How to spot a local Arizonan (slang, quirks, & more)

With our unique sayings, pronunciation, and idiosyncrasies, it’s easy to spot a local Arizonan. 

In recent years, Arizona has seen an influx of population growth. While this growth has both pros—growing businesses and home equity—and cons—even more potholes, traffic, and rent increases—spotting locals has been easier than ever. That’s because Arizonans shine like no other and have their own sayings, slang, pronunciations, and idiosyncrasies. Here are just a few of the big ones! 

Slay with those sayings & slang

The big ditch: 

This phrase is pretty commonplace and is a way to minimize the magnitude of the Grand Canyon. It’s the humble brag of locals, since our backyard includes the big ditch. Weirdly enough, though, it seems that the majority of locals have never ever seen this world wonder. 

Swamp box:

You cannot comfortably or sanely live in an Arizona city without an air conditioner—or at least an evaporative cooler. Both are referred to as the swamp box, since the inside of our homes get swampy whenever monsoon season hits. 

Flag: 

Flagstaff is a giant playground for locals that also houses a college campus. Naturally, this town gets shortened and is instead colloquially referred to as “Flag.”

Haboob vs. dust storm: 

Despite what other lists, out-of-towners, and newcomers say, do NOT, I repeat, do NOT, call a dust storm a haboob. This will make you stand out like a sore thumb. Only in recent years have people used this Middle Eastern term for a sand storm, and those that have generational roots in the Grand Canyon State will not be caught calling dust storms by any other name. Who cares if an Arizona scientist was the first to begin referring to the ominous red air as haboobs. 

MVD not DMV: 

While over half of the states call the Department of Motor Vehicles the DMV, Arizona knows it as the MVD. 

Snowbirds:

If you have spent a winter in Arizona, then you know the roads get congested and silver alerts go on the rise all because the Midwesterners are like birds flying south for the winter. They migrate here during the colder months to avoid the snow, hence the term snowbirds.

IYKYK: Idiosyncrasies among Arizonans

Sweaters in the summer: 

Since we all run the swamp box in the high heat, indoors can get chilly while the outdoors are anything but. Experienced Arizonans will carry a sweater with them everywhere, especially in the summer. 

Oven mitts in the car:

Oven mitts, steering wheel covers, and gloves are a must, as the steering wheels can get so hot that people have literally burned their hands. 

Scottsdale beauty: 

I lived in Scottsdale for a short while and when I would travel around and tell people this, it was like a song choir. “You don’t need plastic surgery!” It was like all women felt the need to reassure me of natural beauty, since Scottsdale is known for being a little more plastic. 

Everything by two street corners: 

Ask any local for location and instead of an address, you’ll get an intersection. Arizona cities are fairly well planned out and exist on a grid of streets, so offering up intersections is almost the same as giving directions—as long as you’re local and know which direction Alma School is when you’re on Camelback. 

Tap water:

There is very little need to turn on the hot water in the summer, as the cold tap line is already hot from the outside weather.

Only going 20 over:

Much of the state has a speed limit of 75, but this is too slow for most locals. Put Ludacris on the playlist and drive like you stole it, instead. Just don’t be surprised if you’re in the fast lane and people are frustrated that you’re only going 20 over—and no, this is not legal. 

Flood irrigation: 

Why are all those yards flooded? Oh, it must be SRP’s flood irrigation system keeping that grass green. 

The 10, the 60, the 202, the 101: 

There is a running joke that goes “Is 101 a highway, the speed limit, or the temperature?” and this pretty much sums up Arizona. Only, it’s incorrect because locals don’t say “highway 101” or “101.” Nope. Instead, you will hear the 101, the 60, the 10, the 202, the 40. Mostly because these are the main highways and take us to all the best spots. 

Pronunciation challenge

If you’re Arizonan, you know how to pronounce these words the right way.

Prescott: 

It’s not press-scott, it’s press-kit. 

Huachuca:

It’s not hoo-uh-choo-kuh, it’s wah-choo-kuh. 

San Carlos: 

It’s not san-carlos, it’s sain-carlos.

Casa Grande: 

It’s not caw-saw grawnd, it’s cass-uh grand.

Saguaro: 

It’s not sug-arr-oh, it’s sa-war-oh.

Pinal: 

It’s not pee-null like penal code, it’s pin-al.

Tempe: 

It’s not temp, it’s temp-pee, with emphasis on the second syllable. 

Canyon de Chelly:

It’s not canyon doo chell-lee. It’s canyon duh shay. 

Bonus: Gen Alpha slang

This may not be strictly Arizonan, but these are terms our youth are using, as I’ve learned from teaching 6th through 12th-grade Arizonans for the last several years.

Chicken nugget: 

From the age of 5 to 14, kids are using “chicken nugget” or “chicken nuggie” as a sign of approval or disapproval, depending on the context. 

Skibidi:

If you’ve never seen the YouTube sensation “Skibidi Toilet,” consider yourself lucky. It is good to know though that it has sparked a phrase in our preteens and teens that is running rampant: skibidi. It is fun to say and is often attached to a positive expression, saying, “That’s so skibidi,” meaning “That’s so cool.”

Sigma/Beta: 

Most of us know the differences between alpha, sigma, and beta, but few of us use it as much as the new generation. Sigma is the highest compliment and sign of approval, whereas beta is a giant insult and akin to calling someone a loser. 

Rizz: 

Though the youth don’t realize it, this is a shortened version of “charisma.” You will hear it used as “That guy is a rizzler” or “They have rizz,” which is a way of saying the person has a magical vibe. 

Aura: 

Perhaps a 70’s new age resurgence, aura is now used to describe someone’s vibe or energy. 

Yap: 

If you know anyone from the mid 20th century, you’ve heard this word long before our youth. Yap means chatting. I like to ask my 8th graders why they brought the yappuccinos to my class.

Arizona’s melting pot

It’s fun to separate the locals from the tourists and newcomers, but Phoenix is and always has been a hodgepodge of transplants. While there are the locals and families who have lived there for generations, the melting pot of culture found in Phoenix is profound and seen in the vast varieties of grocery stores, restaurants, and unique things to do.

Tucson also draws quite a diverse crowd, especially with the renowned annual gem fair. Of course, Quartzite has been a subculture scene for decades, drawing in people from all over the nation. Sedona is a world-renowned retreat destination that attracts international spiritual seekers. Flagstaff is the third-snowiest city in the country and sits along the 40, priming it for passersby. The Grand Canyon is on world-wide bucket lists, attracting visitors from all over.

Part of what makes Arizona so beautiful is not just the scenery, but the diversity of people and cultures that make this state the best to call home. So while recognizing locals is part of the day, embracing the tourists and newcomers is also worthwhile. You never know what magical thing they’ll add to this already wonderful state. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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