Utah has its own set of regional words and slang that confuse tourists and transplants…we wrote about some of those here. People who land in Utah from somewhere else hear us say “Stake House” and get all excited for the BBQ, for instance.
Well…turnabout is fair play! There are many regional terms that people from Utah don’t even know about! Have you heard of any of these?
- Eves Trough
John Shappell/flickr For those who are wondering, this is a rain gutter - you know, the thing you clean the leaves out of every spring. In the northern part of the U.S., it’s often called an “eves trough.”
- Dandle
JessicaMarie/flickr What do you call this? A see-saw? A teeter-totter? Well, if you live in Rhode Island, it’s a “dandle.” Why? I have no idea!
- Bubbler
Upupa4me/flickr I think this is a pretty cute name for a water fountain, don’t you? Folks in New England, Mississippi and Wisconsin use this word.
- Davenport
Donnie Ray Jones/flickr Hey you kids - stop jumping on the davenport! Said no Utahn ever. We know that’s a couch, or a sofa. So do the kids.
- Hotdish
Colin Kloecker/flickr When you have to bring a casserole to the potluck, you probably don’t call it “hotdish.” If you live in Minnesota, that’s the only thing to call it…and it’s not “hotdish” unless it’s topped with tater tots.
- Brook
tsoleau/flickr Here we have a photo of Big Cottonwood Creek. If you’re a Utahn, you’d call this a “creek,” (or a “crick” if you speak in our lovely regional accent).
- Rotary
Matthew Grapengieser/flickr Utahns are still getting used to dealing with roundabouts…if a New Englander gives you directions to go “through the rotary,” you’ll really be confused!
- Package store
FancyPants/Wikipedia Here in Utah we just have the State Liquor Store…but in other states they call these privately-owned businesses “package stores.”
- Tag Sale
Mike Mozart/flickr You wake up early on Saturday morning, gather some cash in small denominations and head out to the…tag sale? Nope. In Utah, it’s a yard sale or garage sale. Same goodies - different name.
- Jimmies
Mor/flickr Do you want some jimmies on that cone? Um…maybe? We call ’em sprinkles; New Englanders call ’em jimmies.
- Potsy
Dean McCoy/flickr Utahns grew up playing hopscotch at recess…but if you were raised in New York City, you played “potsy.”
- House Shoes
V/flickr If you grew up in the South, you call these “house shoes,” in Utah, they’re “slippers.” Either way, you should never, ever wear them to Walmart.
Which of these were new to you?
John Shappell/flickr
For those who are wondering, this is a rain gutter - you know, the thing you clean the leaves out of every spring. In the northern part of the U.S., it’s often called an “eves trough.”
JessicaMarie/flickr
What do you call this? A see-saw? A teeter-totter? Well, if you live in Rhode Island, it’s a “dandle.” Why? I have no idea!
Upupa4me/flickr
I think this is a pretty cute name for a water fountain, don’t you? Folks in New England, Mississippi and Wisconsin use this word.
Donnie Ray Jones/flickr
Hey you kids - stop jumping on the davenport! Said no Utahn ever. We know that’s a couch, or a sofa. So do the kids.
Colin Kloecker/flickr
When you have to bring a casserole to the potluck, you probably don’t call it “hotdish.” If you live in Minnesota, that’s the only thing to call it…and it’s not “hotdish” unless it’s topped with tater tots.
tsoleau/flickr
Here we have a photo of Big Cottonwood Creek. If you’re a Utahn, you’d call this a “creek,” (or a “crick” if you speak in our lovely regional accent).
Matthew Grapengieser/flickr
Utahns are still getting used to dealing with roundabouts…if a New Englander gives you directions to go “through the rotary,” you’ll really be confused!
FancyPants/Wikipedia
Here in Utah we just have the State Liquor Store…but in other states they call these privately-owned businesses “package stores.”
Mike Mozart/flickr
You wake up early on Saturday morning, gather some cash in small denominations and head out to the…tag sale? Nope. In Utah, it’s a yard sale or garage sale. Same goodies - different name.
Mor/flickr
Do you want some jimmies on that cone? Um…maybe? We call ’em sprinkles; New Englanders call ’em jimmies.
Dean McCoy/flickr
Utahns grew up playing hopscotch at recess…but if you were raised in New York City, you played “potsy.”
V/flickr
If you grew up in the South, you call these “house shoes,” in Utah, they’re “slippers.” Either way, you should never, ever wear them to Walmart.
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