People from Ohio are a unique breed, and we’re truly a group of individuals like no other. Even when Ohioans travel to other states or countries, we’re pretty easy to spot. The following are just a few definite tip-offs that indicate if someone is from Ohio.

  1. They dress in layers. Always.

Solveig Osk/Flickr Because, in Ohio, the concept of “weather” is essentially a synonym for terms such as “mystery” and “wildcard.” We could easily experience all four seasons in a day.

  1. They are genuinely confused when you tell them they have an accent.

Michael Havens/Flickr Believe it or not, there is a linguistic term called the Northern Cities Vowel Shift. Once upon a time, cities around the Great Lakes region began pronouncing short and broad as (such as trap and spa, respectively) with the introduction of a y sound. So trap in local vernaculars throughout chunks of Ohio sounds more like tray-up. Crazy, right?!

  1. They appear to experience physical, mental and emotional difficulty saying, writing or using the word “Michigan.”

Scott Stuart/Flickr According to legend, this rivalry can be traced back to the tensions of the Toledo War… the series of events that led to the current Ohio-Michigan border.

  1. You notice they have quite the skill when it comes to dodging potholes on the road.

_chrisUK/Flickr Because it’s essentially a survival instinct they need to live in Ohio.

  1. Every once in awhile, they mysteriously pronounce an “r” in words that don’t actually have one.

Bart Everson/Flickr Brb, gotta go warsh a load of laundry.

  1. Street construction — while pretty inconvenient for some — doesn’t appear to phase Ohioans at all.

Dan Keck/Flickr Here, it can be hard to tell if someone is driving drunk or dodging pot holes and traffic cones.

  1. And strangely enough, they’re still game for a road trip even when the forecast calls for snowfall.

Tim/Flickr Depending on the part of Ohio you call home, winter can be brutal. The Lake Erie snowbelt makes for some crazy winter driving.

  1. “Pop” is a noun first, verb second, to Ohioans.

eddie welker/Flickr Don’t be surprised if we give you a look for saying soda.

  1. It’s nearly impossible to impress them or freak them out with a roller coaster ride.

marada/Flickr With Cedar Point’s bragging rights as The Roller Coaster Capital of the World, we know how to have a good time.

  1. Plus, they’re pros at dodging deer.

Counselman Collection/Flickr They successfully dodge the deer on the road that literally came out of nowhere as if they’re just sitting on the couch playing Mario Kart while you’re sitting in the passenger seat having what you think might be a heart attack.

  1. They never really seem to need anything exotic, fancy or flashy to have a good time. Give them a cornhole game, bonfire or a day at the local lake and they’re good.

Amy the Nurse/Flickr Cornhole, by the way, is a game that belongs at every family gathering in Ohio.

  1. They have much better taste in ice cream than you do and can recommend at least 10 places off the top of their head.

Dan Keck/Flickr Ohio is full of ice cream joints, which is particularly refreshing in the summertime. Many communities have several ice cream shops within just one city!

  1. When you’re watching Marvel’s The Avengers, A Christmas Story, and Spider-Man 3, you can’t get your Ohio friends to stop talking and pointing out city landmarks like they personally directed the film or something.

Steve Snodgrass/Flickr You can’t fool Ohioans, Peter Parker. We see you beating baddies on Euclid Avenue.

  1. They’re strangely optimistic when it comes to their favorite sports teams, in the spite of what the track records say.

Erik Drost/Flickr Well… mostly. It was admittedly hard that one year after the Cleveland Browns had a “perfect season” of zero wins.

  1. A puzzled look crosses their face when you don’t understand the question of “Where’s the sweeper?”

WordRidden/Flickr (If you’ve been wondering, Ohioans call vacuums sweepers. It’s okay to ask for clarification… we know some of our regional words strike you as weird.)

  1. They’re visibly bummed when you tell them there isn’t a local, weekly farmers market in your area.

Brian Zimmerman/Flickr In Ohio, we have markets all year long. Some, like Findlay Market in Cincy and the West Side Market in Cleveland, have been connecting locals with fresh produce for generations.

  1. When you ask them to tell you about what it’s like to live in Ohio they will give you a mix of thoughts and emotions.

Hey Paul Studios/Flickr First, they will jokingly make fun of their state. Second, they will tell you where they’d like to move. And lastly, they will tell you why they love their state and why they wouldn’t actually move away in spite of the genuine craziness that is Ohio.

What other ways are there to tell if someone is from Ohio? Is there anything that people from Ohio do that strikes you as weird? Tell us in the comments!

Solveig Osk/Flickr

Because, in Ohio, the concept of “weather” is essentially a synonym for terms such as “mystery” and “wildcard.” We could easily experience all four seasons in a day.

