If there’s one thing I know about Delawareans, it’s that we like to talk – a LOT. We’re an opinionated bunch, and we love to correct people on how to pronounce our town names and what certain things are actually called. Delaware Slang is something that’s woven into the very culture of our state. Now, one other great thing about Delaware is how diverse it is, so please keep in mind that I’m not trying to say you won’t hear Delawareans use some of these words, but as a whole, we’ve got our opinion on what’s correct, and what’s just goofy. See if you agree that Delaware’s got it right.
- Grinder, or Hero
Flickr / PlanPhila Let’s start with the big one - these sandwiches are subs. If you’re north of the canal, I guess you can call them Hoagies. Grinder, though? Seriously? And heroes… as much as I love my subs, I don’t think they’re on the same level as Iron Man or Superman.
- Harrington
Google Maps I know what it says on the map. What I don’t get is why it’s got all those extra letters, and what out-of-staters mean when they say “Har-ring-ton.” Clearly, in Delaware slang, it’s Herintn.
- Bubbler
Flickr / Indigo Skies What the heck is a bubbler? I’m sure you meant to say a water fountain.
- Sink
Flickr / Peter Miller This is another one I just don’t get. Why spell “zink” with an S?
- Tennis Shoes
Flickr / Hernán Piñera
- Crawdad
Flickr / Coniferconifer Delaware knows what it’s talking about when it comes to crustaceans - after all, we’re the Horseshoe Crab Capital of the World. So, we can say quite confidently that these little lobsters are crayfish. Not crawdads or crawfish.
- Pop
Flickr / Jannes Pockele Once, in the midwest, the waitress asked me what kind of pop I wanted. When I answered “One that loves me for who I am!” she just appeared confused. Confused, like anyone in Delaware would be if you tried to order a pop instead of a soda.
- Roundabout
Flickr / Magnus Lundquist Isn’t roundabout a Yes song? Either way, when a bunch of roads all meet up in a circle, that’s exactly what it is. A circle.
- Y’all
Flickr / Greg Lilly Even those of us from lower, slower Delaware draw the line at y’all. It’s you guys (or youse guys for those in Wilmington). We’re still a part of the Mid-Atlantic, so we won’t lump ourselves in with the y’all saying southerners.
If you enjoyed this list of words you WON’T hear in Delaware, be sure to check out our previous article, of words you’ll definitely hear in Delaware.
Flickr / PlanPhila
Let’s start with the big one - these sandwiches are subs. If you’re north of the canal, I guess you can call them Hoagies. Grinder, though? Seriously? And heroes… as much as I love my subs, I don’t think they’re on the same level as Iron Man or Superman.
Google Maps
I know what it says on the map. What I don’t get is why it’s got all those extra letters, and what out-of-staters mean when they say “Har-ring-ton.” Clearly, in Delaware slang, it’s Herintn.
Flickr / Indigo Skies
What the heck is a bubbler? I’m sure you meant to say a water fountain.
Flickr / Peter Miller
This is another one I just don’t get. Why spell “zink” with an S?
Flickr / Hernán Piñera
Flickr / Coniferconifer
Delaware knows what it’s talking about when it comes to crustaceans - after all, we’re the Horseshoe Crab Capital of the World. So, we can say quite confidently that these little lobsters are crayfish. Not crawdads or crawfish.
Flickr / Jannes Pockele
Once, in the midwest, the waitress asked me what kind of pop I wanted. When I answered “One that loves me for who I am!” she just appeared confused. Confused, like anyone in Delaware would be if you tried to order a pop instead of a soda.
Flickr / Magnus Lundquist
Isn’t roundabout a Yes song? Either way, when a bunch of roads all meet up in a circle, that’s exactly what it is. A circle.
Flickr / Greg Lilly
Even those of us from lower, slower Delaware draw the line at y’all. It’s you guys (or youse guys for those in Wilmington). We’re still a part of the Mid-Atlantic, so we won’t lump ourselves in with the y’all saying southerners.
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