If You’ve Experienced These 10 Things, You’ve Lived in West Virginia for Far Too Long

Here are 10 things that if you’ve experienced, you’ve likely lived in West Virginia for far too long — reflecting unique cultural expressions and local life quirks:

1. Hearing “Holler” Often
   In WV, a “holler” is not a shout but a remote road or valley, a very common geographic feature people are intimately familiar with.
2. Getting “Smooched” Instead of Kissed
   West Virginians say “smooch” for a peck or kiss, which is playful and family-friendly, used from grandma to preacher alike.
3. Pulling Up Your “Britches”
   Life advice often comes with a reminder to fix your pants, or “britches,” a term used widely in everyday talk.
4. Being Asked to “Sit a Spell”
   Invitations to socialize are vague time-wise, from 15 minutes to hours, reflecting WV’s slow-paced, welcoming lifestyle.
5. Using “Poke” for a Bag
   When someone asks for a “poke” to carry things, it’s a casual local word for any size of bag or sack.
6. Talking About a “Crick”
   WV residents lovingly call a creek or small stream a “crick,” often recalling childhood adventures by these waters.
7. Hearing About “Pruntytown” and “Weston”
   References to intimidating old mental asylums where kids joked about being sent when misbehaving — a part of local lore.
8. Defending “West by God Virginia”
   Strong pride in being distinct from Virginia, often insisting “It’s not Virginia! It’s West, by God, Virginia!” showing local identity pride.
9. Using “Mess” as a Unit
   “Mess” means a whole lot, a way to exaggerate quantities in a folksy fashion.
10. Being Used to the Accent and Dialect
    West Virginians speak Appalachian English with many distinct dialects and pronunciations that outsiders find hard to follow but locals cherish.

Experiencing and using these words, phrases, and cultural touchpoints means you’ve spent enough time in the Mountain State to adopt its unique character and charm.Here are 11 creepy and macabre things to see in Oregon:

SOURCES

[1](https://wvtourism.com/6-giveaways-youre-from-wv/)
[2](https://www.walkercdjrwv.com/local-spotlight-west-virginia-arts-culture-history.html)
[3](https://wvpublic.org/from-corn-liquor-to-state-pride-origins-of-west-by-god-virginia/)
[4](https://www.reddit.com/r/WestVirginia/comments/t0lckt/wv_slang/)
[5](https://wheninyourstate.com/west-virginia/12-things-people-from-west-virginia-do-that-seem-insane-to-everyone-else/)