19 Words You Don't Actually Understand Unless You're From Michigan
It's MichiGANDER, not Michiganian!
1. Michigander
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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