19 Words You Don't Actually Understand Unless You're From Michigan

It's MichiGANDER, not Michiganian!

1. Michigander

daBinsi / Via Flickr: dabinsi

What other people think it means: A kind of goose that lives in Michigan.

What Michiganders know it means: The correct title for a person from Michigan.

2. U.P.

Google Maps / Via johndenugent.com

What other people think it means: A cute Disney/Pixar movie.

What Michiganders know it means: The Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It looks like a bunny rabbit.

3. Yooper

calamity_sal / Via Flickr: calamity_sal

What other people think it means: The sequel to that Joseph Gordon-Levitt movie Looper.

What Michiganders know it means: A person who lives in the U.P. and is basically Canadian.

4. Ranch dressing

Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 / Via Flickr: bankbryan

What other people think it means: A creamy dressing for salad.

What Michiganders know it means: A delicious condiment you put on literally everything.

5. Football

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What other people think it means: An exciting sport that brings people together.

What Michiganders know it means: The single most efficient way to tear families and friendships apart.

6. Meijer

Mike Kalasnik / Via Flickr: 10542402@N06

What other people think it means: A word that is impossible to pronounce.

What Michiganders know it means: Where you get literally all of your food.

7. Up North

Kiyo / Via Flickr: mtsn

What other people think it means: Could be anywhere?? North of where???

What Michiganders know it means: The place where you go camping.

8. Lake

Tom Hart / Via Flickr: thart2009

What other people think it means: A small body of water that you can always see across.

What Michiganders know it means: Basically an ocean.

9. Mackinac Island

Jasperdo / Via Flickr: mytravelphotos

What other people think it means: A island owned by some Mackinack fellow?

What Michiganders know it means: An amazing wonderland of horses, bicycles, fudge, and toys.

10. Little Caesars

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What other people think it means: An average fast-food pizza place.

What Michiganders know it means: THE BEST PIZZA PLACE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. Also Crazy Bread.

11. Kalamazoo

Michigan Municipal League / Via Flickr: michigancommunities

What other people think it means: A magical, made-up land from a children's rhyme.

What Michiganders know it means: A pretty average city.

12. Boating license

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What other people think it means: Probably something only people who own boats need.

What Michiganders know it means: The license you get before your driver's license.

13. Steak 'n Shake

Jose Kevo / Via Flickr: jose_kevo

What other people think it means: A restaurant where you can get both steaks AND shakes?

What Michiganders know it means: The coolest place to go with your friends at 2 a.m.

14. Hand

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What other people think it means: That part of the body you grab stuff with.

What Michiganders know it means: The only map you ever need.

15. Michigan's Adventure

DebMomOf3 / Via Flickr: debmomof3

What other people think it means: An adventure that happens in Michigan.

What Michiganders know it means: Where you went on your first roller coaster.

16. Holland

Michael Sprague / Via Flickr: msprague

What other people think it means: Another name for the Netherlands.

What Michiganders know it means: The city where the Tulip Festival happens.

17. Soybeans

Bobbi Klein / Via Flickr: 97655885@N02

What other people think it means: The thing used for soy sauce and tofu.

What Michiganders know it means: What grows when the farmers finally run out of corn.

18. Car

Ben Williams / Via Flickr: bodhack

What other people think it means: One way to get around.

What Michiganders know it means: The only way to get around, period.

19. Weather

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What other people think it means: Something that can be predicted and prepared for accordingly.

What Michiganders know it means: Literally no one ever knows, could change at any time.

Thumbnail credit: Etsy / RebeccaMich