9 More Pittsburghese Words or Phrases in Every Pittsburgher’s Dictionary

Pittsburghese Words

As Pittsburghers, sometimes it seems as if we have a completely different language. Here’s another post with nine more Pittsburghese words in our very own Pittsburgh “dictionary.” Don’t forget to send this to friends who now live out of town or newbies who want to know just exactly what we’re saying!  And remember… you can tell a true Pittsburgher anywhere when they talk n’ at!



1. Run the sweeper (phrase)

Pittsburghese Words

To use the vacuum cleaner. “Yinz better run the sweeper!”

2. City chicken (dish)

Pittsburghese Words

Actually pork and sometimes veal or beef on skewers and coated and fried or baked. This faux-chicken dish has been passed through Pittsburgh generations for years.

3. Gum band (noun)

Pittsburghese Words

A rubber band. “Hey, can yinz grab me a gum band for these papers?”



4. Hills (noun) 

Pittsburghese Words

High heels. Used in a sentence, it could be: “I’ve got my hills on, I’m ready to go bar hopping!”

5. Jaggerbush (noun)

Pittsburghese Words

A thorny bush. “Ouch! I fell onto a jaggerbush and cut my hand!”



6. Worsh (verb)

Pittsburghese Words

To wash, or clean up. Example: “Go worsh up for dinner!”

7. Nebby (adjective)

Pittsburghese Words




To be nosy, getting into other people’s business. “That Carol in accounting is so nebby!”

8. Gint Iggle (place)

Pittsburghese Words

Giant Eagle, the chain of grocery stores around the area. “Can yinz get me some chipped ham at Gint Iggle?”

9. Jagoff (adjective)

Pittsburghese Words

An annoying or particularly irritating person. “You know that one player on the Bengals? What a real jagoff!”



More Pittsburghese words and phrases posts:

9 Vocabulary Words in Every Pittsburghers Dictionary

9 More Pittsburghese Words in Every Pittsburghers Dictionary



11 thoughts on “9 More Pittsburghese Words or Phrases in Every Pittsburgher’s Dictionary”

  1. City chicken is veal & pork, never beef. It evolved from depression times when chicken was more expensive than pork or veal. Some serve it with gravy. It is definitely delicious.

  2. I am a Pittsburgh native who has not lived there for many years, but I still use gum bands…and wonder why others don`t know what I`m talking about!?

  3. Still only place you can go up and down at. the same time i.e. ” Is yunz goin up Gint Iggle dahn ere??”

    1. Of course they don’t have city chicken in California. So I cut up a pork roast into cubes and skewer them. My California grandchildren love it. I still run the sweeper and gum bands pops out of my mouth sometimes. I love Pittsburgh and miss it terribly.

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