Local Lexicon

Many places have their own unique slang and Indianapolis is no different. We've put together a list of Indianapolis slang to make it easier for you to find your way to the barn burner in the Circle City. Did we miss one? Let us know in the comments.

barn burner

exciting, high-scoring basketball game

berm

road verge; the strip of land along a highway right-of-way, often planted with vegetation

Chef's salad

a large salad with sliced ham and turkey on top

County Brownie

sheriff

coon

a raccoon

crick

a small, flowing body of water; a creek or stream

Down South

Kentucky

Hoosier

someone from Indiana

mango

green bell pepper

outer road

frontage road; service road

pea shake house

illegal lottery-style gambling den; aka ticket house

pop

a soft drink; soda

outer road

frontage road; service road

sack

what your groceries are packed into at the store

snipe

to be successful at something, especially through luck

tenderloin

a big piece of breaded salty pork, served on a bun with a dill pickle

Trooper

Indiana State Police officer

Versailles, Indiana

Pronounced ver-sales, not as the French manner

The Big City

Indianapolis

The Circle City

Indianapolis