Chicago Slang

1. Grachki (grach'-key): Chicagoese for 'garage key' as in, 'Yo, Theresa, waja do wit da grachki? Howmy supposta cut da grass if I don't git intada grach? (we had a garchki, but the garchki was actually for the house)

2. Sammich: Chicagoese for sandwich. When made with sausage, it's a sassage sammich; when made with shredded beef, it's an Italian Beef sammich, a local delicacy consisting of piles of spicy meat in a perilously soggy bun. (Nuttin' and I mean NUTTIN' beats a good Italian --pronounced EYE-Talian--beef sandwich!)

3. Da: This article is a key part of Chicago speech, as in 'Da Bears' or 'Da Mare' -- the latter denoting Richard M. Daley, or Richie, as he's often called. (Also works when saying DAT idiot cut me owff wit his cahr")

4. Jewels: Not family heirlooms or a tender body region, but a popular name for one of the region's dominant grocery store chains. 'I'm goin' to the Jewels to pick up some sassage.' (Or Domincks...which every is closer really, except I think Domincks is owned by "the family...")

5. Field's: Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago department store (that no longer exists).?? Also Carson Pirie Scott, another major department store chain, is simply called Carson 's.'

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

7. Over by dere: Translates to 'over by there,' a way of emphasizing a site presumed familiar to the listener. As in, 'I got the sassage at the Jewels down on Kedzie, over by dere. (Oh my lands, I have actually said these words!!!)

8. Kaminski Park : The mispronounced name of the ballpark where the Chicago White Sox (da Sox) play baseball. Comiskey Park was renamed U.S. Cellular Field (da Cell) (Not to be confused with Wrigley, which fell from grace in my eyes when dey put dem lights up in da '80's)

9. Frunchroom: As in, 'Get outta da frunchroom wit dose muddy shoes.' It's not the 'parlor.' It's not the 'living room.' Its the room in the front of the house. (yeah, the Front room...isnt that odd that its called that. It was the room that we didnt really live in, but that we sat in with guests and when people came over or we had parties.)

10. Use: Not the verb, but the plural pronoun 'you!' 'Where use goin'?' (see also, "Can I go wit youse?")

11. Downtown: Anywhere near The Lake, south of The Zoo (Lincoln Park Zoo) and north of Soldier Field.

12. The Lake: Lake Michigan (What other lake is there?) It's often used by local weathermen, 'cooler by The Lake.'

14. Braht: Short for Bratwurst. 'Gimme a braht wit kraut.

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

16. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender. (seriously, I didnt break this habit until I was in college....its not gender specific. Works well when coupled with YOUSE as in YOUSE GUYS.)

17. Pop: A soft drink. Don't say 'soda' in this town. 'Do ya wanna canna pop?' (Right, and here in Florida all soda is a Coke. Its "hey, do you want a Coke?" "Yeah" "What kind?" "Sprite")

18. Sliders: Nickname for hamburgers from White Castle , a popular Midwestern burger chain. 'Dose sliders I had last night gave me da runs.' (MANY MANY a midnight snack during the college years after being out on the town...ick...just thinking of it makes my stomach gurgle...they taste so good at midnight or one am but then...ICK!!!)

19.. The Taste: The Taste of Chicago Festival, a huge extravaganza in Grant Park featuring samples of Chicagoland cuisine which takes place each year around the Fourth of July holiday.(Ya gotta take da train downtown to the Taste...its amazing in the summer. And HOT...oh my lands...)

20. 'Jeetyet?': Translates to, 'Did you eat yet?

21. Winter and Construction: Punch line to the joke, 'What are the two seasons in Chicago ? (BWHAAhahahahah!!!!!)

'22. Cuppa Too-Tree: is Chicagoese for 'a couple, two, three' which really means 'a few.' For example, 'Hey Mike, dere any beerz left in da cooler over by dere?''Yeh, a cuppa too-tree.' (why is this making me laugh so hard...because its stinking SO TRUE!!!! I can remember having an argument with someone that this was an awful way to talk because actually a couple was NOT three...)

23. 588-2300:? Everyone in Chicago knows this commercial jingle and the carpet company you'll get if you call that number -- Empire! (Hands down THE most annoying commercial ever to hit the airwaves!!!)

24 Junk Dror: You will usually find the 'junk drawer' in the kitchen filled to the brim with miscellaneous, but very important, junk. (wait...everyone doesnt have a junk dror????)

25 Expressways: The Interstates in the immediate Chicagoland area are usually known just by their 'name' and not their Interstate number: the Dan Ryan ('da Ryan'), the Stevenson, the Kennedy (da 'Kennedy'), the Eisenhower (da 'Ike'), and the Edens (just 'Edens' but Da Edens' is also acceptable).

27. Gym Shoes: The rest of the country may refer to them as sneakers or running shoes but Chicagoans will always call them gym shoes! ( I actually never called them sneakers until I moved down south...I still occassionally call them gym shoes to the girl)