Here is a fun question. What do you call a carbonated drink? Your answer probably tells us exactly where you grew up.
That small word choice is the kind of thing that starts friendly arguments at family dinners. And it turns out, Americans have been talking past each other on six common everyday words for generations. Let’s take a look.
Soda, Pop, or Coke
In Texas and much of the South, all soft drinks are simply “coke.” That goes back to Coca-Cola, which started in Atlanta and became so popular that the brand name took on a life of its own. Linguists call that a genericide, when a brand name becomes a common word.
In the Midwest and Western states, “pop” is the word most people reach for. On the coasts, California and New England especially, “soda” is the favorite. And in Massachusetts, some older generations still call any fizzy drink a “tonic.”
Sneakers, Tennis Shoes, or Gym Shoes
Most of the country calls athletic shoes “tennis shoes” even though almost nobody actually plays tennis in them. The Northeast and a small part of Florida prefer “sneakers.” That name came from the quiet rubber soles that let you sneak up on someone.
Chicago and Cincinnati have their own term: “gym shoes.” Hawaii keeps it simple and just says “shoes.” And if you hear someone say “trainers,” they are almost certainly from the U.K.
Cart, Carriage, or Buggy
When you head to the grocery store, what do you grab at the door? According to one survey, 77 percent of Americans say “cart.” But the South calls it a “buggy,” and the Northeast calls it a “carriage.” Hawaii uses “wagon,” which sits somewhere in between.
Outside the U.S., most English speakers call it a “shopping trolley” or just a “trolley.”
Drinking Fountain, Water Fountain, or Bubbler
This one surprises a lot of people. “Water fountain” is the go-to term from Eastern New Mexico through Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and on to the East Coast. The Western states and much of the Great Lakes area say “drinking fountain.”
But in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in parts of Rhode Island, people say “bubbler.” That word is thought to trace back to the Wisconsin company Kohler and some of their marketing from the 1910s. Australia uses it too.
Beanie, Toboggan, or Tuque
Pull on a knit winter hat and most Americans call it a “beanie”, named after an old slang word for your head, “bean.” But in the South, that same hat is a “toboggan.” Ask someone outside the South to picture a toboggan and they will picture a sled, not a hat.
In Canada, the hat is called a “tuque”, also spelled “toque” or “touque.” Some U.S. communities near the Canadian border have picked up that word too. Australia and the U.K. both stick with “beanie.”
Fireflies or Lightning Bugs
Those little glowing insects on a warm summer evening have two names, depending on where you live. The South and the Midwest say “lightning bugs.” Most of the rest of the country says “fireflies.”
Meteorological researcher Jason Keeler noticed something interesting about that split. The areas that say “fireflies” tend to be more prone to wildfires. The areas that say “lightning bugs” are more likely to see lightning storms. The landscape shaped the language.
The next time you travel across the country, or even just talk to someone from a different part of it, listen for these little clues. Every word is a small window into where a person came from.
So go ahead. Ask for a coke in Boston and see what happens.