Updated November 20, 2005

Listed are phases that people from Northeastern Pennsylvania think are used exclusively in Northeastern Pennsylvania, however, they are used elsewhere, by people who do not have roots in Northeastern PA.

Ack-a-me – Acme Supermarket. This pronounciation is not exclusive to Northeastern PA. Older people pronounce Acme this way where ever there are Acme Supermarkets. By the way, are there any Acme's in Northeastern PA?

Hatchy Milatchy – not only a children's show on WNEP-TV, it was a popular song by Rosemary Clooney. Miss Judy used to lipsync to Rosemary Clooney at the beginning of each show. If Uncle Ted was hosting the show, he did not lipsync to Rosemary Clooney. Contrary to popular belief, Miss Judy was not married to District Forrester Manny Gordon.

highball – a drink of whiskey or other liquor, mixed with soda, ginger ale, etc. served with ice in a tall glass (Reference: Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary). A young person would seem odd if he or she asked for a highball in a bar because it is no longer fashionable, not because it is a local phrase.

hose company – a volunteer fire company. In Northeastern PA, some volunteer fire companies refer to themselves as "hose companies". While it is not too common elsewhere, there are hose companies in Burlington, NJ, Bristol, RI and Barton, MD. It seems to be localized to the Northeastern US.

Hunkie – someone of Eastern European decent. This term is also used in Johnstown, PA.

man with a paper a**-hole – a very stupid man; a man with a squeaky voice. many people pondered the origins of this phrase

omadhaun – a fool; a heathen (possibly). Word is of Gaelic origin, and used in ethnic Irish neighborhoods in New York.

Posted March 20, 2000.

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