Even though I go to school just one state over, in Delaware, I have come across many different dialects and language people use. Considering most of my school is either from Delaware or New Jersey, I am often misunderstood. Coming from the Philadelphia area, I have a lot of slang that I have adapted throughout my normal speech that I never even realized was just a Philly thing. I'm sure there are way more terms, but here are a few things that I have been called out on.
We will use Urban Dictionary to help us through this one.
1. Pass me that Jawn, would you?
When you nod your head at the sat and pepper and say "pass me that Jawn" everyone looks at you like you have 5 heads.
A Jawn is basically just a person place or thing, and sometimes a word filler.
2. Ard, cool.
Ard is kind of hard to explain. But I have bene using the word since before I could remember. After saying it in a group chat once to my Long Islander and New Jersey-ian friends I was responded to with a bunch of "??????????."
Ard: affirmative: agreement: almost like a word for nodding your head: usually paired with cool. Turns out, nobody in this entire country knows what "Ard" stands for except Philadelphians.
"You going to the game tonight?"
"Yeah"
"Ard cool."
"What?"
"Ugh, nothing. See you there"
3. Fresh Price of Bel-where?
When a remix of the fresh prince of Bel Air theme song comes on at a party, do not look at me with a big grin and nudge me with your elbow as if it was written about me, for I was not born nor raised in west Philadelphia. Therefore, I am not the fresh prince of bel air.
4. Crayon or Crown?
It's a crayon. Spelled Cray-on. So call it what it is please.
5. WE ARE not all into staying close to home.
"Why didn't you go to Penn State? Or Temple?" No offense to those who go, but if I had wanted to go on to my 13th year of high school, that's exactly what I would have done.
6. Reece's
Im so sick of this debate.
Reece's. Ree-see-s-
Reece's pieces.
Ree-see-s pee-see-s
I don't CARE what you say about your stupid pronunciation crap. Thats just what you do you just say it the fun way GOODBYE.
7. Family
I don't really fully understand this one still, but according to my friend form Long Island, when I say the word "Family" I extend the "a" in a weird way to make it sound wrong. She claims all Philadelphians say it wrong? Like ok?
8. Hoagies
It's not a sub, it's a hoagie. And i'm so sorry if you have never sunk your teeth into the bread of a nice fresh hoagie from Philly.
9. WAWA WAWA WAWA
And do not even GET ME STARTED on the glory of Wawa. You are dumb if you do not understand the beauty and simplicity of the greatest quick food place ever. It is not a gas station bathroom ok. Get out of your car, go inside, and get some nice coffee, a delicious hoagie or some bomb mac and cheese and then tell me what you think.
"Pennsylvanians are such bad drivers."
Excuse me?! Have you been to New Jersey? I hope not.