Michael Havens/Flickr

Believe it or not, there is a linguistic term called the Northern Cities Vowel Shift. Once upon a time, cities around the Great Lakes region began pronouncing short and broad as (such as trap and spa, respectively) with the introduction of a y sound. So trap in local vernaculars throughout chunks of Ohio sounds more like tray-up. Crazy, right?!

Scott Stuart/Flickr

According to legend, this rivalry can be traced back to the tensions of the Toledo War… the series of events that led to the current Ohio-Michigan border.

_chrisUK/Flickr

Because it’s essentially a survival instinct they need to live in Ohio.

Bart Everson/Flickr

Brb, gotta go warsh a load of laundry.

Dan Keck/Flickr

Here, it can be hard to tell if someone is driving drunk or dodging pot holes and traffic cones.

Tim/Flickr

Depending on the part of Ohio you call home, winter can be brutal. The Lake Erie snowbelt makes for some crazy winter driving.

eddie welker/Flickr

Don’t be surprised if we give you a look for saying soda.

marada/Flickr

With Cedar Point’s bragging rights as The Roller Coaster Capital of the World, we know how to have a good time.

Counselman Collection/Flickr

They successfully dodge the deer on the road that literally came out of nowhere as if they’re just sitting on the couch playing Mario Kart while you’re sitting in the passenger seat having what you think might be a heart attack.

Amy the Nurse/Flickr

Cornhole, by the way, is a game that belongs at every family gathering in Ohio.

Ohio is full of ice cream joints, which is particularly refreshing in the summertime. Many communities have several ice cream shops within just one city!

Steve Snodgrass/Flickr

You can’t fool Ohioans, Peter Parker. We see you beating baddies on Euclid Avenue.

Erik Drost/Flickr

Well… mostly. It was admittedly hard that one year after the Cleveland Browns had a “perfect season” of zero wins.

WordRidden/Flickr

(If you’ve been wondering, Ohioans call vacuums sweepers. It’s okay to ask for clarification… we know some of our regional words strike you as weird.)

Brian Zimmerman/Flickr

In Ohio, we have markets all year long. Some, like Findlay Market in Cincy and the West Side Market in Cleveland, have been connecting locals with fresh produce for generations.

Hey Paul Studios/Flickr

First, they will jokingly make fun of their state. Second, they will tell you where they’d like to move. And lastly, they will tell you why they love their state and why they wouldn’t actually move away in spite of the genuine craziness that is Ohio.

Does learning about Ohio culture surprise you? You might be surprised to learn that the modern traffic light, hot dog, and Life Savers candy are all inventions from Ohio.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Ohio, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

People From Ohio August 02, 2020 Nikki Rhoades What are people from Ohio known for? Here in Ohio, buckeyes are considered good luck, the OSU vs. Michigan game is pretty much a universal holiday, and guessing which season the weather is going to mimic are all local pastimes. What unique words and phrases do people in Ohio say? In Ohio, “The Jake” isn’t a person. BW3 is a restaurant you know as Buffalo Wild Wings, and that funny strip of lawn in front of your yard is a tree lawn or devil’s strip. There are all sorts of odd words and phrases in Ohio! What are the best things about living in Ohio? Ohio is a magical place to call home, thanks to a stunning landscape, all sorts of places of interest, and endless opportunities for fun. However, the absolute best thing about living in Ohio is the people you’ll get to call your neighbors.

The OIYS Visitor Center

People From Ohio

August 02, 2020

Nikki Rhoades

What are people from Ohio known for? Here in Ohio, buckeyes are considered good luck, the OSU vs. Michigan game is pretty much a universal holiday, and guessing which season the weather is going to mimic are all local pastimes. What unique words and phrases do people in Ohio say? In Ohio, “The Jake” isn’t a person. BW3 is a restaurant you know as Buffalo Wild Wings, and that funny strip of lawn in front of your yard is a tree lawn or devil’s strip. There are all sorts of odd words and phrases in Ohio! What are the best things about living in Ohio? Ohio is a magical place to call home, thanks to a stunning landscape, all sorts of places of interest, and endless opportunities for fun. However, the absolute best thing about living in Ohio is the people you’ll get to call your neighbors.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Here in Ohio, buckeyes are considered good luck, the OSU vs. Michigan game is pretty much a universal holiday, and guessing which season the weather is going to mimic are all local pastimes.

What unique words and phrases do people in Ohio say?

In Ohio, “The Jake” isn’t a person. BW3 is a restaurant you know as Buffalo Wild Wings, and that funny strip of lawn in front of your yard is a tree lawn or devil’s strip. There are all sorts of odd words and phrases in Ohio!

What are the best things about living in Ohio?

Ohio is a magical place to call home, thanks to a stunning landscape, all sorts of places of interest, and endless opportunities for fun. However, the absolute best thing about living in Ohio is the people you’ll get to call your neighbors.