Talk Like a Californian. Helena Ventura
The massive
quake that’s
going to hit
the Bay Area
or Southern
California any
minute now.
11
We’re picking up my
sister in Phoenix and
taking the RV to Cali
for the Rose Parade.
CALI
A word for California that no
Californian will ever use; it’s as
horrible as saying “Frisco” to a
San Franciscan.
DANK
Traditionally, to
inhale marijuana
smoke, but more
frequently used
as an adjective to
describe something
exceptionally good.
Have you
had the paleo
brownies at
Urth?
They’re dank.
13
DUDE
or DUE
A substitute for a person’s name,
and the father of all modern Southern
California slang. “Dude” is rooted in
surf culture but is now used universally.
Originally used just between guys, it
is now gender-neutral. If used with a
period, it means, “I agree.”
Dude, that
new ramen
place in
Truckee is
epic.
That selfie
is fire.
FIRE
Hot (as in hip);
often expressed
with a fire emoji.
15
Can you bring
guac and chips to
the Oscars party?
GUAC
Guacamole,
the state dish
of California.
I’m driving Uber
and dogsitting as
my side hustles.
HUSTLE
Your work.
17
JUNE
GLOOM &
MAY GRAY
The damp marine layer that blankets
Southern California in late spring and
early summer; in San Francisco, June
gloom is heavy fog.
The June gloom
is bumming
me out—
let’s go to the
desert.
Oooh,
you’re
hella
moded.
MODED
To have been proven wrong
in an embarrassing way, or
caught doing something, or
shut down.
19
I’m jonesing for a
big ol’ pocho burrito
from El Tepeyac.
POCHO,
POCHA
People of Mexican descent who don’t
speak Spanish and are considered to
have lost their culture; also used for
food and cultural references.
PRIDE
The gay pride parade
in San Francisco; to a
lesser extent, the one
in West Hollywood.
Did you get
an AirBnB
for Pride?
21
The Celebrity
Center sounds
pretty sketch
to me.
SKETCH
When something appears to be
questionable, illegitimate, or de-
liberately misleading.
SUS
Short for
“suspicious,”
has replaced
“sketch” with
most people
Katie says the
under 40.
sushi at Ralphs
is great,
but I think it
looks sus.
23
Want to hit
Mammoth this
weekend?
Yeeee.
YEE
Yeah. The Bay Area
claims it as its own,
but it’s statewide
now.
A FEW
REGIONAL
NICKNAMES
THE 415 — San Francisco
ACROSS THE BAY — the East Bay,
to San Franciscans
THE AVENUES — the Richmond and the Sunset
districts west of Twin Peaks in San Francisco
THE BAY — the San Francisco Bay Area