Virginia locals have a knack for witty, region-specific sayings that capture the state’s quirks and culture—some are hilarious, others just deeply Virginian. Here are 10 funny sayings you’ll likely only hear in Virginia:
1. “As north as the south gets, and as south as the north gets.”
Virginians poke fun at their state’s unique identity as both southern and northern, depending who’s asking.
2. “City to country in 20 minutes flat.”
Locals love how quickly you can go from urban sprawl to rolling fields and rural highways.
3. “Virginia is for lovers…of vanity plates.”
A play on the famous slogan, referencing the state’s obsession with custom license plates.
4. “Come on vacation, leave on probation.”
A cheeky warning about strict law enforcement.
5. “Old Dominion pride.”
Calling Virginia “Old Dominion” is shorthand for local pride and history.
6. “You’re such a geeker.”
A playful insult for someone acting silly or funny.
7. “NOVA traffic’ll age you twice as fast.”
Complaints about infamous Northern Virginia commuting woes show up in casual jokes.
8. “Stamp” (“I swear” in local slang)
“I stamp, that barbecue is best!”.
9. “Up with the chickens.”
Means waking up extra early, common in rural western Virginia.
10. “We’re like Alabama with pockets of New Jersey.”
Locals riff on Virginia’s split personalities—southern charm, northern quirks.
These sayings mix local pride, self-deprecating humor, and pure southern playfulness, making them unmistakably Virginian.
SOURCES
(https://vadogwood.com/2025/04/11/iconic-virginia-sayings-slang-explained/)(https://www.movoto.com/guide/va/virginia-words/)(https://www.reddit.com/r/Virginia/comments/174mo66/how_would_you_describe_virginia_in_one_funny/)(https://www.southernliving.com/southern-sayings-6534958)(https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/virginia.html)
