Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

OK, all of you traveling to our fair city.
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?"

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; when made with shredded beef, it's an Italian Beef sammich, a local delicacy consisting of piles of spicy meat in a
soggy bun. (Editor's note-the soggy bun is the best part!

4. 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.
5. 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 Jewel to pick up some sassage."
6. Field's: Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago department store. Also Carson Pirie Scott, another major department store chain, is simply called "Carson's."
7. Tree: The number between two and four.
8. 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 Jewel down on Kedzie, over by dere."
10. KaminskiPark: The mispronounced name of the ballpark where the Chicago White Sox (da Sox) play baseball. Comiskey Park was
recently renamed U.S. Cellular Field (yuck!)
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 near The Lake, south of The Zoo (Lincoln Park Zoo) and north of Soldier Field.
14. The Lake: Lake Michigan. (What other lake is there?)
15. BoysTown: A section on Halsted between Belmont and Addison which is lined with gay bars both sides of the street. "Didn't I see use in BoysTown in front of da Manhole?"
16. Braht: Short for Bratwurst. "Gimme a braht wit kraut."
17. Cashbox: Traffic reporter slang for tollbooths. "Dere's a delay at da cashbox on da Skyway."
18. Goes: Past or present tense of the verb "say." For example, "Then he goes, 'I like this place'!"
19. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender.
20. Pop: A soft drink. Don't say "soda" in this town. "Do ya wanna canna pop?"
21. Sliders: Nickname for hamburgers from White Castle, a popular Midwestern burger chain. "Dose sliders I had last night gave me da runs."
22. 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.
23. "Jieetyet?": Translates to, "Did you eat yet?"
24. Winter and Construction: Punch line to the joke, "What are the two seasons in Chicago?"
25. 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.
26. 588-2300: Everyone in Chicago knows this commercial jingle and the carpet company you'll get if you call that number -- Empire!
27. Junk Djor: You will usually find the 'junk drawer' in the kitchen filled to the brim with miscellaneous, but very important, junk.
28. Southern Illinois: Anything south of I-80.
29. Expressways: The Interstates in the immediate Chicagoland area are usually known just by their 'name' and not their Interstate number: the Dan Ryan ("the Ryan"), the Stevenson, the Kennedy, the
Eisenhower (the "Ike"), and the Edens.
30. Gym Shoes: The rest of the country may refer to them as sneakers or running shoes but Chicagoans will always call them gym
> shoes.

Now use guys are ready to enjoy your trip over by the Lake!