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7 signs you were born and raised in Pittsburgh

By Jen Hensler On February 24,
2014 · 11
Comments

Photo: clyde

1. You are and/or know a yinzer.

Pittsburgh, like the cities of Boston and New York, has its own dialect —
most recognizable by the word yinz (plural for “you,” derived from “you
ones”). Thus the yinzer is a Pittsburgh native who speaks with the accent and
vocabulary unique to this area. You can tell a yinzer by the vowels: double Es
become I, and Os are always a nasal AH sound. A yinzer preparing for a Sunday
out will say, “Hey yinz, I’m gonna go take a shaher before we go dahntahn n
watcha Stillers n’at.”

The yinzer is a dwindling breed. My parents are yinzers, yet I am not.
Luckily, there are still a few parts of the city where the accent is alive and
well. A map of Pittsburgh highlighting yinzer habitat would look much like a
bullseye, with high yinzer activity taking place in the city and outlying areas.
The suburbs are sadly mostly yinzer-free.

2. You save a parking spot outside your house with a lawn chair.

In many of the older city neighborhoods, street parking is scarce, and not
many homes have driveways. Simple solution: Claim the space in front of your
house with an old lawn chair. Nobody will dare move it. Yinzer code.

3. Everything you eat has fries on it.

In Pittsburgh, we love our fries. But we prefer them not on the side, but on
top of our food. On all our food. Of course you’ll see this at Primanti
Bros., the most famous dive restaurant chain in the Burgh — imagine chewy
Italian bread loaded with grilled meat, melted cheese, crispy fries, and
vinaigrette coleslaw. But the Pittsburgh steak salad, found everywhere, also
better come topped with a mountain of golden fried potatoes.

4. You bleed Black and Gold.

You can’t survive socially in Pittsburgh without some knowledge of how
our teams are doing. My husband learned this quickly when he moved to Pittsburgh
from England. After years of thinking American football was just a pansy version
of rugby, he quickly became a fan of our beloved Steelers. Otherwise, what would
he talk about on wintry Monday mornings? Soon, that carried over into baseball
and (his favorite) hockey.

More
like this: How to piss off someone from Pittsburgh

Most yinzers follow our teams passionately, to the point where most people
you see outside are wearing some form of Pittsburgh sports clothing. Added
benefit: You’ll never forget where you are.

5. You can change over three lanes of busy traffic in six seconds.

Heading into the south side of the city from the north, you must cross the
Fort Duquesne Bridge. You enter from the left and exit on the right all in about
300 feet. Oh, and there’s also people entering from the right that must exit
left. No sweat.

Immediately after exiting the bridge, you then must merge onto the Fort Pitt
Bridge from the right, and cross three lanes of traffic to enter the tunnel on
the left, while avoiding the traffic entering from the left that needs to exit
right. This time, you might have about 400 feet. A true yinzer can do this all
with a Primanti’s sandwich in hand and not even drop a fry.

6. You know the view from Mt. Washington is the best skyline vista in the
country.

I mean, just look at it.

7. You’re proud of where you’re from, even if nobody else gets it.

The name Pittsburgh often conjures images of smog, smokestacks, and steel
mills. This is the Pittsburgh of the past. Today’s Pittsburgh is clean and green
— there’s mountain biking in the city’s large parks and kayaking on the three
rivers. World-class hospitals in the Burgh employ some of the best doctors in
the country, and even Google’s moved into the neighborhood.

Though the mills closed a long time ago, my city owns its heritage. The
industrial history lives on in the collective personality of the citizens. We’re
proud of who we are: A down-to-earth,
friendly, great big small town.

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Destinations:

Pittsburgh,
United States

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About The Author

Jen Hensler

I am a middle school Spanish teacher, and the kids make me laugh every day.
Aside from teaching, I am most passionate about travel. I love to learn about
other cultures, and experience our differences first hand.

Bklyn-Ali

Can you say LOVE?

Jen Hensler

Thanks, Bklyn-Ali. I appreciate it!

Alex

I really, really love this. I grew up in Pittsburgh, and I used to think
that the city was nice, but not anything particularly special. It took moving
away to realize just how great the City of Bridges is, and now I’d be more
than happy to live out a good chunk of my days there.

Jen Hensler

I’ve lived away from Pittsburgh for the past 6 years for work, and I also
wish I could get back. If only it weren’t so dang cold, it would be just
about perfect.
Thanks for your kind comment, Alex.

Robert Davis

After living in the burgh for 38 years, in 1996 it was time to leave,
mostly because the working situation was not that great & there was a foot
of snow on the ground. There was only one place to move to in my opinion &
that was beautiful Bradenton, Fl. The Spring training home of the Pirates. It
is almost a South Pittsburgh with all of the ex-burgers living down here. I
still miss the city & have a nephew & his family still up there. Great
article Jen. I truly enjoyed it. The Bucs looked good this spring, so go out
& root them on to a Championship this year. Last year looked like a blast
back home.

BurgherBritt

I have live in Pgh for 42 years and although I say every winter that I need
to go to San DIego, I would miss the city of my childhood, teen years, and
adult life to this point.. It is a a special thing to come from Pittsburgh and
no matter how far away you go, you will always be a “Burgher” I have never and
don’t think I could ever live anywhere else

DJ Don

I have been a “yinzer” for almost 58 years, I love our city & get upset
when outsiders put us down. This was a great article however so much more
could have been added, our Zoo, museums, theater, music, the view coming out
of the Fort Pitt tunnel coming into Pittsburgh, the old Trolley cars, Point
State Park, & Mr. Rogers.
Thank you for telling everyone why Pittsburgh
is”Some Place Special”
God bless

Joe Orum

CIty Views view is nicer. ie Spring Hill, and higher…

SKAN ONE

Yeah with all the crackheads and junkies theyre just
sublime

Joe Orum

don’t talk about your grandma like that. She is my favorite whore. Man
that asshole of hers

SKAN ONE

I always move those damn lawn chairs! Those assholes don’t own the street!
fuck em!

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