served cold, but can also be heated in an oven or on a griddle to melt the cheese and warm the meat. Hoagies are a popular food item in many regions of the United States, particularly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, and are available at delis, sandwich shops, and fast food restaurants.

What is "hoagie"?

hoagie

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The structure is an acronym believed to stand for Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark, and New York City (or sometimes Bergen, Essex, Newark, and New York), forming a noun for a specific type of outsider. It is used in New Jersey (especially at the Jersey Shore) to describe a person from those northern or urban areas, often seen as an unwelcome visitor who brings traffic, trash, or rude behavior to beach towns during summer. People typically say "The bennys are clogging up the parkway again" or "This beach is full of bennys."

What does "benny" mean in New Jersey slang?

benny

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The structure combines "shoe" with the "-ie" suffix, referring to tourists who wore shoes to the beach (unlike locals who went barefoot), making them easily identifiable as outsiders. It is used in New Jersey (especially the Jersey Shore) to describe a tourist at the beach, often seen as clueless, annoying, or bringing problems like litter and traffic. People typically say "The shoobies are here for the summer" or "Avoid the boardwalk on weekends, it's full of shoobies."

What does "shoobie" mean in New Jersey slang?

shoobie

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The structure is a rapid, slurred contraction of "Did you eat yet?" where "Did you" becomes "Jeet" (J + eat) through connected speech. It is used in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and parts of the Mid Atlantic and Northeast as a casual, quick way to ask someone if they have eaten, often before offering food or suggesting a meal. People typically say "Jeet yet?" and the common response is "No, jew?" (No, did you?).

What does "Jeet yet?" mean in New Jersey and Pennsylvania slang?

Jeet yet?

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It is used to describe a maneuver in which a driver quickly moves from the leftmost lane to a right hand exit, often cutting across multiple lanes of traffic at the last second, typically associated with the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and the state's frequent left side exits. People typically say "He pulled a Jersey slide and almost caused a pileup" or "Watch out for the Jersey slide." The term originated in late 20th century New Jersey driving culture, reflecting the state's notorious aggressive driving style and poorly designed interchanges.

What does "Jersey slide" mean in New Jersey driving slang?

Jersey slide

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It is used in New Jersey (and parts of the Northeast) to describe the night before Halloween, often marked by mischievous pranks by children, such as throwing cabbage, eggs, or toilet paper, soaping windows, or rearranging lawn decorations. People typically say "Cabbage night is tomorrow, make sure the car's in the garage." The term originated in early to mid 20th century New Jersey and surrounding states, with "cabbage" being one of the items thrown, though the holiday is also known as "Mischief Night" or "Goosey Night" in other regions.

What does "cabbage night" mean in New Jersey slang?

cabbage night

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The structure adds the "-y" suffix to "pine" (referring to the Pine Barrens), forming a noun for a resident of that region. It is used in New Jersey to describe a person who lives in the Pine Barrens, a rural, forested area in the southern part of the state, often implying a rugged, independent, or isolated lifestyle, sometimes with stereotypical associations like hunting, farming, or being less modernized. People typically say "He's a real Piney" or "The Pineys keep to themselves out there."

What does "Piney" mean in New Jersey slang?

Piney

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The structure combines an amount ("twenty"), a fuel grade ("regular"), and a payment method ("cash"), forming a complete order phrase. It is used in New Jersey (where state law prohibits self service pumping) to request $20 worth of regular unleaded gasoline, paid in cash, typically said to a gas station attendant. People simply say "twenty regular cash" (or "ten regular" or "thirty plus") instead of a full sentence.

What does "twenty regular cash" mean in New Jersey gas station slang?

twenty regular cash

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Here you will find slang from the East Coast and Northeast US, highlighting regional expressions, accents, and local cultural language.

East Coast & Northeast US English Slang Terms