The top slang words in each US state revealed

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Study found that 40% of Americans claim their state has slang words that outsiders wouldn't understand
People from Alaska were able to correctly identify the most obscure dialect words from across the states
Scroll down to take an interactive quiz to see how many unusual slang words you can correctly identify

Published: 08:11 EST, 23 May 2018 | Updated: 09:14 EST, 23 May 2018

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It may be just one nation but dialects across the United States can be so different they almost sound like separate languages.

And research has revealed that slang words originating from each of the 50 states are even confusing for Americans, with 40 per cent claiming that their state has specific terms that outsiders would never understand.

The study revealed the top two slang words from every state - including, for example, ripper, bubbler and hyphy - and researchers produced an interactive quiz about them so that budding linguists can find out how many unusual American terms they really know.

Scroll down to see a table of the top two slang words from every state

The confusion that slang terms cause for Americans was highlighted using several examples by researchers in the study, which was commissioned by PlayNJ.com and saw 2,000 people polled.

First of all they were asked what the New Jersey term 'ripper' meant and 44 per cent said it described having a good time.

Nine per cent thought it was a type of music and some Californians did not even hazard a guess.

Only 14 per cent knew the true meaning of the word - a hotdog.

Meanwhile 'hyphy' refers to a form of urban music and was coined in California.

However, when researchers asked the wider US public if they had heard of the word, only 21 per cent identified it correctly.

Thirty-four per cent thought it was a type of sound system and others thought it was a hotdog or another word for money.

The study also shows how the origins of words are hotly disputed from state to state.

For example, Rhode Islanders claim to be the first to have called a water fountain a 'bubbler', but this word was also claimed in the survey by Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Meanwhile, it should come as no surprise that the research found that 'awesome' is the most easily understood word in America, with the current slang meaning having originated in California.

Washington DC, however, used the word the most, with 75 per cent of respondents claiming to use it on a daily basis - this also contributed to Washington's status as the state using the most positive language.

Forty per cent of Americans claim that their state has specific terms that outsiders would never understand, new research has found

On the other side of the coin, natives of North Dakota, Vermont and New Hampshire use the word 'awesome' little or not at all, contributing to their ranking as some of the most linguistically isolated states in the US.

However, the crown for the state with the most confusing language goes to Kansas, with over 72 per cent of respondents claiming that those from other states couldn't understand them.

Meanwhile natives of Alaska both claimed they could identify, and correctly identified, the most words out of any state. Perhaps this shouldn't be surprising, considering that 60 per cent of those surveyed had travelled to other states beside their own, giving them a great grounding in other American dialects.

Vermont and Rhode Island were joint second place for understood words, and also had the second and third highest travel rates respectively.

