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There are words. Then, there are Philly words.
These are the sayings, phrases, things and places — let’s call them colloquial jawns — that real Philadelphians use on the regular.
With Philadelphia welcoming thousands of out-of-towners with open arms for major events in 2026, this handy guide can get you talking like you grew up going to the Acme (pronounced: Ack-a-me) on The Avenue (see below).
From Mayfair and Manayunk to Port Richmond and Point Breeze, no two Philly accents are the same. Just like no two Philly neighborhoods are the same. Each jawn (there’s that word again!) brings its own distinct dialect and charm.
That’s why it’s crucial to understand why locals say the things they say and pronounce them the way they are supposed to be pronounced. Because … youse don’t want to be walking around town sounding like a crumb bum. As Benjamin Franklin said: “Better slip with foot than tongue.”
Okay, time to fire down to John Wanamaker’s and learn the lingo.
History says Ben Franklin, upon entering Philadelphia for the first time, purchased “three great Puffy Rolls” from a baker on Market Street. Did he stuff those rolls full of shaved ribeye, fried onions and cheese whiz to create the first whiz wit? Probably not.
Cheesesteak or not, food is serious business here.
From Michelin-honored and James Beard-recognized restaurants to mom-and-pop hoagie shops and cheesesteak counters, this city takes immense pride in chowing down.
And how and what you order matters.
Let’s look at the menu:
Credited to a bartender at Bob & Barbara’s Lounge, this drink order pairs up a shot of whiskey (usually Jim Beam) with a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon for only $5. Various bars put their own tweaks on it these days.
Invented in 1979 at Chickie’s & Pete’s, these are crinkle-cut potatoes, seasoned with Old Bay and served with a side of gooey white dipping sauce made from melted American cheese. Spoiler alert: There is no crab meat anywhere! Crab Fries are also the addictive snack of choice at Phillies, Sixers, Flyers and Eagles games.
— Photo by Visit Philadelphia
South Philly nonnas slog over a stove every Sunday on this dish. It’s really just another name for pasta sauce with one key difference: red gravy contains meat, like sausage, meatballs, short ribs and (sometimes) pork neck bones. Here’s where you can go to get one of Philly’s favorite comfort foods.
This is what other cities refer to as a “submarine sandwich” — Italian deli meats tucked inside a from-scratch long roll. Legend says Italian immigrants working at the Hog Island Shipyard coined the term during World War I. Every lifer has a must-try hoagie shop.
Say it with us: Hoagie
Fink's Signature Hoagie — Photo by Visit Philadelphia
These are tiny candy bits used to decorate ice cream cones or baked goods, often called sprinkles elsewhere. Aye, there’s the rub! There is much debate locally over whether “jimmies” are strictly chocolate versus rainbow.
Forrest Gumps of the pepper world, you never know what you’re going to get. From scorch-your-mouth hot to sweet-subtle burn, long hots measure roughly 8 inches in length, and locals love throwing them on cheesesteaks and roast pork sandwiches, or frying ’em up in olive oil for the perfect side dish.
What is it? Rumors say it contains pig offal and spices, boiled in a rich broth and then dried — but the fun is the mystery. Originating from the Pennsylvania Dutch, scrapple — one of the city’s most iconic foods — recipes call for pork scraps, cornmeal and buckwheat flour. Habbersett is a trusted brand.
Hostess claims it was the first commercially distributed snack cake in America. It wasn’t. First introduced in 1914, Tastykake is the sweetest story in Philly history, hence why Butterscotch Krimpets and Kandy Kakes find their way into every kid’s lunchbox. Look for these sugary treats at local grocery stores, bodegas, gas stations and, of course, Wawa.
— Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia
If you want to dumb it down, tomato pie is cold pizza without melted cheese — although it’s a bit more nuanced. Sweet, chunky tomato paste gets slathered over focaccia-like dough to create a rectangular slice of heaven. Sprinkle parmesan on top. You can find this staple everywhere, from South Philly to the suburbs.
Okay, pronounce it with us … wooder ice. It’s a dairy-free frozen treat, made of only three ingredients: water, sugar, fruit. Comparisons in other regions include shaved ice, Italian ice and snowcones. Grab one at these favorite neighborhood haunts.
Say it with us: Water Ice
John's Water Ice — Photo by D. Knoll for Visit Philadelphia
This chain of convenience stores and gas stations (all in one) has a cult following especially as it continues to pop up nationwide. Known for reliable hoagies and premium coffee, Wawa is a routine stop for commuters looking for an easy breakfast or lunch option.
Say it with us: Wawa
“There are places I remember, all my life, though some [pronunciations] have changed.”
That was the original lyric penned by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. Well, it would have been had either one of the British rockers grown up in Philly.
Let’s scroll through some commonly mispronounced places that the writers at Saturday Night Live love to mock us for.
Known for towering sycamore trees and historic stone mansions, this is a wealthy suburban town on the Main Line (Philly’s charming western suburbs) that serves as a hub for many of the area’s leading TV news stations.
Home to one of the first all-women’s colleges in the country, Bryn Mawr is a quaint town where horseback riding (look up: dressage) is a way of life. The name is Welsh for “big hill.”
Say it with us: Bryn Mawr
This immersive museum on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway celebrates the artwork of native son Alexander Calder, yet somehow the pronunciation can be just as confusing to say as his Eucalyptus (1940) sculpture is to interpret.
A modern Thai restaurant in Fishtown, Kalaya is one of the hottest tables to book, and folks were stumbling over the pronunciation until owner Nok Suntaranon sounded it out for everyone after winning her James Beard Award.
Locals call it “The Avenue” to avoid too much confusion, but the Passyunk name carries Lenape roots, accompanied by various translations. What we do know is this bustling corridor is a foodie playground.
