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Colloquialisms

For someone who isn't familiar with either the Mid-Atlantic / Northeast or even just Philadelphia, local lingo in the area can seem rather daunting. Here is a breakdown of Philadelphia's most popular local terms.

 • Youse (guys) You guys, you all
 • Water Ice A dessert served by local restaurants that features flavored slushy ice. Sometimes called Italian Ice. Check out Rita's Water Ice for some of the best (you can even get it with gelato!)
 • Dis, Dat, Dey, Dees, Doze, Dem, Dough This, That, They, These, Those, Them, Though
 • Wooder, Warder Water
 • Whiz wit / witout When ordering a cheesesteak, a cheesesteak 'wit' comes with onions, a cheesesteak 'witout' does not. Also available in American and Provolone