THE TOP TWO SLANG WORDS FROM EVERY US STATE REVEALED
State	Population	Phrase	Meaning	Phrase	Meaning
Alabama	4,858,979	Hot minute	A hot minute is a while, a longish amount of time.	A ways	'A ways' is any distance between ten minutes and two hours in an approximate direction.
Alaska	738,432	Outside	'Outside' refers to any state outside of Alaska, except maybe Hawaii.	Cheechako	A 'cheechako' is a newcomer to Alaska and knows little about living there.
Arizona	6,828,065	Chizhii	The adjective literally means something is similar in texture to firewood, and is typically used to refer to rough or dry skin.	Carry out	'Carry out' is having someone carry purchases to your car from the local grocery store.
Arkansas	2,978,204	Arkansas Tooth pick	An Arkansas tooth pick is a big knife.	Roofer	A 'roofer' is someone who displays traits of idiocy
California	39,144,818	Hella	'Hella' is mostly another word for 'very', this Cali slang is now mainstream.	Bomb	If you really like something, it's 'bomb'.
Colorado	5,456,574	Gaper	'Gaper' is a derogatory term for a novice skier.	14er	A 14er is a mountain that boasts an elevation of at least 14,000 feet
Connecticut	3,590,886	Mystic	Mystic is the town of Mystic, also home of the Mystic Pizza restaurant that inspired Julia Roberts first movie.	Apizza	'Apizza' is the New Haven version of the traditional pizza.
Delaware	945,934	Baggin' Up	'Bagging up' is laughing. For example, 'I was baggin' up when she told me that joke.'	Toad Choker	A 'toad choker' is a heavy downpour or a bad storm.
Florida	20,271,272	It'll pass	'It'll pass' commonly refers to the sporadic rainfall experienced in the state.	No-See-Ums	'No-see-ums' are bugs that you struggle to see.
Georgia	10,214,860	Quit being ugly	Telling someone to 'quit being ugly' means 'change your attitude or behaviour'.	OTP	This stands for 'Outside the Perimeter', and is a term for the suburbs that exist outside the jurasdictions of Atlanta.
Hawaii	1,431,603	Luau	A Luau is a party, usually accompanied by some form of entertainment.	Shark Bait	A Hawaiian term for tourists so pale they attract the sharks.
Idaho	1,654,930	Potato Drop	Idaho has a New Year's drop much like the ball drop in Times Square... but with a potato.	Whistle Pig	A 'whistle pig' is a prairie dog or ground squirrel in Idaho.
Illinois	12,859,995	Grabowski	The term refers to the large ethnic Polish-American population. It's rarely an insult, and more often affection and ethnic differentiation.	LSD	If someone says they're driving on LSD, they mean a road, the Lake Shore Drive.
Indiana	6,619,680	Naptown	The word refers to the busy city of Indianapolis - nothing sleep-related at all.	Hoosier	Missouri sometimes uses the word in a derogatory way, but in Indiana it's meant for someone who loves and adores the state.
Iowa	3,123,899	Padiddle	It's an Iowan game to be the first to punch the top of the car and yell 'padiddle!' when you see a car with one headlight burnt out.	Pork Queen	The 'Pork Queen' is the winner of an Iowan beauty content.
Kansas	2,911,641	Yums	It's common for people to post online pictures of their food, tagging them as 'yums'.	Shucky Darn	This is an exclamation that loosely equates to wow!
Kentucky	4,425,092	The 'Ville	''Ville' refers to Louisville.	Y'all	'Y'all' is a way to address several people, shortened from 'you all'.
Louisiana	4,670,724	Pass a good time	'To pass a good time' means to have a good time.	Cher	'Cher' doesn't refer to the singer, but is a term of endearment traditionally used by Cajuns, from the French.
Maine	1,329,328	Apiece	'Apiece' is an uncertain distance. For example, someone might 'live down the road apiece'.	Ankle Biter	Refers to young children as compared to small yappy dogs
Maryland	6,006,401	Jimmy	Another word for a male blue crab found in Maryland	Sice	If you are siced, you're excited for something.
Massachusetts	6,794,422	Dunks	'Dunks' is an abbreviation of Dunkin Donuts, supposed to be Boston's favourite coffee shop.	Parlor	A 'parlor' is a living room.
Michigan	9,922,576	Michigan Left	A 'Michigan Left' refers to gaps in roads in Michigan that allow cars to perform U-turns.	Fudgie	A 'fudgie' is a tourist who spends most of their time perusing the fudge shops of the northern Lower Peninsula and Mackinac Island.
Minnesota	5,489,594	SKOL!	The word is usually heard at sports matches. Originating in Norwegian, it was used by Vikings and means cheers and to good health.	You betcha	A way to agree with something.
Mississippi	2,992,333	Comeback	'Comeback sauce' is a combination of mainly mayonnaise and chilli sauce.	Jacktown	'Jacktown' is the most often commonly used nickname for the city of Jackson, MS.
Missouri	6,083,672	Hoosier	A 'hoosier' is a redneck.	Sack	In Missouri, your groceries come home in a sack, not a bag.
