Buzz
Baltimore stands out as one of the East Coast’s best-kept secrets. Known as the birthplace of the U.S. national anthem, it has also served as the backdrop for iconic films and shows like Hairspray and The Wire. The city boasts a vibrant mix of food, culture, and friendly locals. Much of its charm comes from the unique and extensive slang used by its residents. If you’re planning a trip, here are some key terms to get familiar with.
1. Bawl-mer/Bal-da-more/B-more
While visitors might pronounce Baltimore with three clear syllables, locals have their own variations. According to Dr. Christine Mallinson, a professor of language, literacy, and culture at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Black residents often say “Bal-da-more,” while white residents tend to use “Bawl-mer.” If you’re unsure, the shortened “B-more” is a safe and neutral option.
No matter which pronunciation of the nickname you choose, locals will likely ask if you’re talking about Baltimore City or Baltimore County. Despite common misconceptions, the city operates independently and is considered a county-equivalent jurisdiction within Maryland, separate from the county.
2. and 3. (The) DMV and the MVA
When visiting Baltimore (whether the city, county, or both) and nearby regions, you might hear frequent mentions of the DMV in conversations. However, this doesn’t refer to car registration issues—it’s shorthand for the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, including surrounding Maryland and Virginia counties accessible via the D.C. metro system. While Baltimoreans use the term, the city itself isn’t part of the DMV.
When someone from Baltimore or the DMV area needs to renew their driver’s license, they’ll head to the MVA (Motor Vehicle Administration).
4. O’s
The Baltimore Orioles, the city’s beloved baseball team, are affectionately called the O’s across Maryland. If you ever catch a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, join the locals in highlighting the “O” during the line “Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ...”
5. and 6. Yo and Ayo
While they has been a gender-neutral singular pronoun for centuries, Baltimore’s younger generation has introduced yo as a versatile alternative. This term can describe anyone in the third person (“I saw yo at the O’s game”) without regard to gender, and it can even pair with gendered pronouns (“Yo said she’s from the DMV!”).
Yo gained traction among Baltimore City students in the early 2000s. Noticing its frequent use in classrooms, Elaine Stotko, a linguistics professor at Johns Hopkins University, and Margaret Troyer, a local teacher, conducted a groundbreaking study in 2007. Their research revealed that students primarily used yo to refer to peers, as addressing adults with the term was deemed disrespectful. The study also confirmed that yo as a pronoun was largely unique to Baltimore.
While
7. Hon
Round 1 of the Best Hon Contest at Baltimore's Hon Fest. | NoirGuy, Flickr // CC BY-ND 2.0On the “Bawl-mer” side of town, a distinct gender-neutral term is hon, a term of endearment derived from honey. It’s often used in the first person and can function as a verb (e.g., “a kind woman just honned me,” meaning she called you “hon”) or a noun, describing a woman with a beehive hairstyle reminiscent of a Hairspray character.
Hon culture has become iconic for a specific group of Baltimoreans, though its prominence hasn’t been without controversy. In the 1990s, an anonymous figure known as the “Hon Man” gained notoriety for graffiti incidents. Using white paint, he altered the “Welcome to Baltimore” sign on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to read “Welcome to Baltimore, Hon.” While some locals appreciated the gesture, the city repeatedly removed the paint and eventually caught the Hon Man in 1994. This sparked a heated debate. State senator Barbara Hoffman advocated for permanently adding hon to the sign, while senator Larry Young argued that Hon culture didn’t represent all residents and proposed adding bro instead. In the end, the sign stayed unchanged.
The linguistic differences between Baltimore’s Black and white communities may stem from geographic separation. The predominantly Black “Bal-da-more” speakers, who use yo, are found across most city neighborhoods, while the white “Bawl-morean” hon enthusiasts are more common in historically white areas like Highlandtown, Hampden, and Locust Point. Hampden even hosts an annual “HONfest,” featuring food stalls, vendors, and the “Best Hon Contest,” where participants compete to embody the ultimate “hon” aesthetic.
