Ahhh Michigan. Where we pass on the right, turn left from the right lane, drink pop and neutralize acids with soda, minutes is a measure of distance, we hate Ohio State regardless of who you support, and can drive south to Canada. It may seem confusing, so here’s a guide to our unique way of talking and living.

A2 — A shortened version of Ann Arbor. Likewise, Kzoo is Kalamazoo and Ypsi is Ypsilanti.

Breakwall — Where friends and neighbors gather to cool off during the three months that Michigan’s weather is above freezing.

Construction Season — One of Michigan’s two seasons. The time period between April and November where Michigan’s state flower, the traffic cone is in full bloom.

"D" — What we replace “t” with in our words. For example, water becomes wadder. City becomes ciddy. Patty becomes paddy. Kitty becomes kiddy. And so on...

Euchre — The most impossible card game to learn, but the most fun to play.

Fudgie — A term for the suckers who exchange legal tender American currency for slabs of sugar that they end up eating before they even leave.

Glottal Stomp — One of the most recognizable aspects of the Michigan accent is the glottal stomp, in which we cut off the hard consonants at the ends of words.

Hell — A quaint little town, that is actually too small to even have a post office. Not the pit of fire and brimstone that Dante travelled through.

IGA — A local and smaller version of Meijers.

Ja-eet? — Notorious time savers, Michiganders often mash words together. This amalgamation of the words “did you” and “eat”

Kiddy Corner — Meaning diagonal to, the equivalent of caddy corner.

Locks — Found up in the Soo, that’s Sault Sainte Marie for you townies, they are an important trade strait between Minnesota and the Atlantic.

Meijers — Where we go to shop. Michigan’s version of Walmart.

November 15th — A paid day off/the beginning of deer season.

Octopus— What we sneak into Red Wings games and throw onto the ice during the game. I don’t get it either...

Pasty — A delicious lumberjack snack that consists of dough, meat, potatoes, carrots, and goodness.

Quanicassee Quincy & Quinnesec — Q words are hard... These are just cities in Michigan...

Rest Stop — Where you take in the scenic beauty of Michigan after driving all day on the highway. Yes, it’s highway not freeway.

Superman Ice Cream — A delicious red, yellow, and blue flavor of ice cream that is meant for children, but c’mon, who doesn’t still eat it?

Trolls — A resident of the Lower Peninsula. Get it? Trolls live under the bridge? Get it?

Up North — A rather arbitrary term that varies depending on where in Michigan you’re from. The most widely accepted definition is the part of the Lower Peninsula north of Cadillac and the entire Upper Peninsula.

Vernors — A cure for literally any disease.

Wolverine — The state animal, that represents our ferocity and perseverance. Ironically, until recently, wolverines have been extinct in Michigan since the early 20th Century.

Xenophobia — *with a sarcastic tone* The feeling we all have when we are overrun during the summer by friendly, polite Canadians who give us money. God, they’re the worst!

Yooper — A resident of the Upper Peninsula. Stemming from U.P.-er.