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How do Midwesterners say pop?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 17, 2026

"Pop" is a word for what others call "soda."

One of the most common words Midwesterners get teased for saying is their word for "soda." You may get strange looks for saying it elsewhere in the US, but a fizzy, flavored drink is called a "pop" in the Midwest.

What is pop called in the Midwest?

Soda is the preferred term in the Northeast, most of Florida, California, and pockets in the Midwest around Milwaukee and St. Louis. Pop is what people say in most of the Midwest and West. And coke, even if it's not Coca-Cola brand, is what people call it in the South.

Why do Midwesterners say pop?

They say the term "soda pop" is traced back to the 1800s when seltzer water came into production and tasty carbonated beverages were eventually served at soda fountains in drug stores. Their report indicates "pop" itself caught on as slang, and was prominently used in northern states like Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Do they say pop in Illinois?

So where does the word “pop” reign supreme? People in states like Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Minnesota say that they use “pop.” People in states like California, Missouri, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Wisconsin say “soda.”

Why does Michigan say pop?

One of the most notable examples of regionalisms is what people call a carbonated beverage. In Michigan, parts of Ohio and Indiana, and the upper middle states, people call the beverage “pop.” The word “soda” is used on the East Coast, West Coast, Hawaii, and Southern Florida. People use the word “coke” in the south.

40 related questions found

Do they say pop in Detroit?

Said "pop" growing up in Detroit area, lived in Chicago, San Francisco and DC since then and now say "soda." It's Faygo Red POP, not Faygo Red soda!!! Grew up in Michigan with "pop" now living in Florida and more likely to use "soda."

Why is pop called pop?

“Pop” is used predominantly in the Northwest, the Great Plains and the Midwest. The word was originated by a British poet in 1812, who wrote, “A new manufacture of a nectar, between soda water and ginger beer, and called 'pop,' because 'pop goes the cork' when it is drawn.”

Does Chicago call pop?

What about carbonated beverages, do you use "soda," "pop," or "Coke?" Now across the U.S. the answer is pretty mixed, but Chicago and most of northern Illinois, use "pop," while the rest of the state say "soda."

What states say pop and soda?

On the West Coast and in New England, people are more likely to say "soda," whereas in some parts of the South, people say "Coke" or "Coca-Cola" to refer to any type of carbonated beverage. You'll likely hear "pop" in states like North Dakota and Minnesota.

Is pop a Southern term?

Referring to the carbonated soft drink as a Coke (even if it's not a Coca-Cola) is common in the southern states, soda is the term for it on the northeastern coast and pop is the word in the midwest.

Was it called soda or pop first?

1835 The first bottled soda water is available in the U.S. 1850 A manual, hand & foot operated, filling & corking device, is first used for bottling soda water. 1861 The term "pop" is first coined.

What words do Midwesterners say weird?

14 Midwestern Sayings That The Rest Of America Can't Understand

  • "If I had my druthers…" ...
  • "Oh, for cute!" or "Oh, for fun!" ...
  • "For cryin' out loud." ...
  • "That makes as much sense as government cheese." ...
  • "He's schnookered!" ...
  • "The Frozen Chosen." ...
  • "Duck Duck Gray Duck" ...
  • "He's got the holler tail."

Do people in Minnesota say soda or pop?

According to the map in Appendix A, the term “pop” is used more frequently in Minnesota, but in Wisconsin, the usage of the term seems to be more prevalent in the western side of the state, whereas the usage of the term “soda” remains dominant in the eastern side of Wisconsin.

Is pop a Midwestern thing?

"Pop" is a word for what others call "soda."

One of the most common words Midwesterners get teased for saying is their word for "soda." You may get strange looks for saying it elsewhere in the US, but a fizzy, flavored drink is called a "pop" in the Midwest.

Why is Coke called pop?

The story goes that "pop" got its name from the sound that's made when you remove the cork from a bottle of...well, pop. Maybe if there hadn't been innovations like the soda fountain or Coca-Cola in other parts of the country, we'd all be using this onomatopoeia to refer to our soft drinks, too.

Is pop or soda more common?

Nearly half of the country — 47 percent — refers to it as "soda," while 23 percent say "pop" and another 19 percent go the proper noun route and say "Coke."

What is pop called?

Soda or pop or coke or soft drink, all refer to carbonated beverages. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Thumbs up, Sprite, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, etc., to name a few are all fizzy carbonated drinks.

Do they say pop or soda in New York?

The soda, pop and coke Civil War continues to rage in America and the Mason-Dixon line lies in Upstate New York. That's because in Rochester, Buffalo and the rest of Western New York, the sweet, carbonated drink is typically called a pop. In the rest of the state, it's a soda.

Does Chicago say pop or sofa?

Mapmaker Alan McConchie provides a map that illustrate, yes (of course), the Chicago region is squarely "pop" turf. But at the same time, the fact that any controversy, as it were, exists might be due to the encroaching proximity of "soda" and "coke" districts.

What is a pop in Chicago?

Public Outdoor Plaza (POP!)

What do they call sneakers in Chicago?

But when it comes to the “sneakers vs. tennis shoes” debate, Chicagoans are an outlier and prefer to say “gym shoes.” Along with… Cincinnati?!

What region says pop?

"Pop" is most commonly associated with the Midwest, in states like Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana and Iowa. The term is also more common in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West.

Who coined the term pop?

The first known reference of the term “Pop”, as referring to a beverage, was in 1812 in a letter written by English poet Robert Southey.

Do Michiganders say pop?

Pop — People might call it “soda” or “Coke” in other parts of the U.S., but that's just crazy talk. We Michiganders call the sugary, carbonated beverages “pop.” It's said that this Michigan word comes from the sound that opening a soft drink bottle makes.

What words do Michiganders say differently?

We've put together a list of terms that prove Michiganders do in fact have an accent.

  • BAFFROOM, not "bathroom" Sidekix Media via Unsplash. ...
  • CLOZE, not "clothes" Sarah Brown via Unsplash. ...
  • CMERE, not "come here" ...
  • CRICK, not "creek" ...
  • EECHA, as in "eecha dinner" ...
  • ER, not "or" ...
  • FEB-YOO-ARY, not "February" ...
  • GIMME, not "give me"