Posted in Pennsylvania November 14, 2017 by

10 Foolproof Ways To Spot An Imposter In Pennsylvania

Pennsylvanians have their own way of doing things, unique dialects in different parts of the state, and a way of standing out. Someone not from PA might find it a bit difficult to keep up with the jargon and the way we do things, at least at first. Here are 10 foolproof ways to spot an imposter in Pennsylvania.

1. They can’t pronounce Schuylkill, Monongahela, or Zelienople.
Flickr/W. Vincent LoGreco, Jr.
Dead giveaway right there. If they butcher the names of places like Schuylkill, Monongahela, or Zelienople - names that simply roll over our tongues - you know there's a pretty good chance they're not really from PA.
2. They think that birch beer is root beer.
Flickr/brownpau
We Pennsylvanians know that there is a distinct difference between birch beer and root beer. An imposter won't realize that birch beer is made from bark extract and is totally different from root beer.
3. They look at you quizzically when you mention scrapple.
Flickr/Kate Hopkins
They just might ask, "What is scrapple?" If you're from PA, you know what it is. And, you either love it or you hate it. There really is no gray area when it comes to scrapple
4. They think Pittsburgh and Philly are a short distance apart.
Flickr/Noe Alfaro
Sigh. How many times have you heard out-of-staters casually mention they're going to drive from Pittsburgh to Philly or vice-versa? Many don't realize the two cities are at opposite ends of the state.
5. They’ve never heard of Wawa.
Flickr/Laurie Siegert
Or Sheetz. It's one of the top PA rivalries, after all, Wawa versus Sheetz. If you've never heard of either or don't have a side in the rivalry, you're probably not from PA.
6. They give you directions in miles.
Flickr/23am.com
That's just not how we do it here in PA. Sure, ask us for directions. Drive 20 minutes down the Turnpike is how we'll phrase it though. We give directions in time not miles.
7. They never ever refer to others as youse or yinz.
Flickr/Matt Niemi
Every part of Pennsylvania has its own dialect. In Philly, we say youse. In Pittsburgh, we say yinz. An out-of-stater just won't know the local lingo, whether it's red up, youse, or mud sale.
8. They think that going to Jersey Shore means leaving the state.
Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli
Tell an out-of-stater you're heading to Jersey Shore and they might start packing their beach gear, pumped up for a visit to South Jersey. But, when we say Jersey Shore in PA, we mean that quaint town not too far from Williamsport.
9. They think Texas hot dogs are a Texas thing.
Yelp/Rebecca B.
It's a PA thing. Texas hot dogs got their start in Altoona way back in 1918. Texas Hot Dogs offers a delicious menu of the Texas hot dog, cheese dogs, and the steerburger.
10. They ask for a sub, not a hoagie.
Flickr/Miranda
We love our hoagies in PA. We know what you mean if you ask for a sub, of course, but it will always be a hoagie to us.

What are some other foolproof ways to spot an imposter in Pennsylvania? Click here to read why Pennsylvanians are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.

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