Pop, Soda Or Coke? The Fizzy History Behind America’s Favorite Linguistic Debate

Study Finds ^ | August 24, 2025 | Valerie M. Fridland, University of Nevada, Reno

[fidelis]

“Soda Pop” does too..

Yeah, "soda pop" always sounds to me like something Barney Fife might say.

[KC Burke]

I grew up in the fifties in the Kansas side suburbs of Kansas City. Most of my school mates called it soda-pop. New kids from elsewhere thought it odd.

[KC Burke]

I grew up in the fifties in the Kansas side suburbs of Kansas City. Most of my school mates called it soda-pop. New kids from elsewhere thought it odd.

[reed13k]

SW Indiana it was always either pop or coke (little c as in generic).

[reed13k]

In Japan the ramune bottles are still made like this with the little ball stopper....you can find it in some stores in the US now, mainly asian marts and such.

[GingisK]

Well, that is kind of amazing! I’m going to look for some of those. Thank you!

[SunkenCiv]

I thought THG had done something with this, but noticed nothing.

https://www.youtube.com/@TheHistoryGuyChannel/videos
https://www.youtube.com/@TheHistoryGuyChannel/search?query=soda

[Pollard]

Parents and therefor us kids growing up called it that but I’m not sure the source. Either a MA Yankee thing or my parents having been born in the 1920s.

[Fido969]

It’s definitely a Mass thing.

[citizen]

Southern speak: cold drink (or drank)

[clearcarbon]

"“Soda Pop” does too................."

I recall a Nesbitt Orange radio commercial, probably from the 60s, that called it that...

"Nes-s-s-s-bit O-range, s-o-o-da pop." (pop!)

Cute jingle.

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

I grew up in “pop” country. When I moved to the south someone asked me if I wanted a coke - I said I’d prefer a Mountain Dew if you have one. Just looked at me like I was crazy.

[yesthatjallen]

Nesbitt's Orange Soda POP Commercials

[clearcarbon]

"Nesbitt's Orange Soda POP Commercials"

Close enough. Thanks!

[sasquatch]

If I recall a knockout from an electrical box was a good starting point.
Foil from a gum wrapper slid into the right place in the right side of a pay phone could generate a dial tone.
A friend used a coil and recorder to get the characteristics of coins dropped into a pay phone. A little analysis with an o’scope gave him enough info to build a box to recreate the tone patterns. He used it once to verify that it worked, called it his ‘wooden nickel’ then stored it.

[Migraine]

Hmmm... Interesting. Thanks for the Fact Check.