12 Must-Know Philadelphia Slang Terms for Locals and Visitors

Once you've mastered Philadelphia's distinctive accent, the next step is to get familiar with the local slang. Misunderstanding these terms could lead to awkward moments, whether you're ordering a cheesesteak or cheering at an Eagles game. Ever puzzled over when to use 'hoagie' instead of 'sub' (the answer is always) or what exactly defines a 'jawn' (basically anything)? Explore these crucial Philly slang words to blend in like a local.

1. Wooder

Philadelphia is known for its unique regional accent, which stands out in the U.S. The way vowels are pronounced transforms 'water' into 'wooder' among native speakers. The first syllable's vowel sounds more like 'put' rather than 'law,' as it might in other American accents. This iconic feature of the Philly dialect is at risk of fading away. While older generations still use this pronunciation, it's less common among younger residents, particularly Millennials. Whether a Philadelphian calls the city's beloved flavored Italian ice 'wooder ice' or 'water ice' often depends on their age.

2. Jawn

No word captures the essence of Philadelphia’s unique lexicon like jawn. This incredibly versatile term can refer to just about anything—whether it’s a work project, Citizens Bank Park, a car, a birthday celebration, a pack of Tastykakes, or even your cousin Dave. Essentially, jawn can stand in for any person, place, thing, or even abstract idea. While jawn is now deeply embedded in Philly’s culture, its roots may trace back to another East Coast city. The term likely evolved from the New York City slang word joint, which gained popularity in the early 1980s through hip-hop tracks like “That’s the Joint” by Funky 4 Plus 1. As it made its way to Philadelphia, Black speakers adapted the pronunciation, replacing the final consonant with a glottal stop and simplifying the diphthong to a single vowel—both hallmarks of African American Vernacular English (AAVE). In Philly, jawn underwent “semantic bleaching,” losing its specific meaning and becoming a catch-all term. Linguists note that while most Philadelphians use some form of jawn, it’s most richly employed within the Black community. Its unmatched flexibility makes it a linguistic phenomenon.

3. The Linc

Alongside Independence Hall and the Rocky steps, Lincoln Financial Field stands as one of Philadelphia’s most revered landmarks. Known affectionately as The Linc, this football stadium is the proud home of the Eagles, also referred to as the Birds or Iggles in local slang.

4. Youse guys

In Philadelphia, addressing a group of people has led to the creation of the phrase youse guys, a somewhat clunky but widely used solution. This expression is one of the common ways locals refer to multiple people. While youse is often linked to the city’s white working-class population, y’all is more commonly used in Black communities, though it’s less uniquely Philadelphian.

5. Drawlin’

If a Philly local tells you you’re drawlin’, it’s a sign to reevaluate your behavior. This slang term means acting in a way that’s out of the ordinary or inconsistent. Whether it’s canceling plans last minute or behaving oddly around family, such actions might earn you the label of drawlin’.

6. Hoagie

In Philadelphia, ordering a hero, grinder, or submarine sandwich will likely earn you some confused stares. The only acceptable term for a sandwich on a split Italian roll here is hoagie. The origins of the word are debated, but one popular theory ties it to Hog Island in the Delaware River, a shipyard during both World Wars. Italian immigrant workers reportedly called their lunch sandwiches hoggies, which, influenced by the Philly accent, evolved into hoagie.

7. Wit/witout

Philadelphia’s sandwich scene is legendary. After grabbing a hoagie at Wawa, don’t miss out on a cheesesteak—thinly sliced beef on an Italian roll, topped with cheese whiz or provolone. Onions are optional, and knowing how to order them is key. When ordering a cheesesteak, always conclude with wit (with onions) or witout (without onions). Failing to specify quickly can slow down the line, a serious breach of local etiquette no matter where you go.

8. Chumpy

Before jawn became widely known, chumpy was the go-to multipurpose noun in Philadelphia. It gained popularity in the 1980s within the Black community. As linguist Ben Zimmer explained to My City Paper, the term was so influential that a local potato chip brand even named their product Chumpies.

9. Salty

In Philadelphia, salty (or sawty) is used to describe someone who’s bitter or upset. If you’ve been outsmarted or proven wrong, your irritated reaction might be labeled as salty.

10. MAC Machine

If you refer to an ATM as a MAC Machine, it’s a dead giveaway that you grew up in Philadelphia. MAC, short for “Money Access Center,” was a popular brand of ATMs in the Mid-Atlantic region during the 1980s and ‘90s. Although these machines were rebranded as Star in the early 2000s, many long-time Philadelphians still use the term today.

11. Bol

Likely originating from the word boy, bol is a term used to refer to someone, typically a younger male. The slang has several spelling variations, with bol, boul, and bul being the most common.

12. Oldhead

This term’s meaning is fairly obvious. A younger individual might call someone older an oldhead, particularly if they’ve been repeatedly referred to as a young bol by that person.