If you travel to the Lou’ you need to know the language. Each part of the country has its own slang and the STL is no different. With this guide you will no longer make the mistake of calling the wonderful cafe-bakeries ‘Panera’ or be totally mystified when someone asks if you want an appetizer of ‘toasted ravs.’
Toasted Ravs: A breaded and deep fried ravioli is a staple appetizer and dish made famous by chefs in the Italian community ‘The Hill’ in downtown Saint Louis. In the midwest its commonly stuffed with beef or veal. Chef Terry Hill of Oldani’s restaurant says he invented the dish in 1933. So if someone asks, want some toasted ravs? ALWAYS say yes.
Sound like a local: When you order say ‘toasted rav’ not ‘ravioli.’
Photo from recipedose.com
Wash U. : Said quickly, ‘He’s going to Wash. U, sounds more like he’s ready to hit up the laundry mat then in reality attending a prestigious university. Wash U. is the shortened name of of Washington University, the 13th ranked university among schools nation wide. If you know someone who is going to Wash U., they are likely to be very intelligent and end up in the scientific or medical field after graduation.
Urban dictionary says,
Photo from blog.hubspot.com
Sound like a local: Say bread company, or even bread co. NEVER say Panera while in the Metro area.
Hoosiers: Now this was one term that I’ve grown so accustomed to that I never realized how distinctly St. Louisian is it. If you travel to the Lou’ know that if someone is calling you a ‘Hoosier’ its not a compliment. Hoosier is usually thought of Indiana jargon but it finds its place deeply embedded in the Lou culture.
In the Lou’ a hoosier is a derogatory term similar to calling someone a ‘hick’ or ‘white trash.’ You will most often hear this term tossed around in South County. The southern portion of St. Louis county and Jefferson County.
Photo by toastedrav.com
Thomas E. Murray a 20th century American inventor analyzed the St. Louis term for hoosier and came to the conclusion that, “ ”St. Louisans readily list a number of defining characteristics, among which are ‘lazy,’ ‘slow-moving,’ ‘derelict,’ and ‘irresponsible.’” He continues, “Few epithets in St. Louis carry the pejorative connotations or the potential for eliciting negative responses that hoosier does.” He conducted tests and interviews across lines of age and race and tabulated the results. He found the term ecumenically applied. He also noted the word was often used with a modifier, almost redundantly, as in “some damn Hoosier.”
Urban Dictionary describes the St. Louis meaning of hoosier as ”white trash of the worst kind. Also used as an adjective to describe anything several notches below your own perceived sophistication. Dates back to a strike that occurred in St. Louis in the 30′s. During this strike, scab workers from Indiana were brought in to fill in for strikers. The perjorative hoosier stems from the St. Louis workers’ lack of appreciation for this.
Rob: Man, I didn’t like that bar.
Mike: Yeah, it’s full of hoosiers.Adjective:
Edna: Did you see how she was dressed?
Cynthia: Yes, she is sooo hoosier.”