8. Dummy
If someone from Baltimore calls you “dummy,” don’t take offense. While it might sound like an insult elsewhere, it’s a common term of endearment in the city. A local musician even celebrated the word in a 2020 anthem highlighting Baltimore’s unique slang. Dummy is often used as a friendly greeting among friends, typically paired with “hey,” “hi,” or “what’s up.” However, its meaning depends on context, and using it without mutual understanding could lead to misunderstandings.
9. Berger Cookies
Berger cookies: Accept no substitutes. | Steve Snodgrass, Flickr // CC by 2.0When hunger strikes, indulge in a classic Berger cookie—soft, cake-like treats generously coated with a thick layer of creamy fudge. These cookies were invented by Henry Berger, a German immigrant who established a bakery in East Baltimore in 1835. Over time, they’ve become a cherished local delicacy. So iconic are they to Baltimore that Whole Foods introduced a similar version called the “Charm City Cookie,” sparking controversy among residents who argue the company should support the original bakery rather than producing imitations.
10. Snowball
Another quintessential Baltimore treat is the snowball, made from finely crushed or shaved ice drenched in flavored syrup. Snowballs originated in the 1800s, known as “penny sundaes” or “hard-time sundaes” during the Great Depression. Originally, the syrup was a simple mix of eggs and sugar, but today, there’s a wide variety of flavors, such as the fruity “Tiger’s Blood” and the mysteriously named “Skylight,” described simply as “blue flavor.” For an extra touch of indulgence, some vendors add marshmallow fluff.
11. Natty Boh
Natty Boh is synonymous with Baltimore. | Chris Bojanower, Flickr // CC by 2.0The National Brewing Beer Company started producing National Bohemian beer in Baltimore in 1885. Just five years after Kreuger, a Virginia brewery, introduced the first canned beer in 1935, National Bohemian launched the first 6-pack. The brand gained even more prominence in the 1950s when president Jerold Hoffberger took ownership of the Baltimore Orioles and began selling National Bohemian beers at Orioles games. This move cemented its status as the “official beer of Baltimore” by the 1960s. Although it’s no longer brewed in the city, the affectionately nicknamed “Natty Boh” remains a Baltimore icon.
12. Half and Half
While most places call it an “Arnold Palmer,” Baltimoreans refer to the mix of half lemonade and half iced tea as “half and half.” The key difference is that Baltimore’s version uses unsweetened iced tea instead of sweet tea, unlike the golfer-inspired version.
13. Move(s)
The move is definitely the National Aquarium. | Walter Bibikow/DigitalVision/Getty ImagesWhile this term isn’t exclusive to Baltimore and has gained popularity in cities like Memphis, locals often ask, “what’s the move?” when planning a fun evening. This phrase essentially means, “what’s the plan?” or “where are we headed?” Whether it’s a visit to the iconic National Aquarium or exploring one of Baltimore’s many art museums, there’s always a “move” to make in Charm City.
14. Bop
A bop could mean that infectious tune you heard a local band perform at Rams Head Live, but in Baltimore, it might also describe something that’s quite a distance away. If the plans involve a bop, it usually means it’s not worth the effort to make the trip.
15. Crouchy
This bar would definitely qualify as crouchy. | Nisian Hughes/Stone/Getty ImagesEven if the destination isn’t a bop away, you might reconsider your plans if the spot is too crouchy—meaning it’s uncomfortably packed with people.
16. and 17. Bet and Aard
Bet serves as an affirmative response, similar to “yes” or “sounds good.” According to Dictionary.com, the term gained traction in the 1980s and ’90s, likely rooted in Black culture, and was added to Urban Dictionary as slang by 2003. While there’s debate over which city—New York or Atlanta—played the biggest role in popularizing it, Baltimore has embraced the term for years.
Similar to other widely-searched slang terms with roots in African American language and culture, bet surged in popularity online during the late 2010s and is now considered Gen Z slang. In Baltimore, bet is often paired with aard, a local phonetic variation of “all right.”
