Here are 10 hilarious sayings you’ll only hear in Pennsylvania, each packed with local flavor and charm:
1. Yinz
A uniquely Pennsylvania term used mainly in Pittsburgh as the plural form of “you.” Instead of “you all,” Pittsburghers say “yinz.” For example, “Yinz wanna go dahntahn?” means “Do you all want to go downtown?”
2. Jagoff
A colorful insult found mostly in Western Pennsylvania. It means a jerk or someone annoying. If someone cuts you off on the road, you might mutter, “What a jagoff!”
3. Nebby
A word for someone who’s nosy or meddlesome. If your neighbor is always peeking over the fence or asking too many questions, you might say, “That nebby neighbor is at it again.”
4. Redd Up
Derived from Pennsylvania Dutch, “redd up” means to tidy or clean up. You might hear, “You better redd up your room before company comes.”
5. Wooder
A funny local pronunciation of “water.” In Philly and some other areas, people ask for a cold “wooder ice” instead of Italian ice.
6. Jawn
A versatile Philly word that can refer to anything—a person, place, or thing. For example, “Pass me that jawn” could mean anything from a phone to a sandwich.
7. Hoagie
Pennsylvania’s beloved sandwich is a “hoagie,” not a sub or hero. It’s distinguished by its cold meats, cheeses, and a drizzle of olive oil.
8. Jeet?
A slang contraction for “Did you eat yet?” It’s a quick way to ask if someone has had their meal, showing the local dialect’s casual efficiency.
9. Buggy
In some parts of Pennsylvania, especially Dutch Country, a “buggy” is the term for a shopping cart. “Grab a buggy for the groceries” is perfectly normal talk.
10. Outen the Lights
A charming Pennsylvania Dutch-influenced phrase meaning “turn off the lights.” As in “Don’t forget to outen the lights when you leave.”
These sayings are just a few examples of the rich linguistic traditions in Pennsylvania, blending English, German, Irish, and more, often with humorous twists that locals take pride in.
Sources
(https://gantnews.com/2025/04/27/your-glossary-of-pennsylvania-sayings-and-slang/)
(https://www.reddit.com/r/Pennsylvania/comments/fhyk67/hello_pennsylvania_slang_and_unique_phrases/)
(https://wheninyourstate.com/pennsylvania/12-phrases-youll-only-understand-if-you-live-in-pennsylvania/)
