There are plenty of clever phrases created and used by New Jerseyans from north to south and all points in between. Here are some of our favorite idioms that have completely different meanings in the Garden State.

 

  • 1

    "J'eet yet? No, djew?'

    According to the Urban Dictionary the translation of "J'eet yet? No, djew?" is "Did you eat yet? No, did you?". South Jersey also gets credit for this phrase. My wife and I always use to say this when we first married with no kids or responsibilities. We would promptly go out to eat after saying this phrase. Ah, the good old days!

  • 2

    Jughandle

    My translation for this phrase is "mass confusion". I hate jughandles and I still freeze up when going through them after all these years.

    New Jersey has over 600 jughandles, the most of any state in the U.S., and they've been around for over 50 years.

  • 3

    Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham

    According to Wikipedia, Pork roll is a pork-based processed meat which originated in New Jersey. The phrase Taylor Ham is more of a North Jersey saying while Pork Roll dominates Central and Southern Jersey. Pork roll egg and cheese is one of my all-time breakfast favorites.

  • 4

    Going Down the Shore

    This is probably the most overheard phrase every summer. People use this catchphrase anywhere from New Jersey to Eastern Pennsylvania. Before you know it, we'll soon be inundated by "Bennies" and "Shoebies" as they get ready to go down the shore.

  • 5

    Shoebies

    While we're on the shoebie subject, Urban Dictionary defines them as visitors from the Philly area that would come down the shore for the day or weekend and bring their belongings in shoe boxes. We will feel their presence in full force come the middle of May. Anyone who takes the Margate Bridge during the summer  months knows exactly what I'm talking about.

  • 6

    Bennies

    The term Bennies is more of a Central Jersey phrase and is the equivalent of a shoebie in South Jersey. Bennies usually come from New York or Northern New Jersey and have been stereotyped to have Italian roots.

    (B)ayonne
    (E)lizabeth
    (N)ewark
    (N)ew (Y)ork

    Bennies go home is also a popular phrase used by locals sometime right after Memorial Day Weekend.

  • 7

    Let's Go to Wawa

    A universal phrase known to be said all over New Jersey. For you trivia buffs, the first Wawa actually opened in Wawa, Pennsylvania in 1964. Today, there are over 645 stores all over the U.S.!

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