8 Words You'll Only Understand If You're From Indianapolis
×
Tyler Berry
Author
Every city has their words and phrases that, if heard anywhere else, would result in nothing more than confused stares and gasps of “What?” Indianapolis is no different, as we have many terms that you’ll never hear outside of our state lines. Here are eight words you’ll only understand if you’re a Hoosier.
No one outside of the state of Indiana has any idea what a Hoosier is. Honestly, we don’t really know either. The word has been used to describe Indiana residents for a long time, and yet we have no idea where the word actually came from or why it’s used to describe us. Regardless, if you hear someone say the word "hoosier," that person’s talking about one of us.
It’s got plenty of nicknames throughout the country. A common one is "bags." However, if you're from Indianapolis, this bean bag based lawn game where opposing teams take turns throwing bags at elevated platforms with holes in them is known as cornhole.
Advertisement
"Let’s head to B-Rip tonight." If you hang around Indy residents in their 20s, you’ll likely hear this. B-Rip is short for Broad Ripple, a very popular neighborhood filled with bars, clubs, and restaurants. Along with downtown’s Mass Ave, "B-Rip" is the most popular nightlife area in the city.
Advertisement
You may have heard it referred to as "reindeer chow" or "monkey munch" but, in Indianapolis, this homemade snack made with Chex, chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar is known as puppy chow.
Related Stories
Here Are The 7 Most Dangerous Places In Indianapolis After Dark
5 Amazing State Parks Around Indianapolis That Will Blow You Away
7 Gorgeous Lakes To Visit Around Indianapolis
Pepsi. Coke. Sprite. Whatever the sugary drink is, people from Indianapolis refer to it as pop, not soda.
Originally a negatively-based nickname for Indianapolis due to its nature of being boring and everything closing before 10 PM, Naptown has become a term of endearment for this city.
The Indiana tenderloin is one of the most popular food options in the state, and there are plenty of restaurants offering the delicious, fried pork in Indianapolis. If you’re not from here, it’s definitely something you need to try at least once.
If your parents ever told you to get out the "sweeper" and clean the house, you probably grew up in Indy. Sweeper is our local name for a vacuum cleaner and you probably won't hear it called that anywhere else.
Did we miss any words or terms? What’s your favorite Indianapolis-based term? Let us know in the comments below.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.