The Philly Talk "Slango" (Slang) List
How we talk in Philadelphia

Compiled with help from Philly Talk original member Dee, "The DEEva of Diction"

More on this page:

• Sentence examples
• Local names defined
• Feedback

More on this site

• Page 2 - Archived content from Claudio
• Page 3 - Archived content from Stu Bykofsky

Yo! Yeah you. Fasten your brain cells! You’re about to embark on a truly rewarding experience of learning a new language. Although Philly Slango is indigenous to Philadelphians, one can learn this exciting new language in less time than it takes to eat a famous Philly Cheesesteak. The good news is you don’t need a Ph.D. in English to speak this "slanguage". In fact, the less viable brain function you have, the more expeditiously you’ll conquer this pursuit. Just take out your teeth and go for it.

• E went dahnashure, but his wife woont let him geaow ta da casinas
  for e would spend a couplea hunnert ollars. (He went down the shore but his wife won't let him go to the casinos for he would spend a coulple of hundred dollars.)
• She fell awna paymint caus she dint see da crack. (She fell on the pavement because she didn't see the crack.)
• I dint think da Iggles would win any games lasch year. ( I didn't think the Eagles would win any games last year.)

Local Names Defined

• Bala: Welsh for "where river flows from lake."
• Bryn Mawr: Wlesh for "great hill." Roland Ellis of Wales settled here and named the land for his ancestral home.
• Conshohocken: Either "pleasant valley" or a version of Native American "guneu-schigi-hacki" - "long, fine land.
• Cynwyd: Welsh for "lively and ferocious.:
• Juniata: "standing stone people."
• King of Prussia: The Prussians built a brewery here in honor of their King Fredereick.
• Kingsessing: Native American for "place where there should be a meadow."
• Passyunk: Native Americans called the land between the Delaware and Schuykill rivers "Pachsegink" or "Pachsegonk" -- "a valley or place between hills."
• Schuykill: Its' roots are Dutch, not Native American and it means "hidden stream," not "toxic tributary."
• Wissinoming: Native American for "where we were frightened," derived from the Wissinoming Creek. Some daring historians theorize native were scared by something at the creek.

"Local Names" list, originally from Philly Magazine
used with permission - Link to Philly Mag

Feedback email:

February 2008

I am from N.E. Philly born and raised. I know my name makes people think other wise, but its my name. Anyway I agree with some of the people on here. Yes some I would agree to be true but there are many on here that I do not. Are from Philly? Were did you grow up around? I agree certain sections of the city the slang seems stronger but not all over and not as bad as you put it out here to be ..sorry but you should redo this page or at least listen to what we have to say.
Billie Jo

Thanks Billie Jo, I agree, some of it sounds over the top but every single one is or has been spoken that way by real people! I grew up in the Northeast just like you and while our corner of the city had a dialect that was mild in comparison many others had accents much thicker. I do appreciate your comments and feedback.

 

August 2007
I too have moved from Philly (actually Clifton Heights)and now live in Illinois. I still say "wood-er", soda, and many more. I now have my four year old granddaughter correct me! There are so many sayings that we just are not aware of, but when the news is on, and something from Philly is being highlighted, I catch that sound in their voices, and cry. Sites like yours are what all of us homesick people cling to! My all time favorite? "Ja'eet?S'go"...translation, "did you eat? Let's go"!!
Mary Spotts

Thanks Mary, I get corrected by my own kids sometimes. My wife and I just laugh at ourselves. Hey, to US we don't sound funny!

 

August 2007
I am in the Coast Guard, one day I am in a room with people from all over the country, telling a story and I say....

"I had to stop at WAWA and hit the MAC..."

The room was silent.... A girl finally spoke up and said "What's a Wawa?" and then... "What's a MAC?"

From Tommy Brabe

Thanks Tom, I figured those were universal terms but you're right. How sad is it that the rest of the country don't have a WaWa to go to?

 

June 2007
Regarding Culvert/Colbin/Sewer
I am mortified that all my life I have been using the word 'COLBIN.' I was raised deep in South Philadelphia and sometimes we threw things down the colbin becuase we didn't want to smell up our trash cans.
I just learned that the correct word is CULVERT. Where in God's name did we get colbin?
I almost want to say.....how cheap!

From "T"
Thanks T, Coming to grips with how we "tawk" is always a rude shock.

 

June 2007
AH - LEN - EE = OLNEY(is neighborhood, in case ya didnt know)
but anytime it "happens" to be on the news is always OL-NEY

from Stacey

Thanks Stacey, My wife's grandparents lived in Olney. I never had reason to even say the word until I met her so I asked her to say the name today and sure enough see says "Olenee" !!

 

April 2007
I moved to Southern Illinois and no-one....no-one understands me when I say "GeHead" for go ahead and do something...People laugh or say "What did you say?"
Very frustrating that people do not get Philly tawk. Cawfee is another one. They say cOooffee with this long drawn out o.
I love our dialect...

from philly forever,
Debbie Arnold

Thanks Debbie, Wherever we go our dialect will stick out and sound funny. I guess they don't realize how funny they sound to US.

 

February 2007
We also have “Green ivory” growing on our brick and stone walls and Philly is the only city where you can get “Ivey poison”. This is classic slang for the city people.
Rick Nagel

Thanks Nick, It took me a few seconds to get the one about "Ivey Poison" but you are so right on that one.

 

December 2006
One could make intresting comparison to Glasgow slang and Philly slang. In Glasgow they have something called "The Patter" which doesn similar word mutilations.
Jan Snyder

 

August 2006
I grew up in Kensington near a carpet factory and some kitting mills. We always played stick ball against the mill walls. This topic actually came up while I was working in Buffalo and we were comparing idioms from Buffalo and Philadelphia. I did a Google search on Philly slang and found your site. Regarding Colbin as a sewer - where I grew up it was known as a Colbert and if our pinkies or pimple balls went down there - we use a wire hanger or held someone by their arms and lowered them into it to retrieve the ball. Usually when we were playing boxball or wireball.
Tom Burke

Thanks Tom, I remember holding buddies by their ankles and lowering them down the manhole, usually the lightest kid. I was too big but I could lift any manhole by first digging the dirt out of the little nook and using one finger.

 

June 2005
I was reading the "slango" you have on your website. Makes me wonder if you are really from Philadelphia. I am from Philadelphia, born and raised. I think some of the slang you have on your website is funnyand true, but most of it I think you exaggerated just a little bit.
Example Warsh-wash?!?
Arn-iron?!?
My-zil-may as well?!? what person from Philly uses "MAY" in their vocabulary?!
Ward-er-water?!? Most of us say "Wood-er" not "Ward-er"

Brooke D.

Thanks Brooke, after looking at the original notes and your email I made some changes.
BTW - Yes I was born and raised in Philly ... from the northeast, Whataboutchew?

 

November 2002
Thank you for that slango list! My husband (from the South Jersey/Philly area) and I have discussed the Philly accent for years!! You forgot "beggles" for bagels. What a fun page!
Thanks,
Sarah.

 

May 2002
Dear Webmaster,
I feel the need to let you know that as a native born Philadelphian, I am appalled by this webpage (The "Slango" page). Although we are known for our unique accent, just as Bostonians are known for theirs, it does not mean that every word is pronounced incorrectly. Those educated know better. You are giving people the impression that Philadelphia is a city full of moronic people, and I am trying to fight against that.
Sincerely,
Pissed off

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