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Browse Pittsburgh words, meanings, usage, pronunciation, local notes, neighborhood references, food memory, and place language.
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A long sandwich.
“I’m getting an Italian hoagie.”Open word
A craving, want, or strong desire for something.
“I have a hankerin for a hot sausage sammich.”Open word
To steal or take something, often something small or low-value.
“Somebody horked my last pop from the fridge.”Open word
A Pittsburgh-style spelling/pronunciation of “house.”
“We’re going back to the haus.”Open word
Pittsburgh-style pronunciation of “holiday.”
“Everybody’s coming over for the haulladay.”Open word
A Pittsburgh-style way to say “how about.”
“Howzabaht we leave early?”Open word
A Pittsburgh-style way to say “how come.”
“Howzcome nobody told me?”Open word
A cabbage and noodle dish common in Pittsburgh-area ethnic food traditions.
“There’s haluski at the church dinner.”Open word
Hundred.
“There were a hunnerd people at the fish fry.”Open word
A Pittsburgh-area Eastern European cultural term; historically used around immigrant communities and should be handled carefully.
“That old family word has a complicated history.”Open word
Comfort, comforter, or quilt.
“That old hap kept me warm all winter.”Open word
A person seen as rural or unsophisticated.
“He used hoopy as a put-down, but I wouldn’t say it on merch.”Open word
Ketchup, especially as a Pittsburgh-culture reference.
“Put the Heinzes on the fries.”Open word
A fundraiser where hoagies are sold.
“The band is doing a hoagie sale.”Open word
House.
“The telly pole is aht in front of your hahse.”Open word
A saucy chipped ham sandwich or chipped ham barbecue mixture.
“We had ham barbecue and pop at the picnic.”Open word
Pittsburghese-style pronunciation/spelling of “house.”
“We’re going over to their hahs.”Open word
Laughing hard.
“I was howin at that story.”Open word
How about, with feeling.
“How’s abaht yinz help me redd up?”Open word
Pittsburghese-style pronunciation of “hospital.”
“They took him to the hahspital after the wreck.”Open word
A party tray-style ring made with hoagie ingredients.
“Put the hoagie ring on the table.”Open word