New Jersey-ites are proud to be from New Jersey. They make it known to out-of-staters that they are from Jersey while they make it known to in-staters what specific part of Jersey they are from. It's quite complex. Yes, New Jersey is one state, but there are two (I say three) different worlds within the state borders. If you're a Jersey-ite you can identify which of the three (if you believe three exist) sections of New Jersey someone is from based on their everyday language.
1. Taylor Ham vs. Pork Roll.
North Jersey refers to this breakfast meat as Taylor Ham while central and south Jersey refer to it as Pork Roll.
2. BAEgle vs. Baggle.
You know you're entering the south world when someone starts calling a bagel, Baggle. First, we can't decide if it's Pork Roll or Taylor Ham, and now, we can't even pronounce the name of the doughy carb filled bread.
3. Beach vs. Shore.
Ya know that place where there is sand and the ocean, a common ground for all Jersey-ites, yet we still debate over what it's called. People from north Jersey say, "I am going down the shore" while southerns say, "I am going to the beach."4. Jimmies vs. Sprinkles.
Whenever you go down the shore or to the beach, a nice refreshing ice cream cone is a must. But, of course, being from Jersey, we love to argue, and we must argue over what the most common topping is called. Northerns call them sprinkles while southerns call them jimmies.
5. Home vs. Ho(l)me.
The place you live is known as home to people from the north part of Jersey while south Jersey inserts an imaginary L when saying ho(l)me.
6. Wawa vs. 7-Eleven
Wawa just started recently becoming a thing in north Jersey. However, it started down south, while northerns have 7-Eleven.
7. Sub vs. Hoagie.
From June to July, people from south Jersey go crazy for Wawa's hoagie fest, while up north people would call that time of the year a sub-fest.
8. Water vs Wooder.
I meant it when I said people from different sections of New Jersey argue about everyday things. Water is how people from north Jersey say it while wooder is how southerns say it.
9. Which City is THE city?
If you say you are going to the city in south Jersey, you mean you are going into Philly. If you say you are going to the city in north Jersey, you are going to Manhattan.
10. Jawn.
Jawn is a word that originated in Philly and was brought to south Jersey. It literally can be used in any situation and can describe anything and everything. North jersey folks are not heard using the word jawn.
11. Water Ice vs. Italian Ice.
On the first day of spring are you going to get free Italian ice or water ice? People from north Jersey tend to say that they are getting Italian ice while water Ice is for the people down south.
The debates are never-ending. No matter how hard you try, there will never be equality in language when it comes to north vs south Jersey. However, they do agree on one thing, that central Jersey does not exist.