Montana	1,032,949	A couple three	A phrase that means 'a few'.	Rocky Mountain Oysters	'Rocky Mountain Oysters' are a type of food - Fried Bull Testicles.
Nebraska	1,896,190	Red Beer	Beer with tomato juice, sometimes also with a shot of hot sauce.	Runza	This is a food chain founded in Nebraska known for its sandwiches and homemade burgers.
Nevada	2,890,845	Long Hauled	This is Las Vegas slang describing the practice of taxi drivers of taking you on a longer route than necessary, thus overcharging you.	Toke	A 'toke' is a gambling term that refers to a tip or gratuity.
New Hampshire	1,330,608	Wicked	Used adverbially, 'wicked' is used as a positive adverb to emphasise something being good.	X-Y-Z	If someone tells you to XYZ, they're telling you your fly is down (eXamine Your Zipper).
New Jersey	8,958,013	Benny	A derogatory term for Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark and New York-area residents who 'infiltrate' the Jersey Shore during the summer. It's used primarily in more northern beach towns.	Hoagie	Other states often refer to this sandwich as a hero or a grinder.
New Mexico	2,085,109	Christmas	This refers to the way in which you want your chilli sauce. The red and green combination (Christmas) means you want it both ways.	Portal	A 'portal' is a covered front or back porch in a New Mexican household.
New York	19,795,791	Grill	To 'grill' someone is to stare at them.	Mad	'Mad' adds an extra emphasis to the word that follows it.
North Carolina	10,042,802	Youngin'	A 'youngin'' is a young person, usually under the age of 21.	Late	'Late' is any time after 6:00pm.
North Dakota	756,927	Uff Da	A word of Norwegian origin, it's an exclamation or interjection used to express bafflement, surprise, or dismay.	Pop	'Pop' is a general term for soda or fizzy drinks.
Ohio	11,613,423	Buckeye	A 'Buckeye' is a native Ohioan, and can also refer to a peanut butter and chocolate candy.	The three C's	A grouping term for Ohio's largest cities: Cincinatti, Cleveland and Columbus.
Oklahoma	3,911,338	Sooner	A 'Sooner' is a dedicated fan of the Oklahoma Sooners football team.	Dinner	Dinner in Oklahoma is lunch everywhere else.
Oregon	4,028,977	Hood	If you were going to Hood in Oregon you'd be scaling the state's tallest mountain.	The Bridge is up'	The surefire excuse used in Portland to explain a lack of punctuality
Pennsylvania	12,802,503	Youse	'Youse' is the Philadelphia equivalent of saying 'y'all'.	Snoopy	If someone is a picky eater then they are called 'Snoopy'.
Rhode Island	1,056,298	Grinder	A sub or hearty sandwich is called a Grinder in Rhode Island.	Bubbler	A 'bubbler' is the Rhode Island term for a water fountain.
South Carolina	4,896,146	Happier than a pig in mud	In South Carolina, this metaphor is used to describe extreme jubliation.	Cut	If told to 'cut' the lights, you're being asked to turn them on or off.
South Dakota	858,469	Kattywampus	This word is often used when giving directions, to indicate that one thing is located in a diagonal direction from another thing. It can also mean askew or confused.	Get a wiggle on	An instruction to hurry up.
Tennessee	6,600,299	Meat and Three	'Meat and three' is a popular way of serving dinner, with one meat and three sides.	Moon Pie	A snacking favorite in Tennessee, known for perfectly combining chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker.
Texas	27,469,114	Kicker	The 'kicker' is the last and most persuasive reason or argument.	Chigger	A 'chigger' is a biting insect.
Utah	2,995,919	Sluff	A synonym for 'ditch' when referring to something you want to skip, like a class or event.	Biffed	Used to describe falling down, tripping or doing anything completely embarrassing.
Vermont	626,042	Dink	A stupid person, a jerk, or a general putdown of someone's abilities.	Flatlander	A flatlander is someone not from Vermont.
Virginia	8,382,993	Yonder	In this slang form, yonder is a distance rather than a location. If something is 'over yonder' it's within sight, but not near.	The Mixing Bowl	The Mixing Bowl is the Interstate 95/395/495 interchange.
Washington	7,170,351	SLUT	If you're riding the SLUT, you'll be taking the Seattle streetcar.	Pre-Funk	'Pre-funk' is abbreviated from 'pre-function' and is drinking before attending an event.
West Virginia	1,844,128	Poke	A 'poke' is a grocery bag.	Molasses	If something is moving far too slowly, it's 'molasses'.
Wisconsin	5,771,337	Cripes	'Cripes!' is an exclamation showing surprise or confusion.	Yooper	A 'Yooper' is someone from north Michigan.
Wyoming	586,107	Couple two three'	Primarily used to the Wyoming Valley, the phrase means 'a few'.	Kashi	A 'kashi' is a poking tool, often the pinky finger. It can be used to poke, tame, or kill anything, but mostly animals.