Say it with us: Passyunk Avenue
— Photo courtesy East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District
One of the nation’s oldest and largest indoor farmers’ markets, Reading Terminal Market sounds like it might be a library, but it’s named after the Reading Railroad that once ran tracks above it, sometimes causing the street-level market to rumble.
Philadelphians didn’t even realize they were saying this one wrong (hint: It rhymes with pal) until Jason Kelce brought it up on New Heights. It’s okay. Many Philadelphians also stress the al in al-monds.
Say it with us: Salmon Street
The definition of a red-gravy joint, with the Italian-American classics and white tablecloths to prove it. Locals butcher the restaurant’s name, especially when adding a side of “broccoli rob” and “saw-zidge.”
Say it with us: Scannichio’s
Originating from Dutch for “hidden creek,” the Schuylkill River is the city’s main waterway, which flows 135 total miles, down from Pottsville — also known as Yuengling (YING-ling) country.
Say it with us: Schuylkill River
— Photo by Elevated Angles for Visit Philadelphia
This Michelin-recommended Lebanese restaurant in Fishtown leaves nothing to interpretation with a decadent tasting menu option. Yet, hungry locals seem to stumble over the name, saying suh-RYE-uh.
What isn’t monikered after this Indigenous word? Derived from the Lenape phrase for “catfish creek,” Wissahickon lends its name to a creek, a park, a neighborhood, a high school, a bridge, a train station, a brewery and more.
Wissahickon Valley Park — Photo courtesy Friends of the Wissahickon
The real key to learning the local lingo is understanding the people who first lived here.
The Lenape, also known as the Delaware Tribe of Indians, settled the land where Philadelphia rests before William Penn officially chartered the city in 1682.
That means many places trace their origins to the endangered Lenape language. They called the area Lenapehoking (pronounced: Lënapehòkink). Hence, various spots, from roads and rivers to towns and towpaths, borrow names from those proud Indigenous peoples — some of whom still live in the region today.
Lenape words firmly entrenched in the Philly lexicon include areas like Manayunk, Shackamaxon, Aramingo, Conshohocken and Moyamensing.
While most folks born and raised here appreciate a good Tina Fey skit, let’s not misconstrue her Delco accent for the vernacular heard in most neighborhoods. After all, there is a certain nuance to the varying forms of the so-called “hoagie mouth.”
Let’s take a look at some favorite local words and phrases that you’re bound to hear while walking around Rittenhouse Square or Spruce Street Harbor Park.
It means to make a U-turn when you are driving. For whatever reason, Philadelphians love to lop off syllables and vowels. Plus, it just sounds cooler, right?
Say it with us: Buss a Youie
This is what we call downtown. Why? History suggests it goes back to William Penn’s original grid plan for the city, but it’s more fun to think of it as a way to assert Philly’s independence from other U.S. cities.
In Barbie, Ken wanted to “beach.” In Philly, we “go down the shore” when the weather gets warm — specifically the New Jersey shore, which can be reached in one to two hours. But why would you want to leave when It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia!
Eagles fans, or “Iggles” fans, started using this ubiquitous two-word phrase in 1984. Now, following two Super Bowl wins, it’s more than a rallying cry. Locals use it as their preferred greeting, from hello to goodbye and everything in between.
Say it with us: Go Birds
— Photo courtesy Philadelphia Eagles
The universal noun. This article is a jawn. The iPhone in your hand, that’s a jawn. Your dog? Jawn. Literally everything and anything is a jawn, including a cheesesteak. Just ask Bianca.
Say it with us: Jawn
Refers to the “elevated” section of SEPTA’s L (Market-Frankford) subway line, which is a 13.5-mile stretch of railroad tracks, spanning the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby to the Frankford Transportation Center in Northeast Philly.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. It means hello or listen up. Rewatch Rocky or The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to really get it.
You will often hear this term used as a way to check in with people, as in, “How youse doin’?” Listen closely for it when you sit down at Scannicchio’s for dinner.
These costumed musicians and irreverent revelers march down Broad Street on New Year’s Day. You know Uncle Frankie. He’s a Mummer.
Say it with us: Mummers
— Photo courtesy the Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association
This is the eco-friendly home of the Philadelphia Eagles. Also known as Lincoln Financial Field, first opened in 2003.
This is the home of the Fightins, aka the Philadelphia Phillies. Citizens Bank Park (established in 2004) hosts its first-ever MLB All-Star Game this year.
Tagged as Philly’s western suburbs, located just outside the city limits along Route 30 (Lancaster Avenue), it includes quaint towns like Villanova, Malvern, Wayne, Bala Cynwyd, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Narberth, Wynnewood and … wait for it … Kobe Bryant’s hometown of Ardmore.
You’ll probably hear your Uber driver say this two-word phrase for driving fast down any roadway, particularly Christopher Columbus Boulevard or Market Street. Sadly, John Wanamaker’s is permanently closed.
Philly is a treasure trove for iconic foods, historical landmarks, priceless artwork, championship sports and, of course, a darling dialect that is hard not to love.
You’ll know it when you hear it. And, trust us, you’ll want to add a little Philly slang to your everyday dictionary.
Consult our Philly 101 guide below to ensure you don’t miss anything.
Philly 101
Web Content Manager, Visit Philadelphia
It’s Philly’s biggest year yet!
Make the most of it by booking the Visit Philly Overnight Package, which comes with free hotel parking and complimentary tickets to some of the most popular attractions in each of Greater Philadelphia’s five counties including Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute, the Mercer Museum in Bucks County, Longwood Gardens in Chester County, the Brandywine Museum of Art in Delaware County and Elmwood Park Zoo in Montgomery County.
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