How to Spot Someone From Pittsburgh or Western Pennsylvania

Anytime I'm away from my home of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and meet someone new, I can always tell if they're from Pittsburgh or at least the Western part of PA. If you pick up on just a few of these things, you will be able to do it, too.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Before you even get a good look at the person, just listen to him speak. The Pittsburgh accent is very distinct and it even has its own term--Pittsburghese. Things have the same meaning, but they are referred to differently. For instance, shopping carts are buggies, nosy is nebby, rubber bands are gum bands, and to clean up is to redd up.

2. 
   Is it open? Haa!

   Pittsburghese, besides having its own words, also has a distinct sound to it and words are run together. "Did you eat yet?" becomes "Jeet jet?" "The Steelers" are "The Stillers." If someone tells you that they want to go, "Dahntahn to get a hoagie with yinz guys n'at and by the way, Kennywood's open." That means that he wants to go downtown to get a sub sandwich with you and your friends and all that. And by the way, your fly is down."

3. 

   Once you've heard the person, yet you're still not sure where he may be from, look at his clothing. If he's wearing any sort of Pittsburgh sports attire, such as the Steelers, Penguins, and even the Pirates, that may be a clue. If you've seen this person more than once and he is always wearing Pittsburgh sports clothing, that is a definite clue. Pittsburgh is the City of Champions and its people are very proud of their sports teams!

4. 

   Does this person drive a yellow vehicle? If yes, he or she is probably from Pittsburgh. There's a good ratio of yellow cars to other colors there. The reason of course is to show their Steelers or Penguins pride! And speaking of the sports, they will know their sports teams very well. They can and will talk endlessly about the Steel Curtain, will remember when the Pirates were a really great baseball team and still love Mario Lemieux and can spell his name, too.

5. 

   When not donned in national sports clothing, look for the men to be wearing gold chains, white wife beaters or Harley Davidson shirts, and having slicked back, gelled hair. The woman may still have stiff bangs with big hair or straight hair with highlights and will usually have acrylic nails. You can sometimes still catch a mullet on the males and the females alike.

Tips & Warnings

• The Pittsburghers are very proud of their Primanti Bros--if you eat one in front of them, do not ask why the fries are not on the side.
• When drinking with the 'Burghers, IC Lights are appropriate.
• If they say their car needs washed, do not correct their grammar.

[respite]

on 7/30/2009 funny article ... yeah, identifying people by their dialect or sayings is soo true. I'm from Idaho and moved to California and everyone says I have an accent. I say no I just speak properly!!! 5* recommendation!!

[hollywin]

on 7/18/2009 This is so funny. You are so funny. Wow!

[lucindaroth]

on 7/7/2009 Wow I never knew you could tell where someone was from like this.

[karileighk]

on 7/2/2009 I didn't realize that yellow vehicles are that popular in the location. I'll check the next time I see one!

[cmoon]

on 7/2/2009 hahaha, I go to WVU and a couple of my best friends are from Pittsburgh and says "yinz". They are DEFINITELY loyal to their steelers and pens! Great article!