17 Slang Words You Will 100% Hear In Boston
Bostonians have an undeniably distinct accent. Even if you've never stepped foot in the city, you've seen the movies. The Departed, Good Will Hunting, Mystic River, Ted - all solid representations of the city's recognizable (and highly imitated) linguistics. But aside from dropping the Rs (chowadah = chowder), pronouncing multiple words as one (howahyah? = how are you) and adding Rs back on to words where they shouldn't be (soder = soda), Boston has a few slang terms that might require further definition.
Wicked
Definition: Synonymous with "very" or "really." Used to describe add emphasis to an adjective.
Sentence: There's no chance I'm leaving the apartment today, it's wicked cold.
Townie
Definition: A native to neighborhoods in the Boston area, like Charlestown and Dorchester.
Sentence: The bar was packed with townies.
Packie
Definition: A liquor store.
Sentence: I'll be over in ten, just gotta stop at the packie first.
Bubbler (pronounced bubblah)
Definition: A drinking fountain.
Sentence: If you're thirsty just go grab a sip from the bubblah.
Dunks
Definition: Boston's favorite coffee shop, Dunkin' Donuts - also referred to as Dunkin'.
Sentence: I'm stopping at Dunks, anyone want anything?
Cellar (pronounced cellah)
Definition: The basement.
Sentence: I can't find that old box anywhere, will you go check down cellar?
Grinder (pronounced grindah)
Definition: A sandwich or a hoagie.
Sentence: I'll pick up a couple of grinders for lunch.
Supper (pronounced suppah)
Definition: Dinner.
Sentence: I think Johnny's coming over for supper tonight.
Bang a Uey
Definition: AKA, take a U-turn.
Sentence: Drive past the gas station and bang a uey.
Barrel
Definition: Garbage bin or trash can.
Sentence: Can you throw all that in the barrel, it's a mess in here.
Clicker (pronounced clickah)
Definition: The remote control.
Sentence: Hand me the clicker, this show is awful.
Parlor (pronounced pahlah)
Definition: The living room.
Sentence: Everyone's in the parlor watching the game.
The Pike
Definition: The Massachusetts Turnpike.
Sentence: It's not far, just take the pike.
The Cape
Definition: Cape Cod.
Sentence: We're going to the Cape for the weekend.
No Suh
Definition: As in, no sir. An expression of shock or disbelief, like "no way?!"
Sentence: No suh, that did not happen!
Yah huh
Definition: The correct response to "no suh,"
Sentence: Yah huh it did happen!
The Hub
Definition: Boston = the hub (and not beantown). Comes from 19th century Oliver Wendell Holmes description of Boston State House, "the center of the solar system."
Sentence: I can't wait to get back to the hub, it's been way too long.