How to communicate with us Chicagoians...

EchoOfOphelia

New Member
Original Poster
I know there was a similar thread to this, but this is a new one that I just got e-mailed to me... plus... I'm to lazy to look for the old thread :)

How to speak Chicagoese..

1. Grachki (grach'-key) is Chicago for "Garage Key" as in, "Yo, Theresa, waja do wit da grachki? Howmy supposta cut da grass if don't git intada grach?''

2. Uptadaendada (up-ta-da-en'-dada) as in, "Joey, you kin ride yur bike uptadaendada alley but not acrost or I'll bust yur butt..."

3. Sammich. Chicagoese for sandwich. When made with sausage, it's a sassage sammich; with shredded beef, it's an Italian beef sammich, a local delicacy consisting of piles of spicy meat in a perilously soggy bun.

4. Da. The definite article is a key part of Chicago speech, as in "da tree bears" or "da Mare" -- the latter denoting, for as long as he wants it to, Richard M. Daley, or Richie, as he's often known.

5. Jewels. Not family heirlooms or a tender body region, but a popular appellation for one of the region's dominant grocery chains, to wit, I'm goin' to da Jewels to pick up some sassage." As in most Chicago pluralizations, the "S" is pronounced with a hissing sound, rather than the usual "Z" sound of American pluralization.

6. Field's: Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago department store. Also Carson Pirie Scott, a major department store chain, is called "Carson's," etc.

7.Tree. The number between two and four. "We were lucky dat we only got tree inches of snow da udder night"

8. Prairie. A vacant lot, especially one on which weeds are growing.

9. Over by dere. i.e. "over by there," a prolix way of emphasizing a site presumed familiar to the listener. As in, "I got the sassage at da Jewels down on Kedzie, over by dere.'

10. KaminskiPark. Perhaps the high concentration of ethnic Poles makes people want the White Sox to be playing in this mythical ballpark, rather than in their true home, Cellular Field formerly known as Comiskey Park.

11. Frunchroom as in, "Getottada frunchroom wit dose muddy shoes.'' It's not the " parlor." It's not the "living room." In the land of the Bungalow, it's the "frunchroom," a named derived, linguists believe, from "front room."

12. Use. Not the verb but the plural pronoun "you". "Where's use goin'?"

13. Downtown. Anywhere south of the zoo and north of Soldier Field near the lake.

14. BoysTown: A section on Halsted Ave., between Belmont and Addison, which is lined with gay bars on the west and east sides of the street. "Didn't I see uze in Boystown in front of da Manhole?"

15. Braht: Short for Bratwurst. "gimme a braht wit kraut"

16. Cashbox: Traffic reporter slang for tollbooths. "Dere's a delay at da cashbox on da Skyway"

17. Goes: Past or present tense of the verb "say." For example, "Then he goes, 'I like this place'!"

18. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender.

19. Pop: A soft drink. Don't say "soda" in this town. "what kinda pop you got?"

20. Sliders: Nickname for hamburgers from White Castle, a popular Midwestern burger chain "Dose sliders I had last night gave me da runs"

21. The Taste: The annual Taste of Chicago Festival, a huge extravaganza in Grant Park featuring samples of Chicagoland's fine cuisine. Takes place around and before the Fourth of July holiday.

22. "Jieetyet": this is used to ask "did you eat yet"?

23. Winter and Construction: Punch-line to the joke, "what are the two seasons in Chicago?"
 

DMC-12

It's HarmonioUS, NOT HarmoniYOU.
Originally posted by EchoOfOphelia
How to speak Chicagoese..

1. Grachki
3. Sammich
6. Field's
9. Over by dere
11. Frunchroom

14. BoysTown: A section on Halsted Ave., between Belmont and Addison, which is lined with gay bars on the west and east sides of the street. "Didn't I see uze in Boystown in front of da Manhole?"

15. Braht: Short for Bratwurst. [/B]


:lol:
Well... its not everyday one gets to Reference club "Manhole" into a post here at WDWMagic :lol:

I use 1,3,6,9,11, and 15 quite often... 1. is more like "Grachdooropner" for me though... :)

Great list...:lol: funny stuff. :) :wave:
 
Originally posted by EchoOfOphelia

6. Field's: Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago department store. Also Carson Pirie Scott, a major department store chain, is called "Carson's," etc.

Okay so I do this! So true!

7.Tree. The number between two and four. "We were lucky dat we only got tree inches of snow da udder night"
I do not do this but right now in my clinicals at a hospital I always sort of laugh when I have an elderly man doing exercises and counting aloud, no doubt they all do it , "one, two, tree, four"

11. Frunchroom as in, "Getottada frunchroom wit dose muddy shoes.'' It's not the " parlor." It's not the "living room." In the land of the Bungalow, it's the "frunchroom," a named derived, linguists believe, from "front room."
Yep its the frunchroom, most of the frunchrooms I have seen are just for presentation, if there are couches, they are not sat on, the carpet looks brand new, etc...

13. Downtown. Anywhere south of the zoo and north of Soldier Field near the lake.
You could say I look downtown even though it is technically 5 miles away from my apt.

14. BoysTown: A section on Halsted Ave., between Belmont and Addison, which is lined with gay bars on the west and east sides of the street. "Didn't I see uze in Boystown in front of da Manhole?"
Everyone calls it that!


16. Cashbox: Traffic reporter slang for tollbooths. "Dere's a delay at da cashbox on da Skyway"
?????I never heard of this????????

17. Goes: Past or present tense of the verb "say." For example, "Then he goes, 'I like this place'!"
Of course!

18. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender.
Hey guys, this is a cool post btw.

19. Pop: A soft drink. Don't say "soda" in this town. "what kinda pop you got?"
Haven't we been over this already, lol

21. The Taste: The annual Taste of Chicago Festival, a huge extravaganza in Grant Park featuring samples of Chicagoland's fine cuisine. Takes place around and before the Fourth of July holiday.
Coming up, less than a month now, yum!

22. "Jieetyet": this is used to ask "did you eat yet"?
And while you mention it, I am kinda hungry...

:zipit:
 

tigsmom

Well-Known Member
OMG... "Where youse guys goin wit my garachkis?"
(NY version).

My kids have been eating sammiches for years!!!

:lol:
 

mandib

Member
Yup that is how we talk. Plus everything is 15 min. away no matter where your going. lol Oh and now we're in construction season! Aah I'm going to scream soon. I mean every year in the same places. Couldn't they just fix it right the 1st time? Oh and it's pop for all of you who say soda. Pop! Get it right! lol
 

EchoOfOphelia

New Member
Original Poster
:lol: I liked this list.. very true :)

My mother (jokingly of course :D ) always used to say, "I'm gonna giv ya a knuckle sammich" We thought it was funny :lol:
 

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