Before college, I had never really left the beautiful state of Washington for any large amount of time. However, when I did, I realized that a lot of phrases we frequently use mean nothing to the rest of the world! So, test your state knowledge and see how many of these uniquely Washington phrases you know!
1. Riding the S.L.U.T.
For those that live outside our luscious state, knowing that many Seattleites ride the S.L.U.T. on a daily basis might make you think all that recreational marijuana has gone to our heads. And maybe it has! But well before the legalization of marijuana in 2012, Seattle built what is now known as the S.L.U.T. If you’re still confused, S.L.U.T actually stands for the South Lake Union Trolley. In fact, the S.L.U.T was built to be a “modern streetcar system that will provide new urban mobility options, support economic growth and strengthen connections among the places where people live, work and socialize.”
2. Tolo
Somehow, being the smart Washingtonians that we are, we invented a whole new word that every single high school student will use at least once in their life. Although the meaning of this word is still being debated on various online forums, in Washington, it’s simply another word for a Sadie Hawkins dance. Why make up another word? Oh, I don’t know, probably because we do whatever we want.
3. Aroma of Tacoma
If you’ve ever driven south from Seattle to Tacoma, you may have smelt the awful odor many of us have come to know as the aroma of Tacoma. Given that many people believe the smell to be attributed to the Puget Sound (didn’t know salt water could smell like death), let’s set the record straight. There is actually a huge paper mill right on the border of Fife leading into Tacoma that creates an awful stench while driving through. Hence, the aroma of Tacoma.
4. U-Dub
When talking to a young Washingtonian, they might happen to mention U-Dub. You may be thinking, is that a type of music? A downtown nightclub? However, it just happens to be an abbreviation of the University of Washington. The “U” obviously comes from the university, while the “W” in Washington gives us the iconic double-u sound, which is shortened into dub! U-Dub!
5. The Troll
Although this landmark is not too difficult to figure out, it still might make someone from out of the state question those around them. No, the Troll is not a real person, he is, in fact, a huge sculpture that was created underneath the Aurora Bridge in Fremont, WA. This giant Troll can be seen the old fashion way, in person, or in the iconic 1999 film, "10 Things I Hate About You" starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles.
6. Filthy
Last, but certainly not least, is the word of my youth - filthy. No, calling someone’s clothes filthy does not mean their clothes are actually dirty, rather, it means the other person really likes them. Most commonly, filthy can be used in replacement of the word cool, however, it also insinuates that whatever is being talked about is most likely new and something to be coveted.
