10 Pennsylvania Foods Outsiders Always Mispronounce
Pennsylvania has a food scene that’s as unique as it gets. From Pennsylvania Dutch traditions to regional classics, the state serves up dishes with names that leave visitors scratching their heads.
I’m here to help you master these tricky pronunciations so you can order like a local next time you visit the Keystone State.
1. Shoofly Pie
Many people say “shufly pie” and miss that important second ‘o’ sound. This Pennsylvania Dutch dessert gets its name from the flies that were supposedly attracted to its sweet molasses filling.
The correct way is “SHOO-fly,” like you’re shooing away a pesky insect. That crumbly, sweet treat deserves proper respect with the right pronunciation when you order it at any Pennsylvania bakery.
2. Hoagie
Visitors often call this sandwich a “hoggie,” which sounds more like a farm animal than lunch. The proper pronunciation is “HOH-gee,” with a long ‘o’ sound at the beginning.
Pennsylvanians take their hoagies seriously, piling them high with Italian meats and fresh vegetables. Get the name right, and you’ll blend right in at any Philadelphia deli or Pittsburgh sandwich shop.
3. Scrapple
Some folks accidentally say “grapple” instead of this crispy breakfast favorite. Scrapple combines pork scraps with cornmeal and spices, then gets fried until the outside turns wonderfully crunchy.
Say it like “SCRAP-pull” with emphasis on that first syllable. This Pennsylvania Dutch creation might sound unusual, but one bite of that crispy-soft combo will make you a believer in this regional treasure.
4. Lebanon Bologna
Pronouncing this one as “Lebanon baloney” marks you as an outsider immediately. The correct pronunciation keeps it as “Lebanon buh-LOH-nee,” respecting this sweet, smoky sausage’s proper name.
Lebanon County produces this semi-dry fermented beef sausage with a distinctive tangy flavor. Locals have been enjoying thin slices on sandwiches for generations, and they’ll appreciate your effort to say it correctly.
5. Whoopie Pie
You might be tempted to add an extra ‘e’ and say “whoopee pie,” but that’s not quite right. The proper way is “WHOOP-ie pie,” short and sweet like the dessert itself.
Two soft chocolate cookies sandwich a fluffy cream filling in this Pennsylvania favorite. Some say it originated with the Amish, while others credit Pennsylvania Dutch bakers, but everyone agrees it’s delicious.
6. Pierogies
Pittsburgh’s love affair with these stuffed dumplings means you better get the name right. Many outsiders stumble over the pronunciation, saying “peer-oh-geez” or “pee-rogies.”
The correct pronunciation is “pih-ROH-geez,” with emphasis on that middle syllable. These Polish dumplings filled with potato, cheese, or sauerkraut are a Western Pennsylvania staple, especially during Lent and at church festivals.
7. Fastnachts
This Pennsylvania Dutch donut causes major pronunciation headaches for visitors. People attempt “fast-nots” or “fast-knots,” but neither captures the authentic sound.
Say it like “FASS-nockt” or “FOST-nockt” depending on which Pennsylvania Dutch community you’re visiting. These square donuts appear on Shrove Tuesday, and locals line up early at bakeries to grab them fresh and warm.
8. Birch Beer
Outsiders sometimes say “birch bear” or add weird emphasis to the wrong syllable. This regional soda tastes like a cousin to root beer but comes from birch tree bark.
Simply say “BURCH beer,” exactly like the tree and the beverage combined. Pennsylvania has been brewing this refreshing drink since colonial times, and you’ll find it at diners and grocery stores throughout the state.
9. Gobs
Western Pennsylvanians call their whoopie pies “gobs,” and some visitors mispronounce it as “gawbs” with an exaggerated vowel sound. Keep it simple and short with “GOBS,” rhyming with “jobs.”
These treats are basically the Pittsburgh version of whoopie pies, with the same soft chocolate cakes and cream filling. The name might seem odd, but locals have been gobbling them up for decades.
10. Chipped Chopped Ham
Pittsburgh’s beloved lunch meat trips up outsiders who rush through the name. You need to enunciate each word clearly: “CHIPPED CHOPPED ham,” not “chipchopped” all mushed together.
This ultra-thin sliced pressed ham gets piled high on sandwiches at Pittsburgh delis and barbecues. The texture is different from regular deli ham, and saying the name properly shows you understand this regional specialty.
