Philly Slang: Learn How to Speak in Philadelphia

Key takeaways:

• Philly slang is used in Philadelphia, U.S.
• It’s heavily influenced by the city’s culture, with many of the most common slang words relating to food, sports, and places of interest.
• There are some differences in slang and accent in different parts and neighborhoods of Philadelphia, such as West Philly and South Philly.
• Popular Philly slang words include “hoagie,” “the Birds,” “wooder,” “jawn,” and “bul.”

From British to Canadian to Aussie slang, different parts of the world have their own unique ways of speaking. And one of the most linguistically interesting places in the world is none other than Philadelphia, a famous city in the United States.

In this article, we’re going to dive deep into the Philly slang and accent, discuss its impact on Philadelphia culture, and teach you some useful words that will help you blend in anywhere from West to Northeast Philadelphia.

The sound of Philly: Philly accent and slang

Even if you speak perfect English, visiting Philadelphia for the first time may still come as a shock to you. The local vocabulary and pronunciation are so unique that you’ve probably never heard anything like it before. In fact, the Philadelphia accent is so distinctive that it’s actually the most studied accent in all of the U.S. 

There are several sounds that Philly natives make that differ from other English accents. These are:

• Canadian rising: The Philly accent has some similarities to the way Canadians speak. Philadelphians elongate simple vowels and turn them into diphthongs. This happens with words such as “about,” “fight,” and “like.”
• Long “ee:” In Philly, words like “beautiful” and “sitting” are pronounced with a long “ee” sound (think “beauteeful” or “seetting”).
• Missing consonants: Some may think that Philadelphians are prone to mumbling, but the truth is that they just sometimes drop consonants from words. For example, the word “handbag” can be pronounced as “hanbag.”
• Rhotic R’s: Philadelphia natives usually pronounce their R’s, just like Scottish and Irish people do. The only exception to this is South Philadelphia, where some may not pronounce their R’s.
• Rounded O’s: If you want to sound like a Philly native, turn every “on” into an “awn.”

Neighborhood influence: West Philly, South Philadelphia, and beyond

You may think that Philadelphia is just a singular city, but with a population of over 1.5 million, it’s far from a monolith. Different Philly neighborhoods have their own unique slang words and accents. Let’s take a closer look at what each part of Philly sounds like.

South Philadelphia has perhaps the most famous Philly accent. This is the same accent that Sylvester Stallone uses when he plays Rocky Balboa. It’s slightly exaggerated, and it’s usually the accent most people mimic when they’re trying to sound like they’re from Philadelphia.

But the South Philly accent isn’t the only famous accent from the area. Have you ever heard the words “In West Philadelphia born and raised?” It’s the lyrics to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song. So it should come as no surprise that Will Smith uses the West Philly accent in the show. 

In general, West Philadelphia has a large Black population. This means that this specific Philly accent is often tied to Black culture, whereas the South Philly accent is more commonly associated with white people.

But while there are some differences between the individual Philly neighborhoods, some experts argue that these differences aren’t as clear-cut as they may seem. Reportedly, most white Philadelphians sound similar, whether they’re from South or Northeast Philadelphia. Black people from Philly display more differences in the way they speak, but some Philadelphians will still claim that, at the end of the day, everyone from Philly sounds just about the same.

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Philly slang and local culture: Food, sports, and daily life

Many of the most common Philadelphia slang words are related to local culture. Philadelphians aren’t just known for exaggerated pronunciation. What makes Philly so unique is its delicious food, winning sports teams, and many unusual locations.

Let’s start with food. Here’s what (and how) you should order your lunch when visiting Philly:

• Cheesesteak: A Philadelphia cheesesteak is a sandwich consisting of thinly sliced beef and melted cheese (usually Cheez Whiz, American cheese, or provolone).
• Hoagie: This is what Philadelphians call a classic submarine or hero sandwich.
• Whiz: Cheese Whiz (or cheese wiz) is a kind of cheese sauce that you’ll often find on a cheesesteak.
• Whiz wit: When a Philly person orders a “whiz wit,” they want their cheesesteak to come with both melted cheese and grilled onions. If you want to skip the onions, you can say “whiz witout" instead.
• Wooder ice: Wooder ice is also known as water ice, and it’s a sweet, cold dessert made with ice, sugar, and fruit.

As we mentioned earlier, Philly is also known for its sports scene. Here are some terms you should know before visiting the city:

• The Birds: The Birds is the nickname of the Philadelphia Eagles, the city’s American football team.
• The Iggles: Another nickname for the Philadelphia Eagles.
• The Fightins: A nickname for Philadelphia’s baseball team, which is officially called the Philadelphia Phillies.
• The Linc: A slang term for Lincoln Financial Field, an open-air American football stadium in Philadelphia.

Finally, there are a couple of other terms and slang words that you’ll need when going about your daily life in Philly:

• Center City: The business and cultural center of Philadelphia.
• CHOP: CHOP stands for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which is known as one of the best pediatric hospitals in the U.S. Philadelphians will often refer to the building when navigating around the city (for example, something may be “just outside of CHOP”).
• The El: The El is the Market-Frankford Line. It’s called “the El” because it’s an elevated train. The El is known for its lovely views of the city.
• MAC: MAC stands for Money Access Center, which is a network of ATM machines founded by the Philadelphia National Bank. Instead of saying "ATM," Philadelphians may point you to a "MAC machine."
• The Main Line: This is a rich neighborhood in Philadelphia. It’s named after the historical Main Line route of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
• No-Libs: A lively area north of Center City known as Northern Liberties.
• Yunk: Yunk is short for Manayunk, a neighborhood known for its many restaurants and bars.

Common Philly slang words and their meanings

Now that you know your way around Philly food, spots, and places of interest, it’s time to take a look at some of the most common Philadelphia slang words. While some of these slang terms may also be used in other places, most are specific to Philadelphia. So don’t worry if you’ve never heard of them before. That’s what this guide is for!

Embracing Philly slang: Why it matters

While all these Philly terms are definitely interesting, do they actually matter? Why should you bother learning them? Won’t Philadelphia natives understand you, no matter what words you use?

It’s true that you can get by in Philly without knowing all those unique words and phrases. But if you’re going to be staying in the city for some time, it’s good to embrace the local culture. If your new friends want to take you to the Jersey Shore, they might be very impressed if you immediately say the phrase “down the shore” instead of “to the beach.”

But it’s about more than impressing the locals. The Philly accent and slang have a long, rich history. These days, it’s easy for local curiosities to disappear due to globalization and migration, but Philly has been able to keep its uniqueness going. This is something that should be celebrated, and by learning about it, we can help this fascinating culture stay around for even longer.

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If you’re traveling to Philadelphia, knowing Philly terms won’t be enough to get by. You’ll also have to have a good grasp of the English language in general. That’s where Promova comes in.

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Final thoughts

Philadelphia is a place with a unique culture, accent, and vocabulary. Whether you’re coming from the West Coast or the other side of the world, knowing some of the most common slang terms will definitely come in handy when you arrive in Philly.