What Do You Call It? 10 Common Items That Have Different Names

We are a cultural melting pot, and nowhere is that more evident than in the many regional names we Americans use. From coast to coast, American English is largely the same, though spoken with different accents, but there are a few terms that cause some confusion. Here are 10 common items that have different names depending on where in the U.S. you are. For a fascinating map-by-map deep dive, see the Harvard Dialect Survey maps.

1. Sneakers, Gym Shoes, Trainers, or Tennis Shoes?

Depending on where you are from, you might call athletic shoes with rubber soles one of several different names: sneakers, tennis shoes, or gym shoes. The majority of the United States uses the term “tennis shoes,” but New Englanders and southern Floridians call them “sneakers.” Only a few small pockets of the population (Chicago, parts of Cincinnati) refer to athletic shoes as “gym shoes.” In the U.K., you will hear them called “trainers.”

2. Lightning Bugs or Fireflies?

Head outside on a summer night and what do you see? The western half of the U.S. almost exclusively refers to the glowing bugs as “fireflies.” South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Texas, Florida, New York, and most of the New England states use both terms, while large parts of the South and Midwest prefer the term “lightning bug.”

3. Soda, Pop, Tonic, Coke?

Ironically, the one term no one uses for soft drinks is “soft drinks.” Most of the northern half of the U.S. refers to soft drinks as “pop,” but the New England states, part of Wisconsin, much of Illinois and Missouri, Florida, and California call the fizzy drinks “soda.” If you live in “Southie,” outside of Boston, Massachusetts, you might call it “tonic.” People in Texas and most of the Southern U.S. sometimes refer to soft drinks as “coke” (a Coca-Cola at home in Atlanta covers Mountain Dew, Sprite, and root beer all at once).

4. What is a Hoagie, Anyway?

It turns out only people in Pennsylvania and New Jersey know what a hoagie is. Most of the United States calls the long, cold-cut sandwich a “sub,” but Pennsylvanians use “sub” and “hoagie” interchangeably. These sandwiches are also known as a “hero” in New York City, a “po’boy” in Louisiana, a “grinder” in Massachusetts, and a “wedge” in Westchester County and the Bronx, New York.

5. Crawfish, Crayfish, and Crawdads, Oh My

Which of these three do you say? In the North, people are more likely to refer to these freshwater crustaceans as “crayfish,” “crawdaddies,” or “crawdads,” but in the South, people call them “crawfish.” If you are curious, all three terms are regional versions of the original Middle English word “crevise.”

6. Pancakes, Flapjacks, or Hot Cakes?

These three terms, which all describe the same syrup-smothered breakfast cake, have wildly varying histories. The term “pancake” is the oldest, originating in the 14th century. “Hot cakes” are listed in the dictionary as an Americanism that came about in the late 17th century among early American settlers. Then, in the American West, cowboys came up with the term “flapjack.” Back then, flapjacks were a little different from those we are used to today; cowboys liked theirs hearty with whole-grain wheat and oats.

7. Need A Drink of Water?

For most of New England, the South, and the Midwest, you can get a quick sip of water at the “water fountain.” However, the West and a few pockets of the Midwest prefer to get a drink at the “drinking fountain.” Oddly, people in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and the eastern half of Wisconsin call them “bubblers.” This is not to be confused with another water-related item that goes by different names: tap or spigot, depending on where you live.

8. Mixed (Traffic) Signals

You pull up to an intersection where the roads meet and form a circle that you need to drive around in order to find your exit. What do you call it? In Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Maine, it is a “rotary.” Most of the rest of the U.S. calls this a “roundabout.” But people in Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Southern California, and the East Coast from Pennsylvania down through Georgia call it a “traffic circle.”

9. Jimmies or Sprinkles?

For most of us, those small, colorful chocolate confections we put all over ice cream, sundaes, and cupcakes are called “sprinkles.” To New Englanders, however, the correct term is “jimmies.” Where did that word come from? No one is quite sure, but the Just Born Candy Company of Pennsylvania says they are named after an employee, Jimmy Bartholomew, who created them.

10. Supper? Dinner? Who Cares, Let’s Eat

Lunch, dinner, and supper are three terms used differently all over the U.S. Depending on whom you ask, you either eat lunch at noon or you have dinner. Evening meals are the same way: to some, the evening meal is dinner, to others it is supper. Even more confusingly, some people use dinner for formal evening meals and supper for more casual repasts. So is there a correct way to use dinner and supper? According to Dictionary.com, “dinner” refers to the main meal of the day, whether you eat it in the evening or at night.

Regional Names At a Glance

U.S. Regional Names FAQ

Are there any other terms you have heard that are unique to a specific part of the U.S. where you live or where you were visiting? Tell us in the comments below. For more “what do you call it” reading, see our companion guides: favorite fish by region, state slogans, and what the heck is poutine?.

Amber Kanuckel

Amber Kanuckel is a freelance writer from rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors. She specializes in home, garden, environmental, and green living topics.

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