City life makes a person unique, but there are some undeniable traits that all Chicagoans poses. These 12 signs that you grew up in Chicago are shared by all. From the way we talk to shared interests, you may have more in common with your neighbor on the train than you thought. Read on for more details.
- Still calling it the Sears Tower.
Max Pixel Though Chicago’s tallest building has officially been named Willis Tower since 2009, most city dwellers refuse to call it anything but the Sears. We’re old dogs that don’t learn new tricks.
- Cheering on losing teams.
Flickr/The U.S. Army If you want to be a fan of Chicago sports, you have to be prepared to lose. The Cubs won their first World Series in 2016 after 108 years of disappointment, and the Bears haven’t seen a Super Bowl since 2007.
- Being told you have an accent.
Max Pixel If you grew up in the deep burrows of the city, there’s a chance you’ve picked up an accent not heard elsewhere in the country. It’s one of the most tell-tale signs that you’re from Chicago.
- The cold doesn’t bother you.
Wikimedia Commons/TonyTheTiger Chicagoans are used to freezing temperatures and snow in the winter, and we don’t let it dictate our lives. We still go outside, have fun, and enjoy our city.
- Calling it “pop.”
Flickr/eddie welker Some call it “soda” while others say “coke.” In Chicago, it’s pop, and we like it that way. Use this term in some parts of Central Illinois and they’ll know where you are from instantly.
- Liking House music.
Wikpedia/P3 Photography Chicago is the originator of this popular style of music, but if you’re not 19 years old, you probably aren’t familiar with it, unless of course, you grew up in Chicago. We’ve been about this sound since the 1970s.
- Talking about the city all the time.
PublicDomainPictures/Petr Kratochvil If you find yourself constantly talking about how great the city is, you might be a Chicagoan. It’s hard not to love it here, though. Epic attractions, delicious eats, and incredible culture abound.
- Only considering this pizza.
Wikimedia Commons/Belinda Hankins Miller One of the signs of growing up here that Chicagoans are most proud of is our tendency toward deep-dish. That thin stuff just isn’t what we’re looking for.
- Liking gravy bread.
Wikimedia Commons/jeffreyw Just knowing what this is is enough to prove your status as a Chicagoan. This city delicacy is bread soaked in the drippings from an Italian beef roast. Some people can’t get enough of the seasonings in the liquids.
- Cringing when someone pronounces the “s” in Illinois.
Pxhere Chicagoans are still Illinoisans, and it drives us insane to hear the name of our state pronounced incorrectly. Our state name is derived from a Native American tongue, so the “s” is silent.
- Expecting trains to pass quickly.
Wikimedia Commons/Nate Beal Typically, the only tracks you’ll ever cross in the Chicago area are for the Metra, and those trains typically go pretty fast, unless you’re near a stop. When city folks encounter a freight train moving slow, it can be very frustrating.
- Defending the city.
Pixabay In this day and age, Chicago has been taking a lot of criticism from the media, but you better not talk bad about our city in front of us. We know the truth about how great this place is, and we’ll set you straight if you try to say otherwise.
Hopefully you’ve been lucky enough to live in one of these 12 insanely beautiful Chicago neighborhoods that locals and tourists alike adore.
Max Pixel
Though Chicago’s tallest building has officially been named Willis Tower since 2009, most city dwellers refuse to call it anything but the Sears. We’re old dogs that don’t learn new tricks.
Flickr/The U.S. Army
If you want to be a fan of Chicago sports, you have to be prepared to lose. The Cubs won their first World Series in 2016 after 108 years of disappointment, and the Bears haven’t seen a Super Bowl since 2007.
If you grew up in the deep burrows of the city, there’s a chance you’ve picked up an accent not heard elsewhere in the country. It’s one of the most tell-tale signs that you’re from Chicago.
Wikimedia Commons/TonyTheTiger
Chicagoans are used to freezing temperatures and snow in the winter, and we don’t let it dictate our lives. We still go outside, have fun, and enjoy our city.
Flickr/eddie welker
Some call it “soda” while others say “coke.” In Chicago, it’s pop, and we like it that way. Use this term in some parts of Central Illinois and they’ll know where you are from instantly.
Wikpedia/P3 Photography
Chicago is the originator of this popular style of music, but if you’re not 19 years old, you probably aren’t familiar with it, unless of course, you grew up in Chicago. We’ve been about this sound since the 1970s.
PublicDomainPictures/Petr Kratochvil
If you find yourself constantly talking about how great the city is, you might be a Chicagoan. It’s hard not to love it here, though. Epic attractions, delicious eats, and incredible culture abound.
Wikimedia Commons/Belinda Hankins Miller
One of the signs of growing up here that Chicagoans are most proud of is our tendency toward deep-dish. That thin stuff just isn’t what we’re looking for.
Wikimedia Commons/jeffreyw
Just knowing what this is is enough to prove your status as a Chicagoan. This city delicacy is bread soaked in the drippings from an Italian beef roast. Some people can’t get enough of the seasonings in the liquids.
Pxhere
Chicagoans are still Illinoisans, and it drives us insane to hear the name of our state pronounced incorrectly. Our state name is derived from a Native American tongue, so the “s” is silent.
Wikimedia Commons/Nate Beal
Typically, the only tracks you’ll ever cross in the Chicago area are for the Metra, and those trains typically go pretty fast, unless you’re near a stop. When city folks encounter a freight train moving slow, it can be very frustrating.
Pixabay
In this day and age, Chicago has been taking a lot of criticism from the media, but you better not talk bad about our city in front of us. We know the truth about how great this place is, and we’ll set you straight if you try to say otherwise.
What other signs signify that someone grew up in Chicago? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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