Just for fun!!! How to speak Chicagoese
I just got this email today and thought it was hysterical so I thought I'd share with you guys.
Don't Forget Where You Came From.
Chicago grammar:
1. Grachki (grach'-key): Chicagoese for "garage key"
as in, "Yo, Theresa, waja do wit da grachki? Howmy
supposta cut da grass if I don't git intada grach?"
2. Uptadaendada (up-ta-da-en'-dada): As in, "Joey, you
kin ride yur bike uptadaendada alley but not acrost or
I'll bust yur butt."
3. Sammich: Chicagoese for sandwich. When made with
sausage, it's a sassage sammich; when made with
shredded beef, it's an Italian Beef sammich, a local
delicacy consisting of piles of spicy meat in a
perilously soggy bun.
4. Da: This article is a key part of Chicago speech,
as in "Da Bears" or "Da Mare"-the latter denoting
Richard M. Daley, or Richie, as he's often called.
5. Jewels: Not family heirlooms or a tender body
region, but a popular name for one of the region's
dominant grocery store chains. "I'm goin' to da Jewels
to pick up some sassage."
6. Field's: Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago
department store. Also Carson Pirie Scott, another
major department store chain, is simply called
"Carson's."
7. Tree: The number between two and four. "We were
lucky dat we only got tree inches of snow da udder
night."
8. Prairie: A vacant lot, especially one on which
weeds are growing.
9. Over by dere: Translates to "over by there," a way
of emphasizing a site presumed familiar to the
listener. As in, "I got the sassage at da Jewels down
on Kedzie, over by dere."
10. KaminskiPark: The mispronounced name of the
ballpark where the Chicago White Sox (da Sox) play
baseball. Comiskey Park was recently renamed U.S.
Cellular Field (yuck!).
11. Frunchroom: As in, "Getottada frunchroom wit dose
muddy shoes." It's not the "parlor." It's not the
"living room." In the land of the bungalow, it's the
"frunchroom," a named derived, linguists believe, from
"front room."
12. Use: Not the verb, but the plural pronoun "you."
"Where's use goin'?"
13. Downtown: Anywhere near The Lake, south of The Zoo
(Lincoln Park Zoo) and north of Soldier Field.
14. The Lake: Lake Michigan. (What other lake is
there?) It's often used by local weathermen, "cooler
by The Lake."
15. BoysTown: A section on Halsted between Belmont and
Addison which is lined with gay bars both sides of the
street. "Didn't I see use in BoysTown in front of da
Manhole?"
16. Braht: Short for Bratwurst. "Gimme a braht wit
kraut."
17. Cashbox: Traffic reporter slang for tollbooths.
"Dere's a delay at da cashbox on da Skyway."
18. Goes: Past or present tense of the verb "say." For
example, "Then he goes, 'I like this place'!"
19. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people,
regardless of each individual's gender.
20. Pop: A soft drink. Don't say "soda" in this town.
"Do ya wanna canna pop?"
21. Sliders: Nickname for hamburgers from White
Castle, a popular Midwestern burger chain. "Dose
sliders I had last night gave me da runs."
22. The Taste: The Taste of Chicago Festival, a huge
extravaganza in Grant Park featuring samples of
Chicagoland cuisine which takes place each year around
the Fourth of July holiday.
23. "Jieetyet?": Translates to, "Did you eat yet?"
24. Winter and Construction: Punch line to the joke,
"What are the two seasons in Chicago?"
25. Cuppa Too-Tree: is Chicagoese for "a couple, two,
or three" which really means "a few." For example,
"Hey Mike, dere any beerz left in da cooler over by
dere?" "Yeh, a cuppa too-tree."
26. 588-2300: Everyone in Chicago knows this
commercial jingle and the carpet company you'll get if
you call that number-Empire!
27. Junk Djor: You will usually find the 'junk drawer'
in the kitchen filled to the brim with miscellaneous,
but very important, junk.
28. Southern Illinois: Anything south of I-80.
29. Expressways: The Interstates in the immediate
Chicagoland area are usually known just by their
'name' and not their Interstate number: The Dan Ryan
("the Ryan"), the Stevenson, the Kennedy, the
Eisenhower (the "Ike"), and the Edens.
30. Gym Shoes: The rest of the country may refer to
them as sneakers or running shoes but Chicagoans will
always call them gym shoes!
Hope all use guys had a good laugh. 
Those were great!! 
Ok, shoot me later, but I just *have* to say something!
16. Braht: Short for Bratwurst. "Gimme a braht wit
kraut."
I don't think so! Isn't a Brat with kraut New York, LA or something?? But never in my life..... 
29. Expressways: The Interstates in the immediate
Chicagoland area are usually known just by their
'name' and not their Interstate number: The Dan Ryan
("the Ryan"), the Stevenson, the Kennedy, the
Eisenhower (the "Ike"), and the Edens.
I'm not so sure about this one either, everyone I've ever know doesn't know those nicknames for squat....
29. Expressways: The Interstates in the immediate
Chicagoland area are usually known just by their
'name' and not their Interstate number: The Dan Ryan
("the Ryan"), the Stevenson, the Kennedy, the
Eisenhower (the "Ike"), and the Edens.
I'm not so sure about this one either, everyone I've ever know doesn't know those nicknames for squat....
Estela.....
That was theeeee funniest 
Before I even finished it, I wondered to myself if "frunchtroom" was on there. I worked downtown for a couple of years and one day I used that word and right away I was asked if I was from the southside of Chicago. I was young and embarassed so I just walked away. Today is a different story, I'm proud to have been born in this great city.........SOUTHSIDE-CHICAGO Being 5 minutes from Midway, you hear and see alot.
Again, thanks for the laughs!!!!!!!
Laura
Before I even finished it, I wondered to myself if "frunchtroom" was on there. I worked downtown for a couple of years and one day I used that word and right away I was asked if I was from the southside of Chicago. I was young and embarassed so I just walked away. Today is a different story, I'm proud to have been born in this great city.........SOUTHSIDE-CHICAGO Being 5 minutes from Midway, you hear and see alot.
Again, thanks for the laughs!!!!!!!
Laura Most Active
Recent Topics
