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?"

[Milwaukee_Guy]

True story -- we moved to the northernmost suburb (Meewalkee) in 1986. Went to register the car. Had to drive around the block four times to find a parking spot. Lady in front of me kept stopping in front of one house, honking her horn at an old man sitting on 'da stoop.'

Finally, on trip number four, she got out of her car, went up to him and said, "Otto, didn't 'ya see me honkin'?

I must have told that to a dozen Meewalkeeans, and none of them saw anything wrong with what she said... Go figure...

[rockfish59]

If I had to listen to that dingy 'Fargo' cop talk all day, I'd have to punch her!

Ahm wolkin' heah!

[X-FID]

i don't care what you say! i LOVE White Castles!

Everybody LOVES White Castles!(and everybody pays the price)

[Eaker]

aight aready, jeez putasock init!!

[Charles Henrickson]

Fun at the old ballpark:

"Ahhh, dem lousy Cubs! Dey ain't got nuttin'!"
"Sheesh, make da lousy play, fer cryin' out loud!"
"Whatta dey dooin' out dere?!"

[Charles Henrickson]

16-inch: Softball, Chicago style. No 12-inch girlie balls with gloves. Gloves are for sissies. "Hey, ya wanna play some 16-inch?"

[brewcrew]

I must have told that to a dozen Meewalkeeans, and none of them saw anything wrong with what she said...

Needer do I, aina?

;^D

[Milwaukee_Guy]

I remember seeing John Lee Hooker on Maxwell Street.

Very cool....

[Molly Pitcher]

Disisgretchayaknaw!

[Marie Antoinette]

ROTFLOL! For the first several years of my life, the TV was in the Frunchroom! Thanks so much for the laugh :-)

The Hen= The White Hen convenience store (okay, probably more suburban than city, but whatever)

A former Southsider, always a Polack, who just today was very much craving some down home 'Talian Sassage Sammiches.

[Charles Henrickson]

Soda: A drink made with ice cream, purchased at a soda fountain. Not to be confused with "pop" (which may also be called "soda pop").

[Marie Antoinette]

Everybody LOVES White Castles!(and everybody pays the price)

Truer words were never spoken! I have to have some when we visit. ONCE. Okay, maybe twice :-)

[Charles Henrickson]

Icebox: A refrigerator.

[Charles Henrickson]

Bungalows, two-flats, and three-flats: The houses and apartments in which Chicagoans live.

[MomwithHope]

Loved that Garfield Goose!
After 25 years in Michigan, after being born and raised on the East Side, my hubby and daughter still tease me everytime I say "Fawggy" like it's foggy out, or "sawsage".
BTW I saw Soldiers Field this summer, whoever did that should be arrested.

[tiamat]

"Italian Beef" rocks!

Tia

[Marie Antoinette]

Here in St. Louis they say "soda" when they mean "pop."

When I moved to St. Louis and started my new job, everybody poked so much fun at me for calling a "soda", a "pop".

[tiamat]

You're right!

LOL!

Tia

[Charles Henrickson]

Heaping Italian beef ping.

[X-FID]

Just make sure you NEVER try the 'jalepeno slider', even though it is tasty.