Essential English phrases

San Jose and the towns around it — Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Campbell, Milpitas. Distinct from 'the Peninsula' (up towards San Francisco) and 'the East Bay' (Oakland side). People locate themselves by these three terms constantly.

Northern California's intensifier — 'hella good', 'hella far'. Genuinely regional: it marks a Bay Area upbringing the way 'wicked' marks Boston.

Accessory dwelling unit — a converted garage, granny flat or backyard cottage, legalised aggressively by state law over the last decade. A very large share of the affordable rental stock in this valley is now an ADU behind someone's house.

An air-quality alert day declared by the regional air district. In winter it makes wood burning illegal, not merely discouraged, and in wildfire season it is the signal to close the windows.

Freeways, always with 'the' in front — a Californian habit that people from elsewhere find odd. 280 is the scenic one, 101 is the congested one, 880 is the freight one. Routes are described by number, never by name.

The 1978 measure that pegs a property's taxable value to its purchase price with a ~2% annual cap until it changes hands. It is the reason your neighbour's tax bill may be a fifth of yours, and it comes up in almost every conversation about housing here.

A special tax district levied on newer developments to pay for the infrastructure they needed. It sits on top of ordinary property tax, it is disclosed at sale, and it is easy to miss on a listing.

Restricted stock units and the one-year vesting cliff before the first tranche lands. Compensation here is routinely half equity, and 'what's the refresh look like' is a normal question in a salary conversation rather than a rude one.

Tapioca-pearl milk tea, and a whole social format — 'getting boba' is what people do instead of a drink. San Jose has one of the densest boba scenes in the country and everyone has a shop they defend.

Public Safety Power Shutoff — the utility pre-emptively cutting power during high fire-risk wind events. It affects the hill areas more than the valley floor, and it is why people here own power banks and generators.

The free health and social services referral line, run in Santa Clara County by a local partner. It is the number for housing help, food assistance and benefits questions — 911 stays for emergencies.

The Vietnamese commercial district along Story Road and Tully Road on the east side. San Jose has one of the largest Vietnamese populations of any city outside Vietnam, and this is where that is most visible.

One of only three historic Japantowns left in the United States, six blocks north of downtown. Not a themed district — a continuously inhabited neighbourhood with pre-war businesses still trading.

SAP Center, home of the San Jose Sharks, right by Diridon Station. Downtown's evening economy still largely runs on whether there is something on there.