Here are 10 hilarious sayings you’ll only hear in California, showcasing the state’s unique local flavor and slang:
- “Hella” — Used as an intense form of “very” or “a lot,” as in, “That concert was hella fun!” Mostly Northern California.
- “Gnarly” — Surf slang that can mean something awesome or something terribly bad, e.g., “That wave was gnarly!” or “This traffic is gnarly!”.
- “Swoop” — Means to take or steal something quickly.
- “Sigalert” — Refers to major traffic troubles and is a very California way of talking about road incidents.
- “May Gray” / “June Gloom” — Describes the persistent cloudy, foggy weather on the coast during late spring and early summer.
- “No ‘the’ before freeway names” in the Bay Area — Locals say “Take 101” instead of “Take the 101,” which can confuse newcomers.
- “Scoop” or “scoop up” — Means to pick someone or something up.
- “Kook” — A derogatory term for someone pretending to be a surfer but clearly isn’t one.
- “Put on blast” — To publicly embarrass or criticize someone, as in “She really put him on blast on Instagram.”.
- “Good looks” — Means thanks or appreciation, sort of like “good looking out.”.
These expressions capture the laid-back, quirky, and surf-centric culture of California in a way only locals truly get, making them fun and often hilarious for visitors to hear.
SOURCES
[1](https://amberstudent.com/blog/post/top-american-slangs-that-will-blow-your-mind)
[2](https://www.berlitz.com/blog/california-slang-words)
[3](https://promova.com/blog/a-journey-through-california-iconic-slang)
[4](https://www.businessinsider.com/california-sayings-2013-12)
[5](https://shorelight.com/student-stories/a-guide-to-american-slang-words-in-2025/)
