Milwaukeeans are friendly, fun, and always up for a good time! The problem is, you might have trouble understanding what we’re talking about. Here are nine phrases you’ll definitely hear around Milwaukee.
- “There’s a bubbler.”
Flickr / Oregon Department of Transportation Drinking fountains don’t exist in Milwaukee. Only bubblers.
- “Can you do this ‘real quick?’”
pascal a. / Flickr We’re not talking about speed here. When asking you for a favor we tend to add “real quick” to the end. Our Midwestern charm leads us to try and make the favor seem like no big deal. But please, take your time.
3.“Sure, I’ll take a bay-g.”
Jeremy Piehler / Flickr We say the word “bag” with a sharp A sound, and yes we will argue with you about it. Pronounced like “bay-g”…or “bay-gel” (if talking about bagels). This rule doesn’t apply to words like “pack” and “back.” But yes, we would like a bag with that…
- “We’re going Up North.”
Pacheco / Flickr “Up North” refers to northern Wisconsin. We will never be specific, we are merely going “Up North.”
- “I have to go to the tyme machine.”
jason saul / Flickr No, we don’t time travel. Even though TYME (Take Your Money Everywhere) machines aren’t around much anymore, you’ll often find a Milwaukeean using this in place of “ATM.”
- “Let me see that once.”
Reuben Stanton / Flickr It doesn’t mean we want to see it only once, but for some reason we add “once” to the end constantly.
- “The skeeters are out.”
Tom / Flickr Mosquitos are rough on summer nights in Milwaukee. Don’t let the skeeters getcha'.
- “The cheese has to squeak.”
Lynn Friedman / Flickr A cheese curd isn’t a cheese curd if it doesn’t squeak when you rub them together.
- “It’s not a sausage, it’s a brat.”
Flickr / David Wright Seen at many tailgating events and family cookouts are Milwaukee’s famous bratwursts. Just don’t ever call them sausage.
How many of these phrases do you use? What else do you hear Milwaukeeans say? Tell us in the comments!
Flickr / Oregon Department of Transportation
Drinking fountains don’t exist in Milwaukee. Only bubblers.
pascal a. / Flickr
We’re not talking about speed here. When asking you for a favor we tend to add “real quick” to the end. Our Midwestern charm leads us to try and make the favor seem like no big deal. But please, take your time.
Jeremy Piehler / Flickr
We say the word “bag” with a sharp A sound, and yes we will argue with you about it. Pronounced like “bay-g”…or “bay-gel” (if talking about bagels). This rule doesn’t apply to words like “pack” and “back.” But yes, we would like a bag with that…
Pacheco / Flickr
“Up North” refers to northern Wisconsin. We will never be specific, we are merely going “Up North.”
jason saul / Flickr
No, we don’t time travel. Even though TYME (Take Your Money Everywhere) machines aren’t around much anymore, you’ll often find a Milwaukeean using this in place of “ATM.”
Reuben Stanton / Flickr
It doesn’t mean we want to see it only once, but for some reason we add “once” to the end constantly.
Tom / Flickr
Mosquitos are rough on summer nights in Milwaukee. Don’t let the skeeters getcha'.
Lynn Friedman / Flickr
A cheese curd isn’t a cheese curd if it doesn’t squeak when you rub them together.
Flickr / David Wright
Seen at many tailgating events and family cookouts are Milwaukee’s famous bratwursts. Just don’t ever call them sausage.
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