How to talk right in Chicago

August 20, 2003 | from an e-mail

[Chi-townChief]

1. Grachki (grach'-key) is Chicago for "Garage Key" as in, "Yo, Theresa, waja do wit da grachki? Howmy supposta cut da grass if 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; with shredded beef, it's an Italian beef sammich, a local delicacy consisting of piles of spicy meat in a perilously soggy bun.

4. Da. The definite article is a key part of Chicago speech, as in "da tree bears" or "da Mare" -- the latter denoting, or as long as he wants it to, Richard M. Daley, or Richie, as he's often known.

5. Jewels. Not family heirlooms or a tender body region, but a popular appellation for one of the region's dominant grocery chains, to wit, "I'm goin' to da Jewels to pick up some sassage." As in most Chicago pluralizations, the "S" is pronounced with a hissing sound, rather than the usual "Z" sound of American pluralization.

6. Field's: Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago department store.  Also Carson Pirie Scott, a major department store chain, is called "Carson's," etc.

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

8. Prairie. A vacant lot, especially one on which weeds are growing.

9. Over by dere. i.e. "over by there," a prolix way of emphasizing a site presumed familiar to the listener. As in, "I got the sassage at da Jewels down on Kedzie, over by dere.'

10. KaminskiPark. Perhaps the high concentration of ethnic Poles makes people want the White Sox to be playing in this mythical ballpark, rather than in their true home, Cellular Field formerly known as Comiskey Park.

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 south of the zoo and north of Soldier Field near the lake.

14. BoysTown: A section on Halsted Ave., between Belmont and Addison, which is lined with gay bars on the west and east sides of the street. "Didn't I see uze in Boystown in front of da Manhole?"

15. Braht: Short for Bratwurst. "gimme a braht wit kraut"

16. Cashbox: Traffic reporter slang for tollbooths.  "Dere's a delay at da cashbox on da Skyway"

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

18. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender.

19. Pop: A soft drink. Don't say "soda" in this town. "what kinda pop you got?"

20. Sliders: Nickname for hamburgers from White Castle, a popular Midwestern burger chain "Dose sliders I had last night gave me da runs"

21. The Taste: The annual Taste of Chicago Festival, a huge extravaganza in Grant Park featuring samples of Chicagoland's fine cuisine.  Takes place around and before the Fourth of July holiday.

22. "Jieetyet": this is used to ask "did you eat yet"?

23. Winter and Construction: Punch-line to the joke, "what are the two seasons in Chicago?"

[Chi-townChief]

When I lived in Da Heights, the Brown Onion way down towards the very south end of Halsted Street was the place to go for underaged drinking; you didn't even need the fake ID. BTW "The Night Chicago Died" was by Paper Lace, I think, although I'm not sure why I remember that.

[Chi-townChief]

Being from Cleveland originally, Little Italy to me always meant Murray Hill where my mother's side of the family is from. Also on the east side of town.

[TheRightGuy]

If you look at the addresses for all those Little Italy restaurants you linked to, you'll notice they're all on WEST Taylor Street. Actually, to native Chicagoans it's know as the Little Village, not Little Italy. Perhaps you've become confused with the lower east side of Manhattan?

There is a southeast side to Chicago but it's referred to by its neighborhood names: South Shore, Calumet Park, Hegewisch, etc.

[carlo3b]

If you look at the addresses for all those Little Italy restaurants you linked to, you'll notice they're all on WEST Taylor Street. Actually, to native Chicagoans it's know as the Little Village, not Little Italy. Perhaps you've become confused with the lower east side of Manhattan?

My dear friend.. Take a breath, and relax.. What in the HELL are you talking about, I was born and raised in Chicago's Little Italy, not in SOHO. READ the title of the page you are referring to .. it's called LITTLE ITALY

Of course I know I grew up on Taylor street, and yes the addresses are West, but the neighborhood was called near west, or the east side, perhaps in reference to most the rest of the population was in fact west of that area. I can't explain the reason, but I stand on the FACT it was called an east-side neighborhood, anymore than I can explain that most of Bridgeport being east and north of the Stockyards, but called, back-of-the-yards!

[prairie dog]

Luke Appling bump!

[Boiler Plate]

The only thing I ever put ketchup on is macaroni and cheese. That would be from the Pittsburgh side of the family and there is only one kind of ketchup.

[Boiler Plate]

Here is a slice of heaven.

http://journal.dawneileen.net/archives/000846.html

You just made me realize why I hate ketchup on hot dogs.

