A Lesson on Regional Dialect: Michigan

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In the first three parts of this four-part series, I shared some of the terms and abbreviations that you might encounter while exploring the Florida Keys, the Everglades, and New Orleans. For this last post, I've compiled a list of expressions about the diverse state of Michigan, as found in my Moon Michigan guidebook. Here's just a sample of what you'll see and hear in the Great Lakes State:

Big Mac: a nickname for the Mackinac Bridge, the link between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas; also called simply The Bridge
downriver: a reference to the Wayne County suburbs south of Detroit, along the Detroit River
downstate: a reference to Michigan’s Lower Peninsula
D-Town: a nickname for the city of Detroit
eh: a spoken interjection commonly used by Upper Peninsula natives to solicit a response or add emphasis to a statement (e.g., “There’s no place like Michigan, eh?”)
Eight Mile: the boundary between Detroit and its wealthier northern suburbs
euchre: a trick-taking card game popular throughout the Midwest
fudgie: a nickname for tourists, especially in the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, which is known for its ubiquitous fudge shops
Hockeytown: since the mid-1990s, a nickname for the city of Detroit, in celebration of its NHL team, the Detroit Red Wings
L.P.: a seldom used abbreviation for Michigan’s Lower Peninsula
Michigan bankroll: a large roll of money in small denominations, often covered by one larger bill to give the appearance of a lot of money
Michigander: a nickname for Michigan residents, occasionally used to specify a male resident
Michiganian: a nickname for Michigan residents
Michigoose: a nickname for Michigan residents, occasionally used to specify a female resident
Mighty Mac: a reference to the Mackinac Bridge, the link between Michigan’s two peninsulas; also called Da Crossing or Troll Turnpike by U.P. residents
Mitten: a nickname for Michigan’s Lower Peninsula; also called Troll Land by U.P. residents
Motor City: a nickname for Detroit, honoring its rich automotive history
Motown: a record label and musical style that originated in Detroit; also used as a nickname for the city itself
pasty: a hand-held pastry filled with meat and vegetables, popular in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
pop: how Michigan residents refer to soda or soft drinks
Spartan: the mascot of Michigan State University in East Lansing
Thumb: the region of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula that resembles the thumb of a mitten
tip of the Mitten: a reference to the Straits of Mackinac
tip of the Thumb: a reference to Port Austin, Michigan
Troll: a nickname for residents of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, who live “below” the Mackinac Bridge
U.P.: a frequently used abbreviation for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
up north: north of wherever one is in Michigan
Wolverine: the mascot of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor
Yooper: a nickname for residents of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Yooperland: a nickname for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula; also called Da Yoop or Yoopsconsin by U.P. Residents

If there are any missing terms, please feel free to comment below – your suggestions might just end up in the next edition of Moon Michigan. In the meantime, consult Pure Michigan, the State of Michigan website, or Josh Bishop's Moon Michigan's Upper Peninsula for more information about the Great Lakes State.

To learn about the expressions used in other American locales, read my posts about the Florida Keys, the Everglades, and New Orleans. If you're curious about any other regional dialects, let me know, and I'll see what I can do.

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As always, I’m open to ideas for future posts. If you have any suggestions, burning questions, or destinations that you’d like me to explore in greater detail, please comment below or contact me via laura [at] wanderingsoles [dot] com.

© 2010 Laura Martone