You can’t deny that Long Islanders can be a bit self-absorbed. We think the world revolves around our tiny piece of land, but can you blame us? It’s beautiful, safe from natural disasters, and in the shadow of the greatest city in the world. Though it puts a dent in my ego to admit it, many of our favorite words and phrases mean nothing to the rest of the country… what a shame.
1. BEC
Bacon, egg, and cheese smothered in salt, pepper, and ketchup on a roll. A.k.a. the best breakfast when you’re having a rough morning, or really any morning.
2. Half and Half
You wash down that BEC with an ice-cold half and half. No, not the creamer. The half-iced tea, half-lemonade creation made popular by Arnold Palmer.
3. Dunkin'
Dunkin’ Donuts. A true Long Islander’s car is filled with 20-30 empty iced coffee cups.
4. Hero
Not a hoagie. Not a sub. A hero: 3 foot, 4 foot, 6 foot. Italian, American, chicken cutlet. The options are endless.
5. Deli
The place you get said hero and BEC. There’s one on literally every corner.
6. Diner
Again, one on every corner. All open 24 hours. Every good night ends in a diner booth at 3 a.m. with fries with mozzarella and gravy in front of you.
7. A Slice
Of the world’s best pizza.
8. Ralph’s
A key ingredient to a Long Island summer, these “Famous Italian Ices” are the star of just about everyone’s Snapchat stories. Ice never looked so beautiful, or tasted so good.
9. Carvel
Everyone knows Wednesday is Sundae with Carvel’s buy-one-get-one-free deal.
10. Half Off Apps
Fifty percent off appetizers at Applebee’s. See half of your high school while paying $4 for wings, quesadillas, and mozzarella sticks … a Long Island Friday night.
11. Guap
Money -- thank you, Big Sean. Most of ours goes to taxes -- thank you, local governments.
12. Tight
“You know what makes me tight?” Goes on to list 20 things that piss you off.
13. Dope
Cool. Great. Sweet. Fantastic. Impressive.
14. Good Looks
Good job. Good for you. You go, dude.
15. Deadass
This is for when you’re really serious about something. If you say "deadass," we know you’re telling the truth.
16. Bro
An affectionate term that every male uses for every other male in every sentence. We are kind of all related anyway so it works.
17. Mad
That pizza wasn’t good. It was mad good.
18. Brick
"Man, it's brick outside." It's really, really, really cold. Sometimes altered to "brick titties" for extra flair.
19. Yeet
Long Islanders suck… yeet. It’s our way of saying “psych!”
20. Buggin'
“I’m buggin'. I just saw Jess flirt with Chris and he didn’t even stop her. Like, WTF?!”
21. Cop
“Yo, I’m tryna cop a ride home, finna pick me up?” Cop = get.
22. Finna
“Yo, I’m tryna cop a ride, finna pick me up?” Finna = going to.
23. Dip
“This party is mad boring, wanna dip?” Dip = leave.
24. On Line
We wait on line at the super market. Not in it, that would just be weird.
25. JAP
A Jewish American Princess made popular by TLC’s “Princesses of Long Island.” No, the vast majority of us are not driving our Mercedeses up the driveways of our mansions.
26. Sweet 16
A girl’s pre-wedding. Big poufy dress, court of best friends to assist her on the big day, DJ, cocktail hour… yeah, it’s a wedding without a groom.
27. Pool Hopping
A lot of homes have pools in their backyards, so the logical thing for teenagers to do is trespass on stranger’s property and jump the fences from pool to pool throughout the whole neighborhood.
28. OP Run
An Ocean Parkway run. A drive down the beautiful stretch of road that leads to south shore beaches. It heals the heart.
29. The Pencil
On the OP run, you will pass this large pencil structure. No one knows its purpose, but it has its own Snapchat geotag, so it must be important.
30. Jones Beach Concerts
A true Long Islander knows there is nothing better than tailgating for hours before a concert right on the water at the Nikon Center of Jones Beach.
31. Piano Man
No, not the man playing the piano in a hotel lobby. Billy Joel, duh.
32. LIE
Long Island Expressway. The road you do not want to be on during rush hour, or ever, if you can help it.
33. LIRR
Long Island Railroad. The amazingly convenient railway that gets us into Penn Station in about an hour and lets us drink during the ride. It’s a beautiful thing, even if the guy next to you falls asleep on your shoulder.
34. Jamaica
Never change trains at Jamaica after a certain time at night. Just don’t.
35. Upstate
Anything above the City. That includes you, Westchester.
36. The City
New York City. We don’t need the New York part, because we know this is the only relevant city in the country.
So just know that next time you use a Long Island phrase and get blank stares from your out-of-area friends, there are 7.6 million other people who know what you mean.