[Boiler Plate]

Now I am suspisious. Chicagoans don't spell ketchup the same way Heinz does. In Chicago it is spelled C-A-T-S-U-P. Are you really from Chicago?

[TheRightGuy]

Carlo, my dear friend, I stand corrected. There is a chicago neighborhood known as East Side. BUT it's nowhere near Little Italy (see the lower righthand area of this map.

And again, you are correct. Bridgeport is north and east of where the stockyards were -- BUT it has never been referred to a "Back of the Yards". Southern boundary of Bridgeport is Pershing Road (39th Street) -- which is the NORTHERN border of the old "Back of the Yards" neighborhood which is now pretty much referred to as New City. Check out this link defining the retail center of Back of the Yards as 47th & Ashland -- quite a ways from Bridgeport.

[Impy]

I don't sound like that, do I? :-o

But it's right on a couple things:

1)Soda means baking soda.
2)There are only 2 seasons.

[martin_fierro]

"Cmaahn! Move yer *&%#! caar, fer cryin' out loud!"

My sister-in-law from Chicaaaahgoh says, "fer cry eye!"

One of the stranger things I've ever heard.

[carlo3b]

And again, you are correct. Bridgeport is north and east of where the stockyards were -- BUT it has never been referred to a "Back of the Yards". Southern boundary of Bridgeport is Pershing Road (39th Street) -- which is the NORTHERN border of the old "Back of the Yards" neighborhood which is now pretty much referred to as New City. Check out this link defining the retail center of Back of the Yards as 47th & Ashland -- quite a ways from Bridgeport.

Are you still arguing with me about what my neighborhood was called.. jerk? Little Village my A$$! Ha!

Now you have a new bone to bury.. "Bridgeport, and The Back Of The Yards"
Mayor Daley lived on 35th and Lowe Ave., his entire life, the 11th ward.. called "the back of the yards". 4 Blocks south of your imaginary line.  We moved to 37th, and Union, 2 blocks away, when the Univ. of Chicago, plowed up my home in LITTLE ITALY, and my phone # had a Yards prefix.. The entire neighborhood was call , "BACK OF THE YARDS", and "BRIDGEPORT", I delivered the Bridgeport News, from their offices at Halsted and 36th St.. DUH!. The two names were almost synonymous, virtually ONE AND THE SAME.  I don't care what your phony "Neighborhood Council" website says. Why in the world would you make such a fool of yourself arguing with me like this, about my own town..

Take a hike my dear whatever, I have real doubt if you ever lived in Chicago, and frankly I could give a $hit!  .. This discussion is over.. you can find someone else to pick a fight with, you haven't the foggiest idea what in the Hell you are talking about.

This is Candid Camera.. right? Or you are one of my ex wives.. Sheeesh

[DrNo]

The only thing I ever put ketchup on is macaroni and cheese.

Not scrambled eggs?

[masadaman]

It was a super thread indeed. True Chicagoans say 'byackk'(3 syllables) for 'back' as in 'scratch my byackk'; 'down the line' for 'up the street'as in 'she lives down the line';'picalilly not relish' as in "witt picalilly?'; and speaking of 'witt' as in 'I'm going witt' not 'I'm going to join you'.

True Chicagoans remember the 'no draft' not the 'vent window'; the 'Trib' and the 'Sun' for Royko and Kup. And everyone sent his shirts to the chinaman, ate hot dogs with tomatoes and peppers (not kraut)and had a driver's license in a plastic case with a fin for the copper.

[lizma]

Zel's

My grammother's neighborhood. Played a lot of kick-the-can in those alleys.

[Boiler Plate]

My Dad always puts ketchup on scrambled eggs but that was always over the top for me.

[orchid]

Before Burton, there was Jim Moran,the Courtesy Man. He sold Fords. Around 1950 he talked WGN into letting him sponsor movies on Sunday evenings with commercials at the beginning, middle and end of the film. The first regularly televised movies in the nation.

[JustPiper]

Empire ;) How do you know my town so well MH?

[JustPiper]

Nope, you just asked for pop or something...[g]

Well, I tellya friend, Dr. Pepper don't take like it did then! And vanilla Coke in a bottle, pleeeeeeease ;)

[mhking]

How do you know my town so well MH?

Home knows home.

I was born and raised in Gary; My brother and his wife live on the far southwest side, my folks just moved from Gary out to Winfield, my grandfather lives in Hobart. I moved from Gary to Atlanta only nine years ago.