Every state has a unique set of slang terms, sayings and accents. As a person who was born and raised in the Great Lakes State, I find that people from other states give me funny looks or ask me to repeat a certain word while talking to them. When I lived in Texas for a short time about ten years ago, my cousins would ask me to say the word "Bag" because they thought it was funny the way I pronounced my A's. We do have an accent.
Anyway, here are 20 of the most common words, slang and sayings that come out of a Michigander's mouth on a regular basis.
1. "Pop" not Soda
Ah yes, the whole "pop" not "soda" debate every Michigander has with anyone else from another state. I don't care what anyone says, it's POP.
2. Yoopers
This is what we call Michiganders who live in the Upper Peninsula aka U.P.
3. Trolls
This is what Yoopers call Michiganders who live in the Lower Peninsula.
4. "Yuh Guys!"
This is how we get people's attention anywhere we go.
5. Secretary of State is "Secretariah State"
We don't even bother to sound out entire words or sentences because who has time for that?
6. Party Store
This is where we get out alcohol and snacks. Y'know, the important things in life.
7. Adding an "S" to the end of store names
As much as I dislike this because it's not proper, we add an "S" to the end of Meijer, calling it "Meijers" and to Kroger, calling it "Krogers". Come to think of it I've never been to a Kroger. We don't have those on the west side of the state.
8. Up north
This is where you go if you're traveling to places such as Traverse City, Petoskey and anywhere at the top of the mitten and the U.P.
9. Pronouncing "Milk" as "Melk"
Didja go to the store and get melk? You better not have forgotten the melk!
10. Lookit!
Just lookit the sunset over the lake!
11. Pronouncing "Clothes" as "Cloze"
Pickup yer damn cloze off the floor!
12. Pronouncing "Mirror" as "Meer"
It's just easier to say "meer" okay?
13. The "Ah" is drawn out in words
It's "M-ahh-m" not "Mom" and "Chic-ahh-go" not "Chi-caw-go".
14. Not pronouncing the letter "T"
For instance, it's "kiddy!" not "kitty".
15. "Didja eat?"
Didja eat lunch yet? Well, didja?
16. We "yoosta"
We say "yoosta" instead "used to"
17. The Mitten
Because our state is literally shaped like a piece of winter apparel.
18. Saying "Kin-uh" instead of "Kind of"
Instead of saying "kind of" we say, "I'm kin-uh tired but not really."
19. We go "tuh" somewhere
We go "tuh" the game, not "to the game."
20. "Imunna" not "I'm going to"
Imunna go to Lake Michigan today.
