1. Yinz Folks From Pittsburgh Have Yunz Own Awesome Language (And If Outsiders Don't Get It, That's Their Problem)
You can always tell if someone is from Pittsburgh by how they pronounce “you guys” (OK technically “you ones”) If it’s “yinz” or “yunz” my friend, you are dealing with a Pittsburgher.
But just the tip of the strange iceberg of unique communication in Pittsburghese...
2. Folks In Pittsburgh Know Exactly What It's like To Fall On A Jaggerbush When It's Slippy Out
Ain't nobody got time to pronounce the whole word “slippery” in Pittsburgh—and a “jaggerbush” is a bush with briars or thorns.
They also call a rubber band a “gumband,” and a chipmunk a “grinnie.” If you're nosy, you're “nebby,” and if you're going to clean up, you're going to “redd up.” Possibly with a sweeper. And no, that's not a broom, it's a vacuum. Duh.
If a stranger tells you “Kennywood's open” in The 'Burgh, check your fly and thank them. If they tell you “Kennywood's open, jaggoff,” check and keep walking.
3. Real Sandwiches Have Coleslaw And French Fries On Them
Ain't nobody got time to eat their side dishes separately from their entrees, either.
Pittsburgh institution Primanti Brothers piles the fries and coleslaw right on the sandwich. Like everything else in Pittsburgh (as we've already seen), it sounds a little crazy. But man, is it good.
The restaurant got its start in the 1930s, and it's been near and dear to Pittsburgh hearts and bellies ever since. It's expanded into a local chain of 21 locations, with three in Florida and one in West Virginia.
4. The Surge Of Pride Pittsburghers Feel While Singing “Here We Go Stillers”
Well, I wasn't going to say anything about it, but there's no avoiding it now. People in Pittsburgh talk funny.
Their steel mills are still mills and their beloved NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, are Stillers.
There's tons of Pittsburgh pride in the oldest AFC franchise. Of course, it helps that the team has won more Super Bowls and more AFC Championships than any other football team.
5. Spending The Summer At Kennywood And Idlewild
“Yo, Kennywood's open.”
“Oh good, you checked. You're learning.”
The phrase makes reference to Kennywood amusement park, about eight miles outside downtown Pittsburgh. It opened in 1898 and has been an integral part of entertainment in Western PA ever since.
At about 50 miles out from the city, Idlewild and Soakzone are further away, but the paired parks are another essential part of growing up Pittsburgh.
6. Pierogies And Chipped Ham Are What’s For Dinner
You'd be surprised how many people around the country have no idea what pierogies are. But you'll never meet one of them in Pittsburgh. These little Polish pouches can be filled with all sorts of sweet and savory stuff.
Residents of The 'Burgh so love their pierogies they even host the Great Pierogi Race at Pittsburgh Pirates games. It entails four people in pierogi mascot costumes racing. Wheee.
Chipped ham is popular, too. It's basically ground ham and pork trimmings packed into a loaf and then cut into thin, small bits with a meat slicer. The breakfast of champions.
7. Debating The Merits And Drawbacks Of Taking Each Bridge “Dahntahn”
The 'Burgh is also known as The City of Bridges. I'll give you three guesses why.
Hmm, I really expected you to get it. Oh well. It's because there are a lot of bridges—about 450 of them.
A number of bridges run into “dahntahn,” or downtown if you're not from here. A number of the bridges are a pain when it comes to traffic, and knowing which ones to take and avoid at any given time is part of survival in this city.
On the upside, some bridges in Pittsburgh—like the Liberty Bridge and the West End Bridge—are known for the spectacular views they provide.
8. People In Pittsburgh Give A Sheetz
They really, really do.
Sheetz isn't just a gas station and a mini-mart; it's an institution. And it's not just because they so wittily pluralize their item names with a “z” at the end.
The coffee is good and the MTO, or “Made to Order,” food—sandwiches, hot dogs, pizza, and the like—is a godsend for hungry, road-weary travelers and anyone who desperately needs quick, cheap sustenance, especially in the middle of the night or on Christmas.
9. To Pittsburghers There Is Only One Kind Of Beer: Iron City
Iron City Beer is the ubiquitous pilsner of Steel City.
It's entrenched in local culture, which makes sense, considering the Iron City Brewery began in Pittsburgh in the early 1860s. The Iron City Brewing Company—now known as the Pittsburgh Brewing Company—remained in town until 2009, when it relocated to the Latrobe Brewery, formerly used to produce Rolling Rock.
While there's certainly nothing special about the beverage itself (just to invite some scorn in the comments), Iron City has a few historical claims to fame. It was the first draught sold in a can, the first sold in a snap-top can, and the first sold in a bottle with a twist-off resealable cap.
The brewery also once produced Hop'n Gator. It was a mixture of imitation lemon-lime Gatorade and beer. For reasons I can't begin to fathom, it never really caught on.
10. Pittsburghers Take Great Pride In Seeing The City They Love So Much On TV
Rick Sebak gets a shout-out for his films and documentaries that illuminate Pittsburgh in surprising yet perfectly understandable ways. He's done a lot with his unique works to showcase the city as the crazy, great place it is.
He's also credited by Pittsburgh PBS member station WQED as being a significant factor in its continuing financial solvency. Hundreds of thousands of copies of his works have been given to donors during pledge drives.
To see a Sebak film is to see a real slice of Pittsburgh. Go for it.
Feature Image Source: Flickr user daveynin
Did we miss anything? Tell us what you think is unique about Pittsburgh in the comments below! 
