Missouri is a melting pot of American dialects. We pick up a little bit from everywhere but still can’t agree with each other about how things should be pronounced. Overall, you will find that we have about four distinct dialects right here in our own state! We did our best to come up with 10 phrases you can hear in different parts of Missouri that will make you believe Missourians have their own language.
- “Check out those hoosiers!”
Extra Zabra/Flickr Uh, no we’re not talking about people from Indiana. When you hear this from a Missourian (especially from the eastern part of the state) it means red-neck.
- “I don’t need a sack.”
Sue Waters/Flickr Most Missourians say sack instead of bag. That’s just our preference.
- “Would you like a Bud Light bottle or draw?”
Pixbay.com A draw is the beer you would get on tap. You’ll hear this phrase at Missouri bars especially in the western parts of the state.
- Cran vs. Crown
pixbay.com Either way most Missourian’s aren’t getting the pronunciation of this one right. Many in the eastern part of the state say ‘cran’ while those in the west may use ‘crown.’ A gold star for you if you’re pronouncing it cray-on!
- “I’ll bring some puppy chow to the party!”
Collin Anderson/Flickr Purina may be headquarter in Missouri but no we’re not bringing dog food. Puppy chow is the amazing chocolate and powdered sugar coated Chex mix dish sometimes referred to in other states as muddy buddies.
- “I’ll have a concrete.”
Ted Drewes Inc./Facebook Beyond just being the material we walk on, concrete is also the word we use for our thick and creamy frozen custard treats. Find the classic concrete at Ted Drewes in St. Louis.
- “Will you get me a soda?”
Jon Alexander/Vimeo Vess is made right here in Missouri and you will see, printed right on the can, that we call it soda. There are some hold-outs in KC and up near Iowa calling these fizzy soft drinks pop but for most of us, we want a soda.
- You got a ‘corder’ I can have?
United States Mint/Wikimedia We Missourians have a special way of pronouncing quarter. We tend to get a little lazy with our pronunciations…
- Do you guys want to grab dinner?"
SayCheeeeeese/Wikimedia Regardless if the group is all male, female, or both we refer to the group as ‘you guys.’
- To be, or not to be….
srgpicker/Flickr It’s a bad habit of most Missourians to drop the helping verb, “to be” from conversation. You likely will hear someone say, “My hair needs cut,” instead of “My hair needs to be cut.”
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Extra Zabra/Flickr
Uh, no we’re not talking about people from Indiana. When you hear this from a Missourian (especially from the eastern part of the state) it means red-neck.
Sue Waters/Flickr
Most Missourians say sack instead of bag. That’s just our preference.
Pixbay.com
A draw is the beer you would get on tap. You’ll hear this phrase at Missouri bars especially in the western parts of the state.
pixbay.com
Either way most Missourian’s aren’t getting the pronunciation of this one right. Many in the eastern part of the state say ‘cran’ while those in the west may use ‘crown.’ A gold star for you if you’re pronouncing it cray-on!
Collin Anderson/Flickr
Purina may be headquarter in Missouri but no we’re not bringing dog food. Puppy chow is the amazing chocolate and powdered sugar coated Chex mix dish sometimes referred to in other states as muddy buddies.
Ted Drewes Inc./Facebook
Beyond just being the material we walk on, concrete is also the word we use for our thick and creamy frozen custard treats. Find the classic concrete at Ted Drewes in St. Louis.
Jon Alexander/Vimeo
Vess is made right here in Missouri and you will see, printed right on the can, that we call it soda. There are some hold-outs in KC and up near Iowa calling these fizzy soft drinks pop but for most of us, we want a soda.
United States Mint/Wikimedia
We Missourians have a special way of pronouncing quarter. We tend to get a little lazy with our pronunciations…
SayCheeeeeese/Wikimedia
Regardless if the group is all male, female, or both we refer to the group as ‘you guys.’
srgpicker/Flickr
It’s a bad habit of most Missourians to drop the helping verb, “to be” from conversation. You likely will hear someone say, “My hair needs cut,” instead of “My hair needs to be cut.”
