Here are 10 hilarious sayings you’ll only hear in Washington state, reflecting its unique local culture and slang:
- Joe Joes — Potato wedges are called “Joe Joes,” a term popularized by grocery stores like Safeway in the Northwest.
- Emerald City — The official nickname for Seattle, also called Rain City or Seatown, used frequently by locals.
- Spocompton — A playful nickname for Spokane, combining it with “Compton” for humor, also called “Spoka-Vegas”.
- Pop — Instead of soda or soft drink, Washingtonians mainly say “pop”.
- Bag of Dick’s — Refers to food from Dick’s Drive-In or Dick’s Hamburgers, not what you might think at first.
- Tolo — A Chinook word used for a Sadie Hawkins dance or school dance.
- Muck-a-Mucks — A Chinook word meaning important people or VIPs.
- Sun Break — When the sun breaks through the clouds, a rare but celebrated event on the cloudy west side.
- Warshington — Some locals amusingly add an “r” and say “Warshington” instead of Washington.
- Skookum! — A Chinook word meaning strong or tough, widely used in Washington as an expression of approval or admiration.
These expressions highlight the quirky and distinctive language found primarily in Washington, adding local flavor you’ll rarely hear elsewhere.
SOURCES
[1](https://97rockonline.com/washington-state-slang/)
[2](https://kw3.com/washington-phrases/)
[3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Seattle/comments/1bvyx86/what_are_some_wordsphrases_that_people_in_seattle/)
[4](https://www.movoto.com/guide/wa/washington-words/)
[5](https://929thebull.com/9-slang-words-and-phrases-in-washington/)
