Essential English phrases

The corner store that sells everything at all hours, usually with a cat. Your first real relationship in the neighbourhood is with the person behind that counter.

Standing in a queue. New York is the only place in America that says 'on line' rather than 'in line', and it predates the internet by a century.

Manhattan, specifically — even when said by someone standing in Brooklyn, which is also legally the city. Learn this or you'll agree to meet in the wrong borough.

The front steps of a brownstone, and by extension the social institution of sitting on them. 'Stoop sale' is the local yard sale.

The subway. Nobody local says 'the subway' or 'the metro' — you take the train, and you name it by letter or number: 'take the 6'.

North and south, and also the direction of the train. Getting on a downtown train when you wanted uptown is the classic first-week mistake — check the sign before the stairs, because many stations don't let you cross over.

Alternate-side parking — the street-cleaning rules that force car owners to move their car on a rota. It structures the week for anyone who drives here.

To haul something a tiring distance, or the journey itself. From Yiddish, and one of a dozen Yiddish words that are simply New York English now.

Mildly snobbish shorthand for people coming into Manhattan from New Jersey, Long Island or the outer boroughs. Use it knowing it says more about the speaker.

Cream cheese on a bagel. 'Everything with a schmear' is a complete and correct breakfast order.

At a deli or cart, this means coffee with milk and sugar already in it — not black. Say 'black, no sugar' if that's what you want.

Non-emergency city services: noise complaints, broken heat, potholes, landlord problems. 911 is emergencies only; 311 is the number you'll actually use.