Living in South Dakota lends itself to some pretty unique experiences. Learning to DIY, work hard, and celebrate community are just a few of the things you learn when growing up in South Dakota. You also learn an entire vocabulary that, as it turns out, includes unique words from South Dakota. Not sure what we mean? Read on as we explore the 10 words you’ll only understand if you’re from South Dakota.

  1. Pop

eddie welker / Flickr When you ask for a “coke” in South Dakota, you are going to get a Coca-Cola. And you will definitely get a weird look if you try to order a “soda.” Pop is the word of choice for our favorite carbonated beverage.

  1. Hot dish

Emily / Flickr A hot dish may just be the most uniquely South Dakotan word there is! Whether it’s hot dishes for supper and/or hot dishes for pot lucks, we love hot dishes! Why? They are the easiest way to combine a whole bunch of yummy ingredients into a simple dish.

  1. Nice

Philip / Flickr Growing up in South Dakota, you learn the true meaning of the word “nice.” Helping your neighbors, fixing flat tires, and sharing with friends are all ways we show just how nice we are.

  1. Cold

Chris De Jabet / Flickr You don’t know the true definition of the word cold unless you live in South Dakota. Cold always involves a combination of single digit or negative temperatures and lots and lots of wind.

  1. Corn hole

Nathan Rupert / Flickr Yes, corn hole is indeed a South Dakota colloquialism. It’s the delightful bean bag toss game you play all summer long.

  1. Puppy chow

Kara / Flickr A South Dakota favorite, this party snack combines cereal, chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar. You can never go wrong with this beloved snack!

  1. Knee high by the fourth of July

Olivier Finlay Beaton / Flickr This is not as much a word as it is one of the more popular phrases people in South Dakota say, which refers to the growing of summer corn.

  1. Scotcheroos

Matt / Flickr Scotheroos are decadent peanut butter bars covered in chocolate because apparently we can’t get enough sweets in South Dakota. Get the recipe from your favorite South Dakotan; your taste buds will thank you later.

  1. Truck Topper

dave_7 / Flickr Called a canopy and a camper shell in other parts of the country, we know the true name for these is a topper.

  1. You guys

ktbuffy / Flickr Everyone is “you guys” in South Dakota, including your grandparents, sister, and even the dog. “You guys” is our all encompassing pronoun.

How many of these South Dakotan words do you use? Which ones did we miss?

eddie welker / Flickr

When you ask for a “coke” in South Dakota, you are going to get a Coca-Cola. And you will definitely get a weird look if you try to order a “soda.” Pop is the word of choice for our favorite carbonated beverage.

Emily / Flickr

A hot dish may just be the most uniquely South Dakotan word there is! Whether it’s hot dishes for supper and/or hot dishes for pot lucks, we love hot dishes! Why? They are the easiest way to combine a whole bunch of yummy ingredients into a simple dish.

Philip / Flickr

Growing up in South Dakota, you learn the true meaning of the word “nice.” Helping your neighbors, fixing flat tires, and sharing with friends are all ways we show just how nice we are.

Chris De Jabet / Flickr

You don’t know the true definition of the word cold unless you live in South Dakota. Cold always involves a combination of single digit or negative temperatures and lots and lots of wind.

Nathan Rupert / Flickr

Yes, corn hole is indeed a South Dakota colloquialism. It’s the delightful bean bag toss game you play all summer long.

Kara / Flickr

A South Dakota favorite, this party snack combines cereal, chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar. You can never go wrong with this beloved snack!

Olivier Finlay Beaton / Flickr

This is not as much a word as it is one of the more popular phrases people in South Dakota say, which refers to the growing of summer corn.

Matt / Flickr

Scotheroos are decadent peanut butter bars covered in chocolate because apparently we can’t get enough sweets in South Dakota. Get the recipe from your favorite South Dakotan; your taste buds will thank you later.

dave_7 / Flickr

Called a canopy and a camper shell in other parts of the country, we know the true name for these is a topper.

ktbuffy / Flickr

Everyone is “you guys” in South Dakota, including your grandparents, sister, and even the dog. “You guys” is our all encompassing pronoun.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Words From South Dakota May 22, 2019 Annie Sandmeier Do people in South Dakota have an accent? There is indeed a South Dakota accent, dontcha know? Okay, so maybe it isn’t as strong as our neighbors directly to the north or east, but South Dakotans still have our own unique dialect. Not sure what I mean? Repeat after me: Italian, bag, you bet, lent. Did you say Eye-talian, beg, you betcha, and borrowed him/her? Congratulations, you are a tried and true South Dakotan! What are other funny things that only people from South Dakota do? Like every other state, what may seem completely normal to natives is foreign to everyone else. For example, a small brushing of snow may close Texas schools and city government for the day, but it would literally take 10 feet of snow and a -1,495,385-degree wind chill to do the same in SoDak. Other seemingly normal things that South Dakotans do that may seem funny to everyone else is not pay income tax, not have a professional sports team of any kind, and hunt their state animal. Where are the best places to live in South Dakota? Let’s face it; every place in South Dakota is the best place to live! However, if we had to break it down into certain categories, we would say: Retire: The best place to retire in SoDak is definitely Brandon, as it gives its residents easy access to the big city (Sioux Falls), yet still boasts that safe, small-town feel that so many of us crave! Work: Not quite ready to retire? Then head to Sioux Falls before you hit the suburbs, as South Dakota’s largest city was recently named one of the best places in America for young professionals! (You can read much more about that here.) Raising a family: If you are in my shoes and have a young family to raise, you may want to consider moving to Huron, which boasts a population of just over 13,000, plus a great school district, arts scene, and strong sense of community.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Words From South Dakota

May 22, 2019

Annie Sandmeier

Do people in South Dakota have an accent? There is indeed a South Dakota accent, dontcha know? Okay, so maybe it isn’t as strong as our neighbors directly to the north or east, but South Dakotans still have our own unique dialect. Not sure what I mean? Repeat after me: Italian, bag, you bet, lent. Did you say Eye-talian, beg, you betcha, and borrowed him/her? Congratulations, you are a tried and true South Dakotan! What are other funny things that only people from South Dakota do? Like every other state, what may seem completely normal to natives is foreign to everyone else. For example, a small brushing of snow may close Texas schools and city government for the day, but it would literally take 10 feet of snow and a -1,495,385-degree wind chill to do the same in SoDak. Other seemingly normal things that South Dakotans do that may seem funny to everyone else is not pay income tax, not have a professional sports team of any kind, and hunt their state animal. Where are the best places to live in South Dakota? Let’s face it; every place in South Dakota is the best place to live! However, if we had to break it down into certain categories, we would say: Retire: The best place to retire in SoDak is definitely Brandon, as it gives its residents easy access to the big city (Sioux Falls), yet still boasts that safe, small-town feel that so many of us crave! Work: Not quite ready to retire? Then head to Sioux Falls before you hit the suburbs, as South Dakota’s largest city was recently named one of the best places in America for young professionals! (You can read much more about that here.) Raising a family: If you are in my shoes and have a young family to raise, you may want to consider moving to Huron, which boasts a population of just over 13,000, plus a great school district, arts scene, and strong sense of community.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

What are other funny things that only people from South Dakota do? Like every other state, what may seem completely normal to natives is foreign to everyone else. For example, a small brushing of snