The deep South is known for its unusual accents and sayings. Atlanta has its own variety of Southern slang, and it's a good idea to brush up on some of the local
phrases and nicknames before you visit or move to Atlanta. It is especially important when trying to make sense of the traffic
reports in Atlanta, which are full of local slang. Otherwise, you might think Spaghetti Junction is a restaurant, and not part of the
local interstate system!
Ya'll: You all, all of you
Peachtree: If you thought all of those streets named Peachtree was just an urban myth, think again. There are over 40 streets named Peachtree in
the Atlanta area. Fortunately for visitors, if someone says Peachtree Street or Road, they should be referring to the artery that goes through the heart of the city.
Sweet tea: Plain old tea in the South. In Atlanta, it's assumed you want sugar in your tea unless you specify otherwise.
Macaroni and Cheese: Classified as a vegetable in the South. You will see it listed on many vegetable plates at various
country and soul food restaurants around town.
Fixin to: Getting ready to do something.
Sweetie: Common term of endearment, especially for elderly Atlantans towards younger people.
ATL: An abbreviation for Atlanta. Often referred to as, "In the ATL." Most frequently used by African American
residents.
Hotlanta: Another nickname for the city.
Dirty Birds: Nickname for the Atlanta Falcons football team.
The Ted: Nickname for Turner Field, where the Atlanta Braves baseball team plays. When media mogul Ted Turner married
Jane Fonda, some fans began referring to the field as "The Jane."
Coke: Used to refer to any soft drink, not just Coca Cola.
Greens: If you are eating at a Southern cuisine restaurant, this is going to refer to simmered collard, mustard,
or turnip greens, not salad.
The Hooch: Nickname given to the Chattahoochee River.
Gwenetians: Residents of Gwinnett County were nicknamed this by the late local traffic reporter Keith Kalland.
Gold Dome: Nickname for the State Capitol building, where the city's political wheeling and dealing takes place.
Spaghetti Junction: Nickname for the 2 major Atlanta interstates, I85 at I285 that creates a mind boggling amount of overpasses and exit ramps.
The Perimeter: Nickname for the border that is created by I285 that actually encircles the city. A general marker for determining inside and outside the city.
Five Points/Little Five Points: Five Points refers to the downtown area, and Little 5 Points is its younger,
funkier counterpart.
The Big Chicken: Located in Marietta, this is a huge chicken with moving beak and eyes that sits over the Kentucky
Fried Chicken.
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