Boston slang

Boston slang consists of words and phrases of slang originating from Boston. Though most often used in Boston, the slang can also be heard in other cities of Massachusetts, though not always as frequently. Some terms are less commonly heard outside of the Boston area than others.

Slang terms

B

• bang - to make a left turn; sometimes used interchangably with hang
• bazo - a drunkard; used mostly in South Boston
• Beantown - Boston
• Brahmin - Boston Brahmin
• bubbler - drinking fountain

C

• The Cape - Cape Cod
• chowdahead - stupid person
• cleaser - dry cleaner; used more often in the names of dry cleaning shops than in actual speech
• The Combat Zone - the red light district of Boston that used to exist between Downtown Crossing and Chinatown
• The Common - Boston Common
• Cow Hampshire - derogatory term for New Hampshire
• Curse of the Bambino - see article

F

• frappe - a milkshake; the term milkshake has a separate use (see below)

G

• grinder - submarine sandwich; see also spuckie

H

• hang - to make a right turn; sometimes used interchangably with bang
• The Hub - Boston; shortened from Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s phrase The Hub of the Universe

J

• jimmes - sprinkles

M

• milkshake - milk mixed with flavored syrup; differs from frappe by not including ice cream

N

• "No suh!" - "No way!"

P

• packie - liquor store
• The Pike - the Massachusetts Turnpike
• P-town - Provincetown, Massachusetts

S

• Southie - South Boston
• spuckie - submarine sandwich; see also grinder

T

• The T - the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority; also used for the subway run by it
• tonic - soft drink
• townie - a person from the suburbs; also used in reference to someone from Charlestown, Massachusetts

V

• The Vineyard - Martha's Vineyard

W

• wicked - very