Which word rules your part of the town?
March is bracket season, and Dictionary.com has assembled a field of 32 of the most iconic local slang from around the country, separated out between the West, Northeast, South, and Midwest. Now it’s up to you to vote on which regional lingo (and region) reigns supreme!Ìý
Winner
The people have spoken and ²â’a±ô±ô won Best Regional 51³Ô¹Ï! With its signature Southern charm, ²â’a±ô±ô didn’t just win—it dominated the bracket, rounding up votes like a true crowd favorite. From its first matchup to the final showdown, this word proved that sometimes, the simplest phrases have the strongest hold on our hearts.
So go ahead, celebrate like a true champion—because ²â’a±ô±ô just made history!
SCOUTING REPORTS
Final
West vs. South
Stoked vs. ³Û’a±ô±ôÌý
Our two final contenders bring the good vibes, but in very different ways. Stoked shouts its arrival from the top of a wave. Rolling in from the West Coast, it’s like totally excited to enter the finals. Ambling into the final matchup from the Southern region, ²â’a±ô±ô comes in with a glass of sweet tea to share. It’s calling on all ²â’a±ô±ô to vote, since that’s the polite thing to do.Ìý
For this last bracket battle, we have Southern hospitality defined and SoCal surfer spirit. But the question is: Which is the best regional word?
Winner: Y’all (53% of votes)
Round of 4
West vs. NortheastStoked vs. ±·´Ç°ù’e²¹²õ³Ù±ð°ù It’s game time, and this matchup is a storm of energy—literally. SoCal stoked is fired up, buzzing with unstoppable momentum after it triumphed over hella (and NorCal). But ²Ô´Ç°ù’e²¹²õ³Ù±ð°ù isn’t here to play nice—it left jimmies in sweet broken pieces after the last round. Which coast will end up the best coast? Winner: Stoked (67% of votes) |
South vs. Midwest³Û’a±ô±ô vs. OpeÌý It’s a battle of the Goliaths: Southern charm vs. Midwestern manners! ³Û’a±ô±ô told skedaddle to skedaddle out of the game with a respectable 65% of the votes. And fan favorite ope took home the win over white lightning with 64% of the votes. Which expression will continue its winning streak and advance to the next round? Winner: Y’all (87% of votes) |
Round of 8
WestThe tension is running high as we have NorCal versus SoCal–a classic rivalry as old as time. It was almost a close call but in the end hella pulled ahead of chimichanga with 57% of the votes.Ìý while stoked outpaced skookum by a whopping 80% of the votes. Now the battle is on for the word that will define the Golden State! Winner: Stoked (52% of votes) |
Northeast±·´Ç°ù’e²¹²õ³Ù±ð°ù vs. Jimmies The relentless force of a ²Ô´Ç°ù’e²¹²õ³Ù±ð°ù and the small but mightyÌý jimmies were able to claim a close victory against a sandwich and a remote control. In this round, are you voting for destruction or a sweet delight? Winner: Nor’easter (53% of votes) |
South³Û’a±ô±ô vs. Skedaddle Well, well well—²â’a±ô±ô came in strong, leaving yonder in the wind. Meanwhile, skedaddle didn’t waste a second, dashing past hankering without so much as a goodbye. Will you stick around for some sweet tea or make a run for it? Winner: Y’all (65% of votes) |
MidwestOpe vs. White Lightning It’s a clash of courtesy and chaos! Ope squeezed past Yooper, polite as ever. But white lightning burned through the competition, leaving the fun-to-say chuckhole in the dust.Ìý Winner: Ope (64% of votes) |
Round of 16
West
| Hella vs. Chimichanga
It was the closest of all calls between hella and gnarly in the first round but hella narrowly won in the end by one vote. One vote! Does it have enough fight to take on chimichanga, which deep fried cutty by a whopping 79.9% of the votes? Winner: Hella (57% of votes) |
Stoked vs. Skookum
Pure hype meets unshakable strength. Stoked buzzes with energy, ready to charge full speed ahead. Skookum stands firm, solid as a mountain, unimpressed by the noise. One is all fire, the other all force—but which one holds up under pressure? Winner: Stoked (80% of votes) |
Northeast
| Grinder vs. Jimmies A heavyweight sandwich squares off against a sprinkle of joy. Grinder barely edged out bubbler in the opening round while jimmies thoroughly trounced rotary. One fills you up, the other sweetens the deal. Vote for the word that will leave a bigger impact this round.Winner: Jimmies (53% of votes) |
±·´Ç°ù’e²¹²õ³Ù±ð°ù vs. Clicker
Chaos outside, control inside. ±·´Ç°ù’e²¹²õ³Ù±ð°ù howls in, shutting down everything in its path. Clicker barely lifts a finger, flipping through channels, unfazed by the storm. Both of these words dominated their competition in the first vote, this could be a close one! Winner: Nor’easter (53% of votes) |
South
| ³Û’a±ô±ô vs. Yonder
Well these words are fun to say! ³Û’a±ô±ô gathers everyone around while yonder points the way. It’s up to the voters if they want to stay for a chat, or head off into the horizon. Winner: Y’all (75% of votes) |
Hankering vs. Skedaddle
The Clash said it best: should I stay or should I go now? Everyone yearned for hankering, which dominated over druthers by 67%. It now faces its match in skedaddle, which bested cattywampus by receiving 63% of the votes. Do you give into the craving or take off without looking back?Ìý Winner: Skedaddle (66% of votes) |
Midwest
| Ope vs. Yooper
It’s a Midwest showdown between Michiganders and the rest of their neighbors. in this bracket clash. Ope is the fan favorite, clobbering Flying Jenny by 67%. Can it take on the proud Yoopers who ousted carry-in by 60% of the vote? Winner: Ope (57% of votes) |
White Lightning vs. ChuckholeÌý
