1. Curds
What it means everywhere else: An Iranian ethnic group that inhabits a region known as Kurdistan.
What it means in Milwaukee: A chunk of cheese that is known for squeaking as it’s bitten into, often served up deep fried.
2. Brewers
What it means everywhere else: Someone who makes beer.
What it means in Milwaukee: The loveable local baseball team that plays their games at Miller Park.
3. Bucks
What it means everywhere else: Another word for dollar.
What it means in Milwaukee: Milwaukee’s professional basketball team that the people in the city can’t stop loving, win or lose.
4. Bubblers
What it means everywhere else: Something that creates bubbles.
What it means in Milwaukee: A drinking fountain.
5. Miller
What it means everywhere else: Someone who works in a grain mill.
What it means in Milwaukee: A local brand of beer brewed at the Miller Brewing Company headquartered in Milwaukee, known for inventing the “lite” beer.
6. Packers
What it means everywhere else: A person that prepares goods for transportation.
What it means in Milwaukee: The world famous green and gold professional football team that reigns king throughout Wisconsin.
7. TYME Machine
What it means everywhere else: A machine used to send someone forwards or backwards in time.
What it means in Milwaukee: A machine that gives you money made by the ATM company TYME, or “Take Your Money Everywhere.”
8. Blue Ribbon
What it means everywhere else: Something awarded to whoever came in first.
What it means in Milwaukee: Pabst Blue Ribbon, a beer that originally came out of Beertown.
Now the headquarters is strangely in Los Angeles and apparently was bought by a Russian beverage company. Though the name Pabst is still strong in Milwaukee, that doesn’t stop some small grassroot movements from trying to bring the beer back to its original home.
9. Custard
What it means everywhere else: A thick cream found in éclairs.
What it means in Milwaukee: The local style of ice cream made with eggs in addition to sugar and cream. If you’re trying one for the first time you can’t go wrong at Gilles or Leon’s.
10. FIB
What it means everywhere else: A lie
What it means in Milwaukee: A derogatory term for someone from Illinois, “F*ck*n’ Illinois B*st*rd.”
11. Bars
What it means everywhere else: A long rod, frequently used on windows to obstruct access.
What it means in Milwaukee: A public place to go for a drink of alcohol that can be found in seemingly every other building in Milwaukee.
12. The Lake
What it means everywhere else: A giant inland body of water.
What it means in Milwaukee: Lake Michigan (and only Lake Michigan!), commonly referred to by locals as simply “the Lake.”
13. Cheesehead
What it means everywhere else: Someone who has a head made of cheese.
What it means in Milwaukee: A Packer’s fan, known by their yellow triangular cheese shaped hats.
14. Bears
What it means everywhere else: A large mammal that is often spotted wandering around in the wilderness of North America.
What it means in Milwaukee: Not so much a creature you’d find in the woods but instead the professional football team that will indeed always suck.
15. Badgers
What it means everywhere else: A short-legged omnivore in the same family as weasels, otters, and wolverines.
What it means in Milwaukee: Again, NOT a creature you’d find in the woods but the mascot of the University of Wisconsin. While it’s in Madison, their fans are found all around America’s Dairyland.
16. Tailgate
What it means everywhere else: The hinged flap on the back of a truck.
What it means in Milwaukee: A great excuse locals use to get drunk before every concert or sporting event or really anything ever if they so choose.
17. Happy Days
What it means everywhere else: A series of days that a great.
What it means in Milwaukee: A 1970s television show featuring “the Fonz” that’s set in Milwaukee.
18. Pop
What it means everywhere else: The word the rest of Wisconsin uses to describe what Milwaukeeans call “soda.”
What it means in Milwaukee: The sound a bubble makes when it bursts.
19. Polka
What it means everywhere else: A type of dot.
What it means in Milwaukee: A type of music often featuring accordions, trumpets, and drums that’s popular in certain areas of Milwaukee.
20. Safe House
What it means everywhere else: A house in a secret location commonly used to hide spies or criminals on the run.
What it means in Milwaukee: A peculiar, secretive spy-themed restaurant that opened in Milwaukee in 1966.
21. Cinco
What it means everywhere else: The number 5 in Spanish.
What it means in Milwaukee: A chorizo sausage mascot that wears a sombrero, famous for his participation in the Klement’s Sausage Races at the Brewers’ games.
22. Panthers
What it means everywhere else: A large predatory cat known for being stealthy.
What it means in Milwaukee: The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee’s mascot, faithfully found at every home game cheering on the black and gold.
23. Hog
What it means everywhere else: A pig.
What it means in Milwaukee: A Harley Davidson straight from MKE. It can also refer to the official “Harley Owners Group.”
24. Stop N’ Go
What it means everywhere else: A game played by children in which players stop moving and then start moving multiple times.
What it means in Milwaukee: A traffic light.
25. Eagles
What it means everywhere else: The ultimate symbol of patriotism.
What it means in Milwaukee: The Marquette Golden Eagles.
26. Milwaukee
What it means everywhere else: Some city in Wisconsin that’s cold and smells like beer.
What it means in Milwaukee: Cream City, Brew City, Beer City, Miltown…whatever you call it, it’s hard to beat. Sure, it’s cold and there’s a lot of beer, but that’s not all.
Milwaukee is also home to an awesomely unique culture, with tons of festivals, great local cuisine, and the best Bloody Mary’s in America.
What other words mean something different in the Milwaukee? Tell us in the comments below! 
