9 Words And Phrases People In Delaware Just Don't Understand

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.

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.

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Flickr / Indigo Skies

What the heck is a bubbler? I'm sure you meant to say a water fountain.

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Flickr / Peter Miller

This is another one I just don't get. Why spell "zink" with an S?

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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.

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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.