Social
Jawn
jawn
A universal noun. A thing, a place, a person, an event — 'pass me that jawn'. Genuinely unique to Philadelphia and the most useful word in the local vocabulary.
Youse
yooz
The second person plural. 'Youse guys' is the standard form, and it marks a Philadelphian instantly.
Daily life
Wooder
WOO-der
Water. The most recognisable feature of the Philadelphia accent, alongside 'hoagie' and a distinctive long O.
Center City
SEN-ter SIH-tee
The downtown core between the two rivers. Not 'downtown', which nobody local says.
The Wage Tax
—
Philadelphia's municipal income tax, charged to residents wherever they work and to anyone working in the city. It is the defining fact of the local pay packet.
Rowhouse
ROH-hows
The terraced brick house that makes up most of the city's housing stock. Philadelphia has more of them than anywhere in America.
Food
Hoagie
HOH-gee
A cold sandwich on a long roll. Not a sub, not a grinder. The official sandwich of Philadelphia, and taken seriously.
Wit or witout
wit / wit-OWT
How you order a cheesesteak — with or without fried onions. The cheese question comes after, and 'whiz wit' is the classic.
Transport
SEPTA
SEP-tuh
The transit authority — subway, trolleys, buses and regional rail. Two subway lines crossing at City Hall, plus a genuinely extensive commuter rail network.
Culture
The Linc / the Bank / the Center
—
The three South Philadelphia stadiums, all adjacent. Sport here is not a hobby, it is a civic identity, and it is loud.
Mummers
MUM-erz
The New Year's Day parade of elaborately costumed string bands, running since 1901. Genuinely unlike anything else in America.
Emergency
911 / 311
nine-one-one / three-one-one
911 for emergencies; 311 for city services — trash, potholes, abandoned vehicles, street lights.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.