About This Quiz
Have you ever made a trip to the renowned and infamous Jersey Shore? Whether you've made your way to Trenton, Far Hills or walked along the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, there's a lot to pick up on during a visit. For instance, the lingo! Sometimes the slang in this Northeastern state is a bit much to keep up with. Some may even consider it a language of its own. However, with practice and background information, anyone can become a true Jerseyan and get by just fine.
Before "Jersey Shore," "Real Housewives," and the other TV outlets that have put a spotlight on this state, there was plenty of culture being cultivated on the Shore. We want to test to see if you know your stuff on New Jersey terminology. From the slang of AC to the old sayings of the Barrens, there is a plethora of language to be learned from this state of the Union. We warn you, comparing the Garden State to the Big Apple will prove to be a big no-no in this quiz. Though Jerseyans do have several phrases to identify their neighbors in New York, many of their words are unique to them alone. Get ready to dive into the depths of Jersey and test your skills!
NYC is not too far from Jersey at all, and is frequented by residents of NJ. If you hear someone talking about their latest visit to "The City," then odds are they took a trip to the Big Apple!
Have you ever been on the road and realized your exit was coming up quickly, but you're in the far left lane? That quick motion to cut across the highway is actually called the Jersey Swoop. That's not surprising if you've ever seen people in NJ drive.
The simple difference between pizza & tomato pie all lies within the sauce. It's a major hit in NJ, and throughout the Northeast. New Jersey grows a LOT of tomatoes, so they have to use them in something!
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Some other states use the phrase "hoagie" to refer to their sub sandwiches, but New Jersey is the most prevalent in using it. You can get some of the best hoagies at your local Wawa!
Since most if not all of the roads in New Jersey have tolls, the unofficial "Shunpikes" are used to avoid them and either run near or parallel to the turnpike roads. Beware, as they can be backed up very badly!
Oregon and New Jersey are the only states in the Union to have laws against pumping your own gas. This law, however, is slowly starting to fall out of favor and will likely be overturned in the next few years.
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If you haven't tried putting gravy on your french fries then you're definitely missing out. New Jerseyans absolutely LOVE some good ole disco fries. You might confuse these with poutine, but you'll be straightened out quickly.
It's appropriate that the Italian-influenced NJ should also have its language inspired by their foods. Italian Ice is incredibly popular in the Northeast, and has spread across the rest of the United States.
This derogatory term is mainly used in reference to residents of this Southern Jersey area. It is known for its massive amount of growing pine trees and legends of strange goings-on.
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If you find yourself in Atlantic City anytime soon without a car, you may need to take a jitney. It is one of the largest non-subsidized transmit companies in America.
There's not much explanation for this strange terminology, but it sounds really cute! "You shimmy some jimmies." Whatever the origin, no proper dish of ice cream is finished without some!
In March 1788, a librarian at Yale University coined the term "egg nog" in a piece published in the state newspapers, although it's not completely clear the drink being referred to was eggnog as we know it.
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Imagine a hot dog, but deep-fried and full of calories. That would be what Jersey residents call a "ripper." You'll definitely let it rip after eating this one. For the true ripper experience, get yours done until it chars and splits open.
New Jersey sits upon the East Coast, overlooking the beautiful yet dangerous Atlantic Ocean. Everyone knows the lingo as far as how to get the gang to the beach!
Bruce is actually from New Jersey, which is where his legacy thrives even today. He is known as a music and entertainment icon in American culture. The town of Asbury Park claims him as a native son.
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Imagine a sandwich with every possible meat, vegetable and condiment you could possibly conceive stuffed inside. That would be the fat sandwich, because you'll definitely gain a ton of weight from eating just a few of these.
If you've ever been driving and noticed a large concrete barrier between you and the other side of the road, you've seen a Jersey Barrier.
It's theorized that this nickname derives from a large number of brick buildings located in Newark. There's even a reality show that aired titled "Brick City" which is based on NJ!
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If you've ever met a man from Jersey with slicked-back black hair, built exterior and a bit of a bad attitude, you've met a Guido. They oftentimes have that signature Jersey accent, and their moms tend to cook them authentic Italian meals regularly.
Considering most of NJ is roads (and tolls for that matter), residents normally deduce where a person lives based on the exit ramp number given to them.
Atlantic City is the place to be when you live in NJ. From bar crawls to concerts to bachelorette parties, this is the place for celebration in this state. There's some debate over whether the casinos opening there was a good or bad thing.
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As simple as the name may sound, the myths of this creature terrorizing South Jersey are old and well told. Any resident of the Barrens will be able to tell you about this crazy monster and the legend he holds in NJ.
Wawa is a national chain of gas stations with a rocking fast food counter, free ATM withdrawals and typically cheap gas. Originally started in Pennsylvania, it is a major aspect of Jersey life.
Why would you say the full name for something when you could just chop it in half? The Boards is the Jersey way of referring to their Boardwalk.
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Some New Jerseyans find the influx of neighborly visitors in the summer to be an annoying thing, especially as far as crowd control goes. They love the money the New Yorkers spend, though!
This nickname was given as many tourists would come to NJ with shoeboxes to use for their lunch, allegedly. This is a generally negative term, but most visitors of NJ don't seem to mind (or notice) much.
Apparently the term "boobies" was just too much for the residents of NJ. This term was characterized in more recent years by the show "The Real Housewives of New Jersey."
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Women who are short and enjoy a good time are considered "Meatballs" for whatever reason in Jersey. They're often the women in the nightclubs having the best time and craning their neck to talk to people as well.
This phrase was popularized by the infamous show "Jersey Shore," which follows several Jersey residents as they cohabit a space together. The men of this show used the term "grenade" as a way to refer to ugly women who were unappealing to them. Weird, considering that a "bombshell" means the exact opposite.
This eclectic collection of foods is an absolute must for anyone living in Jersey. This food is made from Taylor ham, eggs and cheese all wrapped into a sandwich. The nickname refers to what you might need if you eat one too often.
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Another term popularized by the various television outlets chronicling the New Jersey area, the phrase "to smush" is simply another word for bedroom activities.
Stealing the affections of someone you're into, AKA robbery, is a big no-no in New Jersey. Avoid doing so at all costs so as to not cause drama between you and your Jerseyan friends.
You may not smell nice in death, but you feel fresh at least, right? There's not much of an explanation for this phrase, but it's very common to consider yourself "Fresh to Death" when you're looking your best in the Jersey Shore.
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Instead of having a heavy laptop and textbooks on your back, you've got a very clingy human on you. Hence the name "Backpack" to refer to those who just can't cut the cord with you.
Again, we aren't sure about the origin of this slang, but we can confirm that there are no actual jugs involved. Hopefully, you can "handle" the traffic circle.