Big, wide open, and full of nature’s own beauty, a trip to Wyoming can be like visiting a different country. At least English is spoken here – or is it?
For the most part, out-of-staters can understand Wyomingites. That is, until they’re tripped up by words and phrases that sound like they’re from an entirely different language.
- Poke
Pistol Pete University of Wyoming/Facebook Anywhere else, talking about a “poke” usually refers to social media, but here in Wyoming it’s short for “cowpoke,” which is not only another word for “cowboy,” but is also the mascot for our university’s athletics.
- Man-ayz
Photo Monkey/Flickr You know - the creamy white condiment you spread on sandwiches.
- Bison
Dan Shareski/Flickr The magnificent, hulking bovines that roam the plains and fields (and, at times, streets) of Wyoming as well as grace our awesome state flag are not buffalo. They’re bison. The only time you’ll hear a Wyomingite refer to them as buffalo is in a compassionate attempt to not confuse someone from out of state. That’s right - not often.
- Car-muhl
Joy/Flickr The sticky, buttery-sweet confection that is just as delicious on its own as it is wrapped around an apple or melted and drizzled over ice cream.
- Piggup
DiamondBack Truck Covers/Flickr …or sometimes you’ll hear “rig,” but either one refers to our second favorite form of transportation after a horse.
- Oysters
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Practically everywhere else in the country, if someone asks if you’d like some oysters, you can trust they’re talking about seafood. In Wyoming, they’re offering you deep-fried bull testicles. True story.
- N’nat
Colin Kinner/Flickr This short little word is among the most confusing of all for non-Wyomites because it’s kind of unnecessary. It’s our shorthand way of saying “and that,” and we’ve taken to adding it arbitrarily to the end of sentences. “We can take my piggup to get some oysters n’nat.”
- PEE-kahn
Leslie/Flickr The delicious nuts that are yummy with car-muhl.
- Dinner and Supper
Evan Moss/Flickr You recognize these as English words, but you probably won’t use them right in Wyoming. Here, our midday meal is dinner and supper is eaten in the evening. So, lunch is dinner and dinner is supper. All clear?
- Pop
Jackie Spaventa/Flickr OK, this one isn’t exclusively Wyoming because it seems to be a Midwest thing, but when someone from the Cowboy State wants a carbonated beverage, they order a pop, not a soda.
- Crick
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr A natural stream that’s smaller than a river. You don’t want to find yourself up it without a paddle.
What other words and phrases have you heard that prove Wyoming has a language all its own?
Pistol Pete University of Wyoming/Facebook
Anywhere else, talking about a “poke” usually refers to social media, but here in Wyoming it’s short for “cowpoke,” which is not only another word for “cowboy,” but is also the mascot for our university’s athletics.
Photo Monkey/Flickr
You know - the creamy white condiment you spread on sandwiches.
Dan Shareski/Flickr
The magnificent, hulking bovines that roam the plains and fields (and, at times, streets) of Wyoming as well as grace our awesome state flag are not buffalo. They’re bison. The only time you’ll hear a Wyomingite refer to them as buffalo is in a compassionate attempt to not confuse someone from out of state. That’s right - not often.
Joy/Flickr
The sticky, buttery-sweet confection that is just as delicious on its own as it is wrapped around an apple or melted and drizzled over ice cream.
DiamondBack Truck Covers/Flickr
…or sometimes you’ll hear “rig,” but either one refers to our second favorite form of transportation after a horse.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Practically everywhere else in the country, if someone asks if you’d like some oysters, you can trust they’re talking about seafood. In Wyoming, they’re offering you deep-fried bull testicles. True story.
Colin Kinner/Flickr
This short little word is among the most confusing of all for non-Wyomites because it’s kind of unnecessary. It’s our shorthand way of saying “and that,” and we’ve taken to adding it arbitrarily to the end of sentences. “We can take my piggup to get some oysters n’nat.”
Leslie/Flickr
The delicious nuts that are yummy with car-muhl.
Evan Moss/Flickr
You recognize these as English words, but you probably won’t use them right in Wyoming. Here, our midday meal is dinner and supper is eaten in the evening. So, lunch is dinner and dinner is supper. All clear?
Jackie Spaventa/Flickr
OK, this one isn’t exclusively Wyoming because it seems to be a Midwest thing, but when someone from the Cowboy State wants a carbonated beverage, they order a pop, not a soda.
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr
A natural stream that’s smaller than a river. You don’t want to find yourself up it without a paddle.
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