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Michigan

Michigan slang: regional words, sayings, and how locals talk.

This page collects regional vocabulary from Michigan: slang you'll hear in conversation, sayings that travel through families, and pronunciations that mark a person as a local. Pick a city to narrow the list, or keep "All cities" to see the full Michigan picture.

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All cities Detroit

7 words

A chili-and-mustard hot dog (Detroit-style).

Michigan, Detroit

doorwall Regional

A sliding glass door (Michigan).

kielbasa Loanword

Polish-style smoked sausage.

Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh · Michigan, Detroit · Ohio, Cleveland · New York, Buffalo · +1 more

A short, polite "excuse me" interjection.

Minnesota · Wisconsin · Iowa · Michigan · +3 more

Soft drink (the Midwest answer to "soda").

Ohio · Michigan · Wisconsin · Minnesota · +5 more

Detroit.

Michigan, Detroit

Up North Phrase

The northern lake-cabin country (varies by state).

Michigan · Wisconsin · Minnesota