With Southwest’s rich heritage, we have a lot of unique words that you would be hard pressed to find in other parts of the country. There are a few that come from Spanish or Indigenous languages that were around before present-day borders were drawn, so keep that in mind if you happen to encounter a word outside of Arizona. However, I think these words are certainly more common here than in New Mexico or California
Without further ado, here are thirteen words you have probably encountered once or twice if you’re a Zonie.
- Bear down.
Bill Morrow/Flickr You Wildcats know this one. This is the motto for the University of Arizona, which originates from the 1926 death of the university’s student body president and starting quarterback, John Salmon. After suffering a spinal injury from a car accident, these were allegedly part of Salmon’s last words to his teammates before dying from his injuries.
- Chimi
Wikimedia Commons The same state that claims the invention of the chimichanga also frequently uses this word to refer to the same food.
- Chizhii
Quinn Dombrowski/Flickr “I need to put some lotion on my chizhii arms.” If you’re Navajo or interacted with them to some degree, you’ve probably heard this word. The adjective literally means something is similar in texture to firewood, which is rough and dry, and is typically used to refer to dry skin.
- Flag
Nicholas A. Tonelli/Flickr A shortened version of Flagstaff.
- Fork ‘em, Devils.
Neon Tommy/Flickr No, no, this has nothing to do with digging into a delicious slice of devil’s food cake. Arizona State alumni, however, will recognize the motto as a sign of school spirit.
- Gila
J Horsefjord/Flickr Gila River, Gila Bend, Gila monster, Gila County. Pronounced “hee-lah,” the word may come from a Spanish version of a Yuman word for a salty river but that is merely a theory.
- Huachuca
Wikimedia Commons The Huachuca Mountains, Huachuca City, and Fort Huachuca all derive their name from a small Akimel O’odham village by the same name.
- Mogollon
Johnida Dockens/Flickr I have heard this pronounced many ways but most commonly “moh-gee-yawn.” Most people will know this for the Mogollon Rim, which was named for a Spanish governor of New Mexico territory.
- Piñon
Swetlana P./Flickr Other parts of the country refer to these delicious but pricey snacks as “pine nuts.” It also happens to be the name of a small town in Navajo County.
- The Rim/Rim Country
USDA Forest Service, Coconino National Forest/Flickr This undoubtedly refers to the Mogollon Rim, the southern end of the Colorado Plateau and home to our beautiful pine forests.
- Saguaro
Michael Wilson/Flickr The ever famous cactus with the arms and is only found in the Sonoran desert.
- Snowbird
BBC World Service/Flickr This loving word is reserved for all of our winter visitors from frigid states like Minnesota.
- Swamp cooler
Nathanael Coyne/Flickr A surprising number of folks from out-of-state don’t realize this also refers to an evaporative cooler.
What other words or phrases do you know that are unique to Arizona?
Bill Morrow/Flickr
You Wildcats know this one. This is the motto for the University of Arizona, which originates from the 1926 death of the university’s student body president and starting quarterback, John Salmon. After suffering a spinal injury from a car accident, these were allegedly part of Salmon’s last words to his teammates before dying from his injuries.
Wikimedia Commons
The same state that claims the invention of the chimichanga also frequently uses this word to refer to the same food.
Quinn Dombrowski/Flickr
“I need to put some lotion on my chizhii arms.” If you’re Navajo or interacted with them to some degree, you’ve probably heard this word. The adjective literally means something is similar in texture to firewood, which is rough and dry, and is typically used to refer to dry skin.
Nicholas A. Tonelli/Flickr
A shortened version of Flagstaff.
Neon Tommy/Flickr
No, no, this has nothing to do with digging into a delicious slice of devil’s food cake. Arizona State alumni, however, will recognize the motto as a sign of school spirit.
J Horsefjord/Flickr
Gila River, Gila Bend, Gila monster, Gila County. Pronounced “hee-lah,” the word may come from a Spanish version of a Yuman word for a salty river but that is merely a theory.
The Huachuca Mountains, Huachuca City, and Fort Huachuca all derive their name from a small Akimel O’odham village by the same name.
Johnida Dockens/Flickr
I have heard this pronounced many ways but most commonly “moh-gee-yawn.” Most people will know this for the Mogollon Rim, which was named for a Spanish governor of New Mexico territory.
Swetlana P./Flickr
Other parts of the country refer to these delicious but pricey snacks as “pine nuts.” It also happens to be the name of a small town in Navajo County.
USDA Forest Service, Coconino National Forest/Flickr
This undoubtedly refers to the Mogollon Rim, the southern end of the Colorado Plateau and home to our beautiful pine forests.
Michael Wilson/Flickr
The ever famous cactus with the arms and is only found in the Sonoran desert.
BBC World Service/Flickr
This loving word is reserved for all of our winter visitors from frigid states like Minnesota.
Nathanael Coyne/Flickr
A surprising number of folks from out-of-state don’t realize this also refers to an evaporative cooler.
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