1. PA
What it means everywhere else: A slang term for father.
What it means in Pennsylvania: An abbreviation for “Pennsylvania” frequently used to reference the state.
2. Terrible
What it means everywhere else: Something downright awful.
What it means in Pennsylvania: An adjective that has become synonymous with the Pittsburgh Steelers, in a surprisingly awesome (and not bad) way.
3. Keystone
What it means everywhere else: A cheap beer often found at college parties.
What it means in Pennsylvania: Reference to Pennsylvania’s nickname “the Keystone State”, which implies that Pennsylvania is essential to the existence of the country.
4. Dutch
What it means everywhere else: People from the Netherlands, also known as Holland.
What it means in Pennsylvania: A word found everywhere around Pennsylvania referring to early German settlers, once referred to as “Deustch” but slowly Americanized over time.
5. The Shore
What it means everywhere else: A place where the water meets the land.
What it means in Pennsylvania: The Jersey Shore (and ONLY the Jersey Shore), the ultimate summer destination for Pennsylvanians.
6. The Bell
What it means everywhere else: A musical instrument that rings.
What it means in Pennsylvania: The Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania, a cracked chunk of mostly copper that rarely rings and brings swarms of tourists.
7. Intercourse
What it means everywhere else: A process used by mammals to make more mammals, commonly referred to as hanky panky or sex.
What it means in Pennsylvania: A small village in Lancaster County.
8. Eagles
What it means everywhere else: The ultimate symbol of patriotism in the USA.
What it means in Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL team roughly half the state can be caught cheering for.
9. Gotham
What it means everywhere else: A fictional city featured in Batman.
What it means in Pennsylvania: The famous Batman city that (not-so) strangely looks a lot like Pittsburgh in the Dark Knight Trilogy.
10. Youse
What it means everywhere else: To employ something with the intention of achieving a certain goal (“use” being the correct spelling).
What it means in Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia equivalent of saying “y’all.”
11. Yinz
What it means everywhere else: Multiple of yin (which balances yang).
What it means in Pennsylvania: See #10 above, but translated into Pittsburghese.
12. Wawa
What it means everywhere else: The sound a baby makes when crying.
What it means in Pennsylvania: A convenience store that every Eastern Pennsylvanian is at least slightly addicted to.
13. Snoopy
What it means everywhere else: Everyone’s favorite black and white cartoon pup.
What it means in Pennsylvania: Someone who is a picky eater.
14. Heinz
What it means everywhere else: The best type of Ketchup in the world.
What it means in Pennsylvania: The place where the Pittsburgh Steelers play their games, Heinz Field.
15. Cheesesteak
What it means everywhere else: A chunk of steak with cheese on it.
What it means in Pennsylvania: A hoagie bun stuffed with hot sliced beef, topped with melted cheese and often sautéed onions. Most people are passionate about their favorite shop and prepared to defend it in long, fiery debates.
16. Crick
What it means everywhere else: An aching back.
What it means in Pennsylvania: A small stream.
17. Scrapple
What it means everywhere else: A misspelling of the popular spelling game “Scrabble.”
What it means in Pennsylvania: A combination of pork scraps, cornmeal, and flour formed into a loaf and fried.
18. Lions
What it means everywhere else: The “King of the Jungle,” often found in zoos across America.
What it means in Pennsylvania: The Nittany Lions of Penn State athletics.
19. Virginville
What it means everywhere else: A land full of virgins (somewhere you don’t want to be after age 30).
What it means in Pennsylvania: A small town of 300ish residents in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
20. Shoo Fly
What it means everywhere else: The phrase said in attempt to get rid of flies
What it means in Pennsylvania: A traditional Pennsylvanian Dutch pie made with molasses.
21. Penn
What it means everywhere else: A writing utensil that is known for being permanent.
What it means in Pennsylvania: The University of Pennsylvania, home of the Quakers.
22. Sheetz
What it means everywhere else: A piece of fabric often found on a bed or as part of a pillow fort.
What it means in Pennsylvania: A convenience store that all Western Pennsylvanians are slightly addicted to.
23. World Series
What it means everywhere else: The professional baseball championship in which some of the country’s best athletes attempt to win the Commissioner’s Trophy.
What it means in Pennsylvania: The annual Little League World Series held in Williamsport in which teams of 11 to 13 year olds from all around the globe attempt to bring home the crown.
24. Hoover
What it means everywhere else: President Herbert Hoover, known for starting public works projects such as the Hoover Dam.
What it means in Pennsylvania: To vacuum.
25. Lebanon
What it means everywhere else: A country in Middle East.
What it means in Pennsylvania: A county in Eastern Pennsylvania known for being developed by the Pennsylvania Dutch, most famous for their Lebanon bologna.
26. Pot Pie
What it means everywhere else: A breaded, flaky pastry that’s stuffed with a range of ingredients before being baked.
What it means in Pennsylvania: A creamy stew that consists of meat, veggies, and egg noodles that isn’t baked.
27. Pennsylvania
What it means everywhere else: That place where all of that patriotic stuff happened a long time ago.
What it means in Pennsylvania: A state full of diversity. It has small towns and huge cities, upbeat tech companies and large Amish populations, delicious cuisine influenced by nearly every culture around the world. It’s, most importantly, home.
