Pittsburg: Tenors (maybe they spell it tenners?)

Took me about 30 minutes to figure out what my college roommate (from Pittsburg) was talking about: sneakers!

ah yes, tennis shoes! Not that "sneakers " isn't a bit strange either.

The common idea is that it it comes from a refernce to "hog island".

The Philly International Airport used be be like Chinquotigue - a bunch of lush marshy islands on the coast.

Pigs and cows really don't like to swim - so the colonial farmers would drive the cattle or ferry the cattle out to the low marsh islands were there was plenty of grass and no way for the pigs and cattle to wander off.

So, one island became known as "Hog Island" in the 1700s.

In the 1800s and 1900s, the area became a focus for iron shipbuilding,
and the "Hog Island Shipyards" were established.

The workers on Hog Island were mostly immigrants, and somebody started referring to their big "breakfast, lunch and dinner" sandwiches as "Hoggies" -

when pronounced with a south Philly accent,
you get Hoagie

Hal

As usual, the HAL 9000 had the answer in his database (though several others got it, too). Thanks!

Here's an incredibly obvious one but it baffles visitors since it's so pervasive: calling I-476 "the blue route" because of its color-coded designation during the interminable planning, long before it got a highway number.

Also, South Philadelphians call FDR park "the lakes"—perhaps they loathe the New Deal as much as el does?

Yea, in many places (cali comes to mind) they call bball and running sneakers 'tennis shoes'

I hear a lot of SPhila residents say, "close the light" and "pass the sweeper"

"The Lakes" reminds me of "Little City." Does anybody remember calling that area in Pennypack Park a few blocks east of the boulevard on the south side of Rhawn St. where people used to park to make out in their cars by that name?

Ahh, yes, I remember it well. Although, sadly, I did more drinking than groping there as a teen.

The other one that baffles visitors is the refernce to the Vine Street Expressway and all then can see are I-676, or visitors who are looking for signs "Schuylkill Expressway" when all the highway signs say "I-76"-

However, there is a tiny beatup sign down along Passyunk or Penrose that does say "Schuylkill Expressway" - but it's tucked under a bridge.

Hal

Down south, coke is often called "ko-kola." And you'll hear "ya'll" instead of "yous guys." Others:

"I reckon" = I think
"Over yonder" = over there
"Youngins" = kids
"Woopin'" = spanking
"I'm a-fixin' to . . . " = I'm about to . . .
"I'm fixin' this here . . . " = I'm repairing this . . .
"I got a hitch in my get-along" = My back hurts (although I'm not sure if this was widely used, or just something my grandfather used to say)

Example: "I'm a-fixin' to give them youngins a woopin'"

Oh, and what do people call their grandparents? I think that differs by region, too. In the south, Granny and Papa are quite common.

And while we're at it, a few British-isms:

"Trainers" = tennis shoes
"Track suit bottoms" = jogging pants
"Trousers" = pants
"Shag" = sex
"Snog" = kiss or make out
"Wanker" = boring guy or obnoxious jerk
"Mate" = friend
"Kip" = nap
"Biscuit" = cookie
"Chips" = french fries
"Crisps" = potato chips

birds - girls/chicks