If you’ve lived anywhere outside of South Dakota, you’re probably a bit confused by everyone else’s vocabulary. Here in the Mount Rushmore State, some words mean something entirely different than they do around the rest of the country. If you define any of these 11 words the South Dakotan way, we know you’re tried and true.
- Traffic
Whatknot/Flickr For most people this is what happens when there are dozens upon dozens of cars backing up the flow of traffic. For a South Dakotan, this is when a bison walks in front of your car and you have to wait for it to pass.
- Crick
snakeb8/Flickr Most people use this to describe a “crick” in your neck after sleeping wrong. South Dakotans always mean the correct way to say “creek.” It’s crick.
- Dinner
Beatrice Murch/Flickr In South Dakota, dinner is lunch and lunch is a snack. Supper is the meal you eat in the evening.
- Drug Store
Wall Drug/Facebook Everywhere else this is just the term for a pharmacy. Here it’s the most magical rest stop in all of the United States.
- Income Tax
Alan Cleaver/Flickr Everywhere else: the annoying tax you have to pay. Here: this term is nonexistent.
- Badlands
Matt Bins/Flickr Most people are reminded of the old crime movie or the popular Bruce Springsteen song. Badlands to a South Dakotan means our most beautiful, amazing national park.
- The Hills
Haydn Blackey/Flickr Everyone else: actual hills, or that one reality show on MTV. Here: the Black Hills: home to South Dakota’s most amazing mountains and landscapes.
- Pecker Pole
Allan Hack/Flickr What everyone else thinks: a phrase that makes you want to giggle no matter how old you are. What South Dakotans instantly think: a small tree.
- Deadwood
Jenni Konrad/Flickr To most people, this is that one western show that was super popular on HBO. To us, it’s that one town that was completely dead until HBO made it super popular and now it’s full of tourists (but we still love it).
- Rush
Rapid City Rush/Facebook Everyone else: hurry, move quickly. South Dakotans: Rapid City Rush hockey!
- Corn
UGA CAES/Extension To everyone in the world, corn is just a vegetable. To us, it’s the backdrop to our whole lives, and a palace in Mitchell.
Do you define these words the South Dakotan way? What else would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments!
Whatknot/Flickr
For most people this is what happens when there are dozens upon dozens of cars backing up the flow of traffic. For a South Dakotan, this is when a bison walks in front of your car and you have to wait for it to pass.
snakeb8/Flickr
Most people use this to describe a “crick” in your neck after sleeping wrong. South Dakotans always mean the correct way to say “creek.” It’s crick.
Beatrice Murch/Flickr
In South Dakota, dinner is lunch and lunch is a snack. Supper is the meal you eat in the evening.
Wall Drug/Facebook
Everywhere else this is just the term for a pharmacy. Here it’s the most magical rest stop in all of the United States.
Alan Cleaver/Flickr
Everywhere else: the annoying tax you have to pay. Here: this term is nonexistent.
Matt Bins/Flickr
Most people are reminded of the old crime movie or the popular Bruce Springsteen song. Badlands to a South Dakotan means our most beautiful, amazing national park.
Haydn Blackey/Flickr
Everyone else: actual hills, or that one reality show on MTV. Here: the Black Hills: home to South Dakota’s most amazing mountains and landscapes.
Allan Hack/Flickr
What everyone else thinks: a phrase that makes you want to giggle no matter how old you are. What South Dakotans instantly think: a small tree.
Jenni Konrad/Flickr
To most people, this is that one western show that was super popular on HBO. To us, it’s that one town that was completely dead until HBO made it super popular and now it’s full of tourists (but we still love it).
Rapid City Rush/Facebook
Everyone else: hurry, move quickly. South Dakotans: Rapid City Rush hockey!
UGA CAES/Extension
To everyone in the world, corn is just a vegetable. To us, it’s the backdrop to our whole lives, and a palace in Mitchell.
If you say any of these eleven words, there’s a good chance you say these phrases, too.
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