With living in NYC comes the NYC slang. Most of the slang you probably already use as a part of this generation. However, NYC has it’s own slang and pronunciations so here are a few things you should know to avoid sounding like a tourist.
1. Houston Street (HOUSE – ton)
I know, I know, it looks like Houston- as in the Texas city. I know it sounds funny to say HOUSE-ton. But it is what it is. I don’t make the rules.
2. Greenwhich (GREN – itch)
Not green witch. Not sure who decided on this one, but you have to admit that GREN – itch sounds better than “green witch”.
3. Stuyvesant (STY – vuh – sent)
Stuyvesant town, Bed-stuy, the list goes on. Stuyvesant is an important word to know in NYC
4. Bodega
A corner store where you can get just about anything from a sandwhich to duct tape. Your neighborhood bodega probably has it all.
5. On line
Has nothing to do with a computer. This drove me absolutely crazy when I first moved to the city. In NYC, you aren’t waiting in line, you are waiting on line. I don’t know when I started or how I let myself, but eventually I also started saying I was waiting “on line” and not “in line”. It doesn’t really make sense, but you will probably get so used to hearing it that it will make sense.
6. FiDi
Shorthand for Financial District.
7. SoHo
Shorthand for South of Houston (HOUSE – ton) street. Great shopping.
8. TriBeCa
Shorthand for Triangle Below Canal street.
9. The Big Apple
Something nobody from NYC calls NYC.
10. The city
Not the Whitney Port spin-off of “The Hills”. Manhattan. Literally anywhere in Manhattan.
11. Upstate
Basically anywhere above the Bronx.
Fake it till ya make it.