Philadelphia slang

Philadelphia slang and terminology is words normally affiliated with the City of Philadelphia, its surrounding counties, and South Jersey.

0-9

• (The) 215: The area code for Philadelphia. "Yeah, I'm representing the 215!"[1]
• (The) 610: The area code for much of the Delaware Valley in Pennsylvania. "I'm representing the 610!"
• (The) 700 Level: The cheap seats located in Veterans Stadium, high atop the Vet.[2] The 700 Level fans were known for their rowdiness and violent behavior, especially against opposing fans. The 700 Level fans were stereotyped as more blue collar and working class Eagles fans.The term "700 Level Mentality" is used to describe hardcore fanatical mentality of many Philadelphia sports fans.

A

• A.C.: Atlantic City[3][4]

B

• The Ben Franklin: The Benjamin Franklin Bridge, which extends between the Old City section of Philadelphia and Camden, N.J.
• Big Ben: Ben Franklin[5]
• Billy Penn: William Penn (and the associated Billy Penn Curse)[6]
• (The) Birds: The Philadelphia Eagles.[7]
• Blue Route: I-476 between Chester and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (See Northeast Extension).[8] The Blue Route got its name from the color of ink used to draw the proposed route for the "Mid-County Expressway" (its official name). A red route and a green route were also proposed, but the Blue route is the one that was actually constructed.
• Boo Birds: Philly fans who boo the home team (usually the Eagles) whenever they are not performing well.[9] "Another three-and-out? Here come the boo birds..."
• Broad Street Bullies: The Philadelphia Flyers.[10] First came into play in the 1970's, when they won back-to-back Stanley Cups. Name came from the fact that they play on Broad Street, and their "goons" (most notably Dave Schultz and Bob Kelly) would frequently attack opposing players, making them "bullies". This term is also associated with Flyers fans due to their rowdiness and aggression towards opposing fans.

C

• Conshohocken Curve: Where the Schuylkill Expressway turns from a predominantly eastward direction to a predominantly southward one, across the Schuylkill River from the city of Conshohocken.".
• Conshy: Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, a nearby suburb.[11]
• Crosstown: Interstate 676 (also called the Vine Street Expressway that joins Interstate 76 with the Ben Franklin Bridge.

D

• Delco: Nearby Delaware County, Pennsylvania[12]
• Del-Val: Delaware Valley, or the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area[13]
• Down the Shore: Vacationing at one of the beaches of southern New Jersey, as in "You won't find her at home. She's down the shore." Variant: Down da Shore[14]
• Drawin or draw'n: A verb or verbal adjective used to describe the act of or state of being annoying, disaggreeable, contemptable, or unnecessary. "Our teacher was drawin' when she handed out extra homework over break." "You're drawin'"
• D-Mac or D-Mack: A hip hop dance move that originated in Philly. Similar to the Wu-tang

E

• The EL: SEPTA's Market–Frankford Line[15]

G

• Grinder: An over or broiler toasted hoagie.

H

• Harry the K: Harry Kalas, beloved announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Hoagie: A sandwich, consisting of a long bread filled with lunchmeats, cheeses, and vegetables. What would be referred to as a "sub" in other parts of the country. The term originated in Philly.

I

• Iggles: The Philadelphia Eagles football team

J

• Jawn, Jawnt, or Joint: Noun that is used in casual conversation to describe any person, place, or especially a thing. The slang term is often pronounced as "jawn" or "jawnt," but is most likely a corruption of the word "joint."
• Jerzo: Term to describe someone from New Jersey (a.k.a. the "Dirty Jerz") intruding in Philadelphia.
• Judy Garland Park: A public park at the edge of Center City, at the Schuylkill River waterfront between Locust and Lombard Streets; its tongue-in-cheek name comes from its status as popular dog-walking spot for gay residents of Center City.

K

• K & A: Area of Northeast Philadelphia encompassing the Kensington and Allegheney sections
• Kenzo: Nickname for a section of Lower Northeast Philadelphia (called Kensington) or a person who is from and/or lives in that neighborhood.
• King of Prussia: The King of Prussia Mall.

L

• Lager: Yuengling Lager.
• The Lakes: FDR Park. Located in the very south end of South Philadelphia.
• LBC: Lower Bucks County (referring to the southernmost third of the county), a suburb of Philadelphia.
• Leave-it-town: A derogatory nickname for Levittown, Pennsylvania, a nearby suburb.
• The Linc: Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles home stadium)
• Love Park: J.F.K. Plaza, site of the famous "Love" sculpture.

M

• The Mills: Franklin Mills shopping center.
• Montco: Nearby Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
• (The) Main Line: Affluent suburbs to the Northwest of the city, name for the former Main Line railroad. Now along the Septa R5 line.

N

• (The) Northeast: Diminutive of Northeast Philadelphia.
• Nova: Villanova University.

P

• Penn: University of Pennsylvania
• Pittston Apples: Tomatoes
• The P & W: The former Philadelphia & Western Railroad, now the SEPTA Route 100 line.
• The Plateau: Belmont Plateau/Belmont Grove (popular gathering area in Fairmount Park for the Greek Picnic)
• Pashunk: Passyunk Avenue, a popular street in South Philadelphia
• The Phils: The Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. Also affectionally referred to as The Phightins.

S

• Samwich: A hoagie or a cheesesteak; or just some lunchmeat on a roll.
• "The Shore": A reference to the New Jersey beaches.
• The Schuylkill: The Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) (pronounced "skookil")
• the Sixers:a Name for the Philadelphia 76ers
• The Speedline: Port Authority operated PATCO High Speedline between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden County, New Jersey
• St. Joe's: St. Joseph's University
• "Steak": A cheese steak

T

• Tastypie: A Tastykake pie.

V

• The Vet: The former Veterans Stadium multi-sport complex (demolished in 2004)

W

• Water Ice: Italian Ice. Typically pronounced "wooder ice".
• The Whitman: The Walt Whitman Bridge
• Wiz Wit-out: Terminology for a cheesesteak with cheese whiz but without onions. "Wiz Wit" signifies a cheesesteak with cheese whiz and fried onions.
• Wu-tang: A dance move that originated in Philly. Commonly performed to Baltimore Club music.

Y

• Yo: A traditional Philadelphia greeting. Or, a way to get someone's attention. Common among Philadelphian Italian Americans.]].
• Youngbul: Someone younger then you or someone acting immature.

• Youse: You all (you plural), you guys.
• Yunk or Manny: Nickname for Manayunk, a neighborhood in Philadelphia near Roxborough.

See also

• Etymologies of place names in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania