If you were born and raised in Philly, you can spot an imposter from a mile away. They might be wearing one of those “illadelphia” shirts, they might be trying to tell you they remember the 1980 World Series… but little do they know, they give themselves away as imposters every time. How? Well…

  1. They stumble over words like Schuylkill and Bala Cynwyd.

Flickr / Montgomery County Planning Board Native Philadelphians don’t even think twice about our unusual naming schemes. Conshohocken? Manayunk? Easy.

  1. They won’t buy a pretzel from the guy on the corner.

Flickr / Jon Siedman Who cares about germs? They don’t exist on pretzels. That’s some sort of pretzel truth.

  1. They call them the “Eagles.”

Flickr / Keith Allison If you hear someone call them the “Eagles” instead of the “Iggles,” you can question their loyalty.

  1. They think “wooder ice” and Italian ice are the same thing.

Facebook / Johns Water Ice Water ice is a completely different type of frozen dessert. Italian Ice is all cold and scrapey, slushies are too mushy… water ice is the best of both worlds.

  1. They try to order a sub.

Flickr / Plan Philly If you order a sub, you’ll get a strange look. Here in Philly, they’re hoagies.

  1. Or ask to go to Passayunk for a cheesesteak.

Flickr / Gita Rau Please, let us take you out for a better cheesesteak at Ishkabibble’s or Dalessandro’s.

  1. They use “jawn” too much… and incorrectly.

Facebook / Neshaminny Creek Brewing Co. You can’t really explain jawn to outsiders, they just need to figure it out for themselves. There’s a learning curve when it comes to acceptable usage, so it’s easy to spot newbies trying to fit in.

  1. They ask “what’s the big deal about Wawa, anyway?”

Flickr / Terry Robinson Or they try to say it’s the same as Sheetz. No way! Wawa is the best place on earth.

  1. They ask what scrapple is made from.

Flickr / Timothy Kim Not even Philadelphians want to know what’s in our favorite breakfast food. Don’t question it, don’t think about it, just enjoy it.

  1. They haven’t taken a side in the #nosavesies debate.

Facebook / Philadelphia Police If you’re a Philadelphian, you’re almost certainly on the side of the traffic cones OR the #nosavesies movement. There’s no middle ground.

  1. They’re uncomfortable parking in the middle of the street.

Flickr / Christopher What’s so strange about parking on the median? Everybody does it, and nobody will give you a problem.

  1. You hear them say “y’all.”

Flickr / Callum Campbell Here in Philly, it’s youse or youse guys… unless you’re one of the Concrete Cowboys, I suppose.

What would you add to this list? Maybe we should point these new Philadelphians to this list of 12 Things You’ll Never Catch Anyone From Philadelphia Doing, so they can blend in a little better next time.

Flickr / Montgomery County Planning Board

Native Philadelphians don’t even think twice about our unusual naming schemes. Conshohocken? Manayunk? Easy.

Flickr / Jon Siedman

Who cares about germs? They don’t exist on pretzels. That’s some sort of pretzel truth.

Flickr / Keith Allison

If you hear someone call them the “Eagles” instead of the “Iggles,” you can question their loyalty.

Facebook / Johns Water Ice

Water ice is a completely different type of frozen dessert. Italian Ice is all cold and scrapey, slushies are too mushy… water ice is the best of both worlds.

Flickr / Plan Philly

If you order a sub, you’ll get a strange look. Here in Philly, they’re hoagies.

Flickr / Gita Rau

Please, let us take you out for a better cheesesteak at Ishkabibble’s or Dalessandro’s.

Facebook / Neshaminny Creek Brewing Co.

You can’t really explain jawn to outsiders, they just need to figure it out for themselves. There’s a learning curve when it comes to acceptable usage, so it’s easy to spot newbies trying to fit in.

Flickr / Terry Robinson

Or they try to say it’s the same as Sheetz. No way! Wawa is the best place on earth.

Flickr / Timothy Kim

Not even Philadelphians want to know what’s in our favorite breakfast food. Don’t question it, don’t think about it, just enjoy it.

Facebook / Philadelphia Police

If you’re a Philadelphian, you’re almost certainly on the side of the traffic cones OR the #nosavesies movement. There’s no middle ground.

Flickr / Christopher

What’s so strange about parking on the median? Everybody does it, and nobody will give you a problem.

Flickr / Callum Campbell

Here in Philly, it’s youse or youse guys… unless you’re one of the Concrete Cowboys, I suppose.

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