Longtime Alaska residents who have survived multiple winters there are known as “sourdoughs.” It’s believed to stem from early residents who made sourdough bread for survival purposes, as the ingredients would survive the harsh cold and provide more satisfactory meals than canned goods. Baking other types of bread required hard-to-acquire ingredients compared to the ease of sourdough.

The term “spiedies” comes from the Italian word “spiedo,” which means cooking spit. The dish features grilled, marinated meat served on a stick inside a bread roll, with sauce poured on top. Spiedies are such a beloved local delicacy in this upstate New York city that they have inspired a yearly festival with hot air balloons and a special spiedie cook-off.

In most places in the U.S., you order sprinkles atop your ice cream. When you’re in New England, however, sprinkles are known as “jimmies.” The term dates back to 1914 and originated with a local ice cream company called Brigham’s. Eventually, “jimmies” became popular slang for sprinkles in general.

Yoopers come from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the northern part of the state that extends from Wisconsin and borders three Great Lakes. The Upper Peninsula is connected to the rest of the state by the five-mile-long Mackinac Bridge, and it has a distinct culture from the rest of the state. Michiganders refer to the region as the UP, and its residents are called “Yoopers.”

Perhaps the Grand Canyon seems less grand when it's your neighbor. Arizonans simply refer to the 277-mile-long canyon — the largest in America — as "The Big Ditch." If you think that's an understatement, wait until you see the scenic "Red Rocks" of Sedona.

There are versions of the children’s game “Duck Duck Goose” all over the world, but in the U.S., Minnesotans call it something different: “Duck Duck Gray Duck.” The name may have Scandinavian origins (like many Minnesotans themselves) — a Swedish version of the game called “Anka Anka Gra Anka” translates to the Minnesotan version.

In many parts of the U.S., the colloquialism "y'all" is used as a plural form of "you." But in Pittsburgh, the word "yinz" is a common part of "Pittsburghese" culture. The word is so beloved that Pittsburghers proudly refer to themselves as "Yinzers."

The term "14ers" applies exclusively to mountain peaks that are more than 14,000 feet above sea level. There are 58 such peaks in Colorado. Some climbers attempt to climb all 58, so if your friend in the Mile High City says they're collecting 14ers, they're headed out to the Rocky Mountains.

In the early 1900s, Milwaukee newspapers began to use the terms “sanitary bubblers,” “fountain bubblers,” and “water bubblers” to refer to water fountains. The prefixes were dropped throughout the ensuing decade, and the word “bubbler” was adopted statewide. “Bubbler” is also used in Rhode Island and even Australia.

“Ayuh” is a Mainer’s way of agreeing with someone. There’s no shortage of other local slang found throughout the New England state: “Upta camp” means a more rustic place than where you’re currently at, “flatlander” means a non-Maine native, “apiece” is a term for measuring distance, and “right out straight” is used when you’re very busy.

The word "whoopensocker" is used primarily in Wisconsin to refer to something big, exceptional, or otherwise notable of its kind. The term can describe something like a big catch at the fishing hole, but "whoopensocker" is used in particular to refer to a strong or large drink.

The word “jawn” is used by Philadelphia residents to describe pretty much anything at all, whether that thing is singular or plural. The catch-all slang term is believed to have originated in New York from the word “joint,” and made its way to Philly in the 1980s. The meanings of “jawn” are so varied that it can be found multiple times in a single sentence.

Marylanders know a thing or two about crabs, and the state is home to a bountiful supply of claw meat from Chesapeake Bay. “Jimmys” are male crabs, while “Sallys” are female crabs. Fishermen can tell the difference, but some crab connoisseurs can also tell the difference just from taste and texture.

Though the term lightning bugs is more commonly used in the Southeast, those in the West, Northern Plains, and New England typically refer to the glowing creatures as fireflies. Interestingly, in New York City, an estimated 86% of Manhattanites use the word firefly compared to the borough of Staten Island, where the majority of residents prefer saying lightning bug.

Also spelled "catawampus," "cattywampus" means “askew” or “diagonal.” The word probably evolved from a mix of the Scottish word “wampish,” meaning “flopping about,” and the term "catty-cornered" or "kitty-cornered." "Cattywampus" was first recorded in the 1830s and 1840s, and at that time, it also meant “fierce.”

Leaf peeping is a hobby that dates back thousands of years. It has roots in Japanese culture, where it’s known as “momijigari,” which translates to “autumn leaf hunting.” The term “leaf peeper” is used to refer to those who travel to New England and other regions with bright autumnal foliage to view the leaves in all their beauty.

In Boston and other parts of New England, the word “wicked” is used as an adverb in place of “very” or “especially,” as in, “That was a wicked loud concert.” The origin of the regional expression is unknown, but Boston’s “wicked” ways became widely known after the word was used in the 1997 movie “Good Will Hunting.”

“Packie” is what many New Englanders (particularly those from Massachusetts) call the liquor store. The slang word is a shortened form of the phrase "package store," a New England term for liquor store — a vestige of Prohibition, when buyers had to wrap everything purchased in liquor stores and couldn't display their purchases publicly.

Much of the U.S. calls them “sneakers,” while in the Northeast, active footwear may be referred to as "tennis shoes." But Chicago residents in particular are known for calling them "gym shoes." Coincidentally, "the gym shoe" is also the name of a local sandwich specialty that’s filled with roast beef, corned beef, and gyro meat.

The nickname “Hoosier” to describe people from Indiana became common in the 1830s, but its origins remain uncertain — one theory is that a contractor named Hoosier inspired it, whereas another claims it comes from a native word for “corn.” One thing is clear: The term is now used to refer to all Indiana residents.

While most of the U.S. alternates between using soda or pop, the American South uses the “Coke” brand name to refer to all soft drinks. Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta, and Southerners later adopted the name in a more generic sense. So when ordering a Coke in the South, be sure to clarify whether you want an actual Coca-Cola.