1. Troll
What it means everywhere else: A plastic doll with brightly colored hair and a gem for a belly button.
What it means in Michigan: The term Yoopers use to refer to those living in the Lower Peninsula. Get it? It’s because they live ‘under’ the Mackinac Bridge.
2. Mitten
Source: Instagram user amazing_love_em
What it means everywhere else: A nice glove you wear to keep your hands warm during the winter season, almost like a giant pocket worn on your fingers with a special place for your thumb.
What it means in Michigan: The entire Lower Peninsula. It’s not just a glove. It’s where you live. No matter what Wisconsin says—Michigan’s the only mitten state.
3. Party Store
What it means everywhere else: The convenient one-stop shop that houses all of your party planning (and throwing) needs. Forget to put together a Halloween costume? This is your go-to place.
What it means in Michigan: The convenient one-stop shop where you go for all of your adult beverage needs.
4. Coney Island
Souce: Flickr user Ken Lund
What it means everywhere else: The often-romanticized entertainment peninsula located on the Atlantic Ocean in New York City.
What it means in Michigan: It is both a restaurant and hot dog, with a few city-specific versions of each. It’s said that once you’ve had a Coney Island hot dog, you’re forever changed…
5. Winter
What it means everywhere else: A drop in temperature–usually below 40 degrees—lasting around four months, possibly accompanied by a light dusting of snow.
What it means in Michigan: Mother nature’s six month binge delivering frigid temperatures (usually below zero), lake effect snow and, especially in the Upper Peninsula, the occasional opportunity to sled off of the roof of your house directly to the ground.
6. Turning Left
What it means everywhere else: Simply activating your left blinker then turning left when the arrow is green and/or there is a lack of oncoming traffic.
What it means in Michigan: Getting into the right lane–yes, the right lane–to turn into the left-most lane from there. Now that you’re there, go ahead and activate your left blinker and proceed with your originally intended left turn.
7. The Bridge
What it means everywhere else: A point of reference when giving or receiving directions. “Cross the bridge, then turn right on Cranberry Avenue.”
What it means in Michigan: The Mackinac Bridge, the bridge of all bridges. The bridge that spans the Straits of Mackinac and connects Michigan’s majestic peninsulas.
8. Octopus
Source: Youtube user xvipx
What it means everywhere else: The cephalopod with eight tentacles and the tendency to squirt ink.
What it means in Michigan: The cephalopod with eight tentacles, rooted in tradition, which you sneak in and then throw onto the ice of the arena during a Detroit Red Wings hockey game.
9. Paradise
What it means everywhere else: Your happy place. The place you go to, whether in your mind or on vacation, that provides you with immediate relaxation.
What it means in Michigan: A small, quaint town in the Upper Peninsula surrounded by forests. To many outdoors enthusiasts, Paradise, Michigan truly is a paradise.
10. Pasty
What it means everywhere else: A dull, lackluster complexion.
What it means in Michigan: A delicious pastry full of beef, potatoes, and rutabaga, almost always accompanied by ketchup. This delightfully delectable dish is predominantly found in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
11. Summer
What it means everywhere else: Warm weather, sunshine, and days spent at the beach.
What it means in Michigan: The month with temperatures above 70 degrees before the mosquitoes, horse flies, and other insects take over the outdoors.
12. Mosquitoes
What it means everywhere else: Small pesky insects that hang out around swamps and leave you itchy.
What it means in Michigan: The giant swarm of vampire insects that instantly surround you as soon as you step outside, ruining any chance of summer you might have had.
13. Fir
What it means everywhere else: An evergreen tree most commonly seen in households during December.
What it means in Michigan: How Michiganders pronounce “for.” As in, “If you remember, will you pick one up fir me?”
14. Fudgie
What it means everywhere else: In Connecticut, Fudgie is the name of a whale-shaped cake sold in a local franchise store. Everywhere else, fudgie is meaningless.
What it means in Michigan: Tourists that like to spend most of their time perusing the fudge shops of the northern Lower Peninsula and Mackinac Island.
15. Thumb
What it means everywhere else: The last digit on your hand that enables you to open jars, show someone your approval or even catch a ride (for those who are so brave).
What it means in Michigan: Home! If it’s not home then it’s the place where you go on vacation.
16. Tennis Shoes
What it means everywhere else: Shoes designed specifically to be worn while playing Tennis.
What it means in Michigan: Any type of canvas shoe with a rubber sole. What is this “sneaker” business you’re talking about?
17. Superior
What it means everywhere else: Better than anything else.
What it means in Michigan: The Great Lake at the top of the state.
18. Chook/Chuke
What it means everywhere else: In Australia, Chooks is slang for chicken. Everywhere else, it’s nonsense.
What it means in Michigan: A hand-knit hat, usually with a tassel on top. Referred to as both Chuke (like puke) and Chook (like book).
19. Pop
What it means everywhere else: Pop is what the weasel does in the song from your childhood. It’s also what blasts out of your radio whenever you’re tuned into any Top 40s radio station.
What it means in Michigan: Deliciously refreshing carbonated beverages. It’s not soda or coke, nor will it ever be.
20. Up North
What it means everywhere else: Anywhere that is north of you.
What it means in Michigan: The northern half of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. For those residing in the lower half of the Lower Peninsula, it’s the location of the cottage you go to every summer.
21. Pank
What it means everywhere else: A literary magazine. Known properly as [PANK].
What it means in Michigan: To tightly pack down the snow. Building an igloo? You better pank that snow until it’s in a nice, uniform cube.
22. Hell
What it means everywhere else: That place where Satan and his buddies hang out.
What it means in Michigan: A small town in Michigan that is too small to be recognized as an actual town by the United States Postal Service.
23. Choppers
Source: Instagram user cvavisuals
What it means everywhere else: Slang used by Radar O’Reilly in M.A.S.H. to refer to helicopters.
What it means in Michigan: The mittens above all mittens, choppers are a deerskin mitten with a wool mitten insert. Not surprisingly, Yoopers are quite fond of choppers.
24. Clicker
What it means everywhere else: A small toy, often found in novelty stores, that makes a clicking sound when pressed, often becoming the bane of adults and the joy of children.
What it means in Michigan: The remote control that changes your television channels.
25. Beautiful
What it means everywhere else: Possessing aesthetic qualities or features that delight the senses.
What it means in Michigan: Home sweet home.
Did we miss anything? Share words that mean something entirely different in Michigan in the comments below!
