If you’re from the Midwest or if you’re thinking about visiting and want to learn a little about the local lingo, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re going to be looking at 19 sayings that Midwesterners are very proud of.
You Betcha!
According to The Repository, ‘you betcha’ can be used in a number of ways. It’s typically used as an enthusiastic agreement with a statement, but it can also be used instead of ‘you’re welcome’. It’s a fantastic, light-hearted saying to drop into a conversation.
Ope!
You’re probably more used to saying ‘oops’, but those in the Midwest pronounce it a whole lot differently, to the point that it’s basically a whole new word. The classic ‘ope’ can be used in the same way, though, as a quick apology or an interjection for a mistake.
Uff Da!
This exclamation of relief, exhaustion, dismay, or similar words actually originated from Scandinavian immigrants. We can hear it when we say it out loud in our heads. It’s commonly heard in states like Minnesota and can be used almost as a sigh.
For Cryin’ Out Loud
People all around the world use this phrase, from Minnesota to London, but it was those in the Midwest who began to use it first. It’s a much more polite way to express frustration than the ways that many other people use (we’ll leave that to the imagination).
Pop
Another piece of slang that’s strangely shared between the Midwest and the UK is to call soda ‘pop’. It refers to the fizz of the soda itself, and we’re big fans of the almost onomatopoeia of this saying. Another awesome linguistic quirk of the Midwest.
Hotdish
This one isn’t really a saying, but Taste of Home labels the hotdish as a classic Midwestern meal that we should all acknowledge. The ingredients are generally starch, meat, and canned vegetables, which combine to create a hearty meal for all to enjoy.
Jeet?
Another way of speaking that those in the Midwest tend to practice is to blend a whole bunch of words into one single word. This one is actually a contraction of ‘Did you eat?’ – let’s be honest; it’s a lot easier to say if you know what it means!
Crick
The natural landscape of the Midwest means that a lot of people down there talk about creeks, but they don’t exactly pronounce the word like that. In fact, people tend to say ‘crick’ instead, but it means exactly the same thing. It’s just another example of the unique phonetic features of Midwestern speech.
Padiddle
Everyone likes a game for the road, and this one was made up in the Midwest. Here, players have to be the first ones to shout ‘Padiddle’ when they see a car with a headlight out. The last person to do this has to do a forfeit!
Dontcha Know
This is another of the Midwest sayings that’s very much popularized in slang outside of the region. Despite being generally heard in Minnesota and Wisconsin, many people contract ‘don’t you know’ into ‘dontcha know’. It works just the same and saves a little time, so why not?
Tough Tomatoes
Business Insider named ‘tough tomatoes’ as one of the most popular sayings in the Midwest. It’s a more gentle way of saying ‘tough luck’ or ‘too bad’, and it reflects the Midwestern preference for using softer, less negative language. We love that take on things!
Stop-and-Go Light
Referring to traffic lights as ‘stop and go lights’ is a great example of the practical and straightforward use of language in the Midwest. This phrase’s descriptive and to-the-point manner makes a lot of sense, and we think the world could learn a thing or two from it.
Druthers
Your ‘preferences’ or your ‘choices’ will likely be known as your ‘druthers’ over in the Midwest. This saying reflects the influence of early settlers and traditional speech patterns, so it’s likely that it’s hundreds of years old. It’s a casual term that you can use with your friends and family.
Duck, Duck, Gray Duck
We all played ‘duck, duck, goose’ when we were kids, but those in Minnesota slightly changed the animals to ‘duck, duck, gray duck’. It’s hard to say why they were so reluctant to add the ‘goose,’ but we guess this way works anyway, and it’s a cherished memory for Midwesterners.
Spendy
The word ‘expensive’ gets cut short a lot in many parts of the world, but we particularly like the way they cut it down in the Midwest. ‘Spendy’ is a catchy way of describing the price of something – it’s practical, sensible, and it sounds pretty cool.
Isch
If you’re a Midwesterner who wants to express your disgust with something or your disapproval of it, you’re probably going to say ‘isch’. You might be able to tell that it’s derived from German, which reflects the region’s immigrant heritage, although there’s no actual translation there.
Schnookered
A humorous way to describe someone who’s had a few too many drinks in the Midwest is ‘schnookered’. Yahoo! Finance tells us that it can also mean someone who’s been conned into something, so watch out for that use of the word as well if you ever plan on visiting.
Oh, For Fun!
Saying ‘oh, for fun’ or ‘oh, for cute’ are a couple of key ways that people in the Midwest express their delight or enjoyment of something. They’re cheerful and positive people in that part of the world, and this cheery phrase sums that up well.
Bubbler
You probably won’t have heard of a drinking water fountain being referred to as a ‘bubbler’ before, but if you ever went over to Wisconsin, then the chances are that you would. It’s a fun and unique way to rename something that we use every day.
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