Pittsburgh’s a pretty awesome place to grow up. And, despite our individual differences, we Pittsburghers all share some common experiences that are unique to our beloved city. Here are 15 legitimate signs you grew up in Pittsburgh.
- Yinz speak Pittsburghese.
Flickr/Matt Niemi You may not speak fluent Pittsburghese because it’s probably more complicated than English. But, you likely use several words - like yinz and jagoff - in your every day vocabulary.
- You have more black and gold in your wardrobe than any other color.
Flickr/ETJ Photography Pittsburghers bleed black and gold so it’s only natural that our wardrobes would predominately be black and gold.
- You slow down when approaching tunnels.
Flickr/Bill Walsh You’re probably like most Pittsburghers and perplexed as to why we slow down when we approach the Squirrel Hill Tunnel. Alas, Pittsburghers have been slowing down, causing frustration and backups, in front of that tunnel for generations.
- You woke up on snowy mornings to see if there was a school delay or cancellation.
Flickr/Gary Lerude School closings and delays, at least in some area school districts, were once a rarity. That’s why we’d wake up on snowy mornings to excitedly ask our parents if we had a school delay or, on that really special occasion, a snow day.
- You drink pop, not soda.
Flickr/Mike Beales You order a pop at your favorite restaurant. You buy pop on sale at Giant Eagle. Pittsburghers can easily identify non-Pittsburghers when they say “soda.”
- You’ll only eat Heinz Ketchup.
Flickr/Mike Mozart You only dip your fries in Heinz Ketchup and top your hot dog with Heinz Ketchup. It’s a Burgh thing.
- You went trick or treating in a snowsuit on Halloween.
Flickr/Amy Ross Remember those frigid and snowy Halloweens when your parents made you wear your snowsuit over your Halloween costume? All that could be seen was the plastic mask that grew hot and stuck to your face after a few hours outside.
- You know the real meaning of “Kennywood’s open.”
Flickr/Katy Warner If you grew up in Pittsburgh and hear “Kennywood’s open,” you automatically look down and pull up your zipper.
- You had a Kennywood outfit…
Flickr/evelyn And that outfit was identical to your siblings or to your best friends for your school’s annual Kennywood Picnic. In fact, you might have gone shopping with your best friends to pick your Kennywood outfits, making sure they matched perfectly.
- You drove on the Turnpike at Kennywood.
Flickr/saeru Before you ever put the pedal to the medal on the real Turnpike, you hit the gas and drove around the Turnpike at Kennywood. It was the first ride you saw when you entered the park and the last ride you passed before disappearing into the tunnel at the end of the day.
- You ate chipped ham sandwiches for lunch.
Flickr/Steve Wertz Chipped ham or chipped chopped ham - whatever you prefer - was a Pittsburgh lunch staple courtesy of one of the area’s most popular delis, Isaly’s. Isaly’s Deli may be gone but its chipped chopped ham remains.
- You still love Mister Rogers.
Flickr/Sean Long before there was Barney and Yo Gabba Gabba, Pittsburgh kids faithfully watched Mister Rogers Neighborhood. Mister Rogers is one of our own, a Pittsburgh icon, and we never outgrow our appreciation for him.
- You tell everyone you’re from Pittsburgh regardless of where you live.
Flickr/Matthew Paulson Whether you live smack dab in the middle of downtown Pittsburgh or far out in the suburbs, you’re likely to answer “Pittsburgh” when someone asks where you’re from.
- You can always spot a Pittsburgher from their accent.
Flickr/Harriet Schwartz If you’ve ever traveled outside of Pittsburgh, you’ve likely run into fellow Pittsburghers that you identified by their distinct accents.
- You watch a TV show or a movie just because it’s set in Pittsburgh.
Flickr/Chris Plascik How many shows or movies have you watched just because they were set in Pittsburgh. Groundhog Day? Mr. Belvedere? This Is Us? Dance Moms?
What other signs that you grew up in Pittsburgh would you add to this list? Share below! If you grew up in Pittsburgh, you might agree that these are just 15 ways to have the best Pittsburgh day ever.
Flickr/Matt Niemi
You may not speak fluent Pittsburghese because it’s probably more complicated than English. But, you likely use several words - like yinz and jagoff - in your every day vocabulary.
Flickr/ETJ Photography
Pittsburghers bleed black and gold so it’s only natural that our wardrobes would predominately be black and gold.
Flickr/Bill Walsh
You’re probably like most Pittsburghers and perplexed as to why we slow down when we approach the Squirrel Hill Tunnel. Alas, Pittsburghers have been slowing down, causing frustration and backups, in front of that tunnel for generations.
Flickr/Gary Lerude
School closings and delays, at least in some area school districts, were once a rarity. That’s why we’d wake up on snowy mornings to excitedly ask our parents if we had a school delay or, on that really special occasion, a snow day.
Flickr/Mike Beales
You order a pop at your favorite restaurant. You buy pop on sale at Giant Eagle. Pittsburghers can easily identify non-Pittsburghers when they say “soda.”
Flickr/Mike Mozart
You only dip your fries in Heinz Ketchup and top your hot dog with Heinz Ketchup. It’s a Burgh thing.
Flickr/Amy Ross
Remember those frigid and snowy Halloweens when your parents made you wear your snowsuit over your Halloween costume? All that could be seen was the plastic mask that grew hot and stuck to your face after a few hours outside.
Flickr/Katy Warner
If you grew up in Pittsburgh and hear “Kennywood’s open,” you automatically look down and pull up your zipper.
Flickr/evelyn
And that outfit was identical to your siblings or to your best friends for your school’s annual Kennywood Picnic. In fact, you might have gone shopping with your best friends to pick your Kennywood outfits, making sure they matched perfectly.
Flickr/saeru
Before you ever put the pedal to the medal on the real Turnpike, you hit the gas and drove around the Turnpike at Kennywood. It was the first ride you saw when you entered the park and the last ride you passed before disappearing into the tunnel at the end of the day.
Flickr/Steve Wertz
Chipped ham or chipped chopped ham - whatever you prefer - was a Pittsburgh lunch staple courtesy of one of the area’s most popular delis, Isaly’s. Isaly’s Deli may be gone but its chipped chopped ham remains.
Flickr/Sean
Long before there was Barney and Yo Gabba Gabba, Pittsburgh kids faithfully watched Mister Rogers Neighborhood. Mister Rogers is one of our own, a Pittsburgh icon, and we never outgrow our appreciation for him.
Flickr/Matthew Paulson
Whether you live smack dab in the middle of downtown Pittsburgh or far out in the suburbs, you’re likely to answer “Pittsburgh” when someone asks where you’re from.
Flickr/Harriet Schwartz
If you’ve ever traveled outside of Pittsburgh, you’ve likely run into fellow Pittsburghers that you identified by their distinct accents.
Flickr/Chris Plascik
How many shows or movies have you watched just because they were set in Pittsburgh. Groundhog Day? Mr. Belvedere? This Is Us? Dance Moms?
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