This is a battle between backroads rebellion and backroads revenge! White lightning barely edged out pasty with 51% of the vote but in the end, it burned its competition’s throat. Chuckhole sent tree lawn swerving off the road by 77%. The moonshine will hit you quick but the pothole will make sure you feel it later, which word will do more damage in the end? Winner: White Lightning (65% of votes) |
Round of 32
West
| Hella vs. Gnarly
A debate as old as time…which part of California reigns supreme? Hella rolls up in a hoodie and sneakers while gnarly rides in on a wave. They size each other up before an epic showdown ofÌý Bay Area swagger vs. SoCal chill. Winner: Hella (49.9% of votes) |
Chimichanga vs. Cutty
A deep-fried indulgence from the Southwest squares off against a Bay Area shadow on the down low. Chimichanga bursts onto the scene, deliciously golden and stuffed to the brim. Then there’s cutty, lurking about, acting sketchy and sus. Will the light shine through, or does the darkness dominate? Winner: Chimichanga (79.9% of votes) |
| Stoked vs. Buckaroo Hold on to your cowboy hat or surfboard! Stoked rolls in on an adrenaline rush with good vibes and excitement. Buckaroo rides the range, ready to wrangle whatever comes its way. As the dust settles, the only question is: are you amped up or saddled up? Winner: Stoked (60% of votes) |
Skookum vs. Hyphy A Pacific Northwest powerhouse rooted in Indigenous Chinook jargon, skookum enters the ring with quiet but undeniable strength. Can it stand firm against hyphy, exploding onto the scene in a blur of sideshows and bass? Born in the Bay Area, it’s not just a word—it’s a way of life. Winner: Skookum (62% of votes) |
Northeast
| Bubbler vs. Grinder Bubbler offers crisp, refreshing water with a name that confuses outsiders. Rolling in on a long Italian loaf, grinder is packed with layers of meat and cheese. A clash between hydration and hunger–which will leave you truly satisfied? Winner: Grinder (52% of votes) |
Jimmies vs. Rotary A sprinkle of sweetness, jimmies are a colorful, nostalgic topping that makes any ice cream cone better. Rotary is a fast-moving roundabout that makes some hesitate at the yield sign. Are you rooting for the word that adds fun or the one that demands focus? Winner: Jimmies (60% of votes) |
| ±·´Ç°ù’e²¹²õ³Ù±ð°ù vs. Frappe A brutal storm or a blended treat? ±·´Ç°ù’e²¹²õ³Ù±ð°ù barrels in with howling winds and mountains of snow, emptying out the bread aisle. And after the storm? You get a frappe, a cool creamy reward for surviving another winter, though others just call it a milkshake. Winner: Nor’easter (59% of votes) |
Clicker vs. Carriage A remote control dukes it out with a rolling cart. Clicker commands the TV, requiring nothing more than a lazy flick of the thumb to change the channel. A shopping carriage if you will, rattles down the aisles with a wobbly wheel, watch out for your toes! Winner: Clicker (68% of votes) |
South
| ³Û’a±ô±ô vs. Toboggan Effortlessly inclusive, ²â’a±ô±ô wraps everyone into the conversation with a single syllable. Then you have toboggan speeding down the snowy hills. No, not the sled but the knit cap you wear while you sleigh. At the end of the game, do you want to root for the hat or the holler? Winner: Y’all (79% of votes) |
Yonder vs. Plumb A directional duel between distance and precision. Yonder gestures into the horizon, pointing the way with an easy drawl. Plumb is straight to the point, no room for uncertainty. Why, you must be plumb crazy to wander over yonder! Winner: Yonder (79% of votes) |
| Druthers vs. Hankering Druthers is what you would choose given the option, a wish or desire. Hankering is a strong persistent craving, a longing with a sense of urgency. This is a face-off between preference and desire, do you go with cool determination or let the hunger take over? Winner: Hankering (67% of votes) |
Cattywampus vs. Skedaddle A collision of chaos and escape. Cattywampus lands off-kilter, sideways, and askew—nothing is where it should be, and that’s just the way it is. Skedaddle doesn’t stick around, moving at full speed towards anywhere but here. Are you rooting for the one who makes a mess or the one who leaves town? Winner: Skedaddle (63% of votes) |
Midwest
| Ope vs. Flying Jenny Two Midwestern classics go toe-to-toe in this matchup. Ope is the polite, reflexive apology of the heartland, slipping out whenever someone squeezes past or nearly drops their casserole. Then you have Flying Jenny whooshing in with the energy of a high-flying, homespun contraption. When push comes to shove…Ope, you gonna take that ride?Winner: Ope (67% of votes) |
Yooper vs. Carry-In A Yooper stands rugged and resilient, forged by Michigan’s Upper Peninsula winters, proud of its place beyond the bridge. Carry-in arrives with a crockpot in hand, ready to feed the whole neighborhood, in any church basement or at a small-town potluck. But when the game’s on the line, do you bet on heart or hospitality? Winner: Yooper (60% of votes) |
| White Lightning vs. Pasty An elite matchup between pure fire and hearty sustenance. White Lightning burns hot and fast, just another name for that spirited moonshine that’s as dangerous as it is legendary. On the other hand you have pasty, a meat pie baked to sustain you over a long winter. One knocks you off your feet, the other keeps you steady. Winner: White Lightning (51% of votes) |
Chuckhole vs. Tree Lawn This is a battle of unsexy infrastructure quirks—one you dodge and you don’t pay any mind to. Chuckhole is a Midwest menace, a pothole waiting to ruin your morning commute. Meanwhile, a tree lawn is that strip of grass between sidewalk and street, used only in Cleveland, and known by a thousand different names but noticed by none. Winner: Chuckhole (77% of votes) |
