8 Words Only True New Jerseyans Can Correctly Pronounce

Almost every region in the U.S. is known for having its own specific accent, including states in the northeast, like, you guessed it, New Jersey. In fact, people who live in the Garden State are known for having a very distinct accent—especially with common words we use daily.

In our opinion, only New Jerseyans can correctly pronounce the following eight terms, and everyone else is simply wrong (sorry!). Of course, this article is all in good fun, but we guarantee most Jersey natives will stand by the Garden State pronunciation of the following terms. Jersey all day!

1. Coffee

It's pronounced "caw-fee" here in Jersey. Do people actually say "cah-fee?" Yes, yes, they do. But they're wrong. You have to pronounce it "caw-fee," or it's just not the same. We love our Java here in New Jersey—the most popular drink is an iced latte, but we could always go for an authentic Italian espresso or macchiato.

2. Talk

This is pronounced "tawk." It is not pronounced "taak," as certain dictionaries would suggest. Here in Jersey, we love our talking time, especially over a steaming cup of coffee. "Caw-fee tawk" is an age-old tradition here in the Garden State—what could be better than gathering with friends and chatting it up?

3. City

We usually say this word when referring to nearby major cities like New York or Philadelphia, and it's pronounced "ciddy." It feels strange enunciating the word. ("Si-tee?" "Tee?" What new language is this?) In terms of our biggest "ciddy," Newark is up there, but Jersey City and Paterson are up and coming, too.

4. Chocolate

You can find some of the best "chalk-lit" at Lee Sims Chocolates in Jersey City, Aunt Charlotte's Candies in Merchantville, Bromilow's Chocolates in Woodland Park, and Hanna Krause in Paramus. We do not sell "cha-cuh-lut" in New Jersey. Whether it's a thick slice of cake, a decadent mousse, or delicate truffles, we know good "chalk-lit" when we see (and eat!) it.

5. Did You Eat?

We say "d'jeet" because why would we enunciate every single word? It's much faster this way. Jerseyans are so known for using this phrase that we even have a restaurant with the same name in Shrewsbury, serving up fresh, delicious dishes. New Jersey folks love to keep their people well-fed, so don't be surprised if you hear this question thrown around next time you're in the state.

6. Soda

It's not "pop," and it's certainly not called "Coke" unless it's true Coca-Cola. Here, this is just plain "sow-duh," and we're big fans. Sprite is usually our first pick, followed by Coke and Pepsi, although we can't get enough of locally-owned brands like Boylan Birch Beer, with notes of vanilla and sweet birch flavoring.

7. Pizza

This is called a "pie," whether it's just plain cheese or filled with toppings. If you're thinking about getting "pie" from out-of-state, locals will assume you mean the sweet kind found in bakeries. Here in the Garden State, saying "pie" is almost always in reference to the saucy, cheesy variety. Side note: Pizza is also way better in New Jersey. One of our favorite spots is Massa Roman Square Pizzeria in Scotch Plains.

8. New Jersey

People jokingly call our state "Joisey." I'm pretty sure they do this just to annoy us. Sure, we have an accent when it comes to certain words, but truthfully, the way we pronounce Jersey is "home." The glorious Garden State is always in our hearts, whether we've lived here all our lives or have since moved away.

It's not just pronunciations that vary—some words in North Jersey don't even exist in South Jersey, and vice versa. This just goes to show how diverse the Garden State really is! If you're hoping to pick up on more quintessential Jersey lingo, consider planning a road trip or weekend getaway across the state using Only In Your State's itinerary planner. It can point you to the best lodging, dining, and sightseeing around.