New York is one of the most visited cities in the world, but tourists may struggle with some of the local slang. New Yorkers have developed a unique vernacular including these 20 terms, often leaving tourists scratching their heads.
The City That Never Sleeps
New Yorkers often call their home “the city that never sleeps.” Frank Sinatra popularized the phrase in his song “(Theme From) New York, New York,” and it’s been used ever since. Cities like Cairo, Shanghai, and Lagos also use the nickname.
The Subway
The “subway” refers to the New York City Subway, a rapid transit system in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. It was opened in 1904, making it one of the world’s oldest public transit systems.
The Big Apple
New York is often referred to as the “Big Apple,” but most people are unaware of the nickname’s origins. Fox 5 New York explains that the nickname “originated in the 1920s, referring to the prizes—known as ‘big apples’—awarded at numerous racing courses in and around New York City.”
Hustle and Bustle
New Yorkers often talk about the “hustle and bustle” of daily life in the city. This phrase can sound nonsensical to non-native English speakers, but it refers to the Big Apple’s busy and hectic nature.
Outer Boroughs
The “outer boroughs” of New York are the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens. Although the Brooklyn-Queens border is the city’s geographic center, Manhattan isn’t referred to as an outer borough.
The Village
“The Village” in New York is Greenwich Village, a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan’s West Side. Britannica explains that it was “a village settlement during colonial times” and became “a rendezvous for nonconformist writers, artists, students, bohemians, and intellectuals” after 1910.
Uptown vs. Downtown
New Yorkers often refer to different parts of Manhattan as “uptown” or “downtown.” Areas south of 14th Street are considered downtown, while areas from 60th to 116th Streets are uptown. Anything north of 116th is Harlem.
The Five Boroughs
New York’s five boroughs are Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. They all have distinct cultures, but Manhattan is the best-known borough with tourists despite being the smallest by area.
Pizza Rat
Pizza Rat is a 2015 viral meme showing a rat carrying a pizza slice down the steps of a Manhattan subway station. It got millions of views in the days after it was uploaded to Instagram and inspired Pizza Rat Halloween costumes.
Bodega
A “bodega” is a small owner-operated convenience store that’s open late and serves hot and prepared food. BBC explains that the word is Spanish for “wine cellar” or “warehouse” and that the “neighborhood shops likely originated with Spanish and Cuban immigrants in the early 1900s” as Puerto Ricans migrated to New York in large numbers.
Bagel with a Schmear
New Yorkers love a bagel with a schmear or a generous spread of cream cheese. “Schmear” comes from the Yiddish term “to spread,” and the bagel has become a staple of New York cuisine.
The L
When New Yorkers mention the “L,” they’re talking about the L 14th Street–Canarsie Local, a subway line that travels along 24 stations. It was the first subway service in the city that was automated with communications-based train control.
On Line vs. In Line
When New Yorkers say they’re waiting “on line,” most people would assume they’re using the internet. They’re referring to waiting in a line. Merriam-Webster explains that “on line” is “a phrase largely local to the New York City region.”
Cabbie
A “cabbie” is a taxicab driver in New York. The city is famous for its yellow or medallion taxis, which pick up passengers anywhere in the five boroughs. It also has boro taxis, which are painted apple green.
The Garment District
The Garment District, or Fashion District, is a Manhattan neighborhood historically known for its clothes industry. Thousands of tourists visit the neighborhood annually and take pictures standing next to its famous “Needle Threading A Button” sculpture.
Bridge and Tunnel
When New Yorkers refer to the “bridge and tunnel,” they’re mocking people who live in areas like Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and New Jersey and commute into Manhattan for work and entertainment. StreetEasy explains that the phrase “is thought to have first appeared in ‘To Be Thin, Beautiful and Cheek-to-Jowl,’ a New York Times story” from 1977.
The High Line
The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long linear park built on an abandoned section of the New York Central Railroad’s West Side Line. It was inspired by a similar French project, the 2.9-mile long Coulée verte, and attracts millions of visitors annually.
Hell’s Kitchen
Hell’s Kitchen, formerly known as Clinton, is an old neighborhood on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan. It was known for being home to a working-class Irish-American and Hispanic-American community, but it’s now also famous for its large LGBTQ population.
The Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is a free passenger ferry service that runs a 5.2-mile route through New York Harbor between Manhattan and Staten Island. The journey is available every day of the week for 24 hours and takes around 25 minutes.
Juice
“Juice” means energy, credibility, or influence in New York. It’s also the name of a 1992 crime drama film about a group of teenagers dealing with police harassment and gang activity set in Harlem, starring Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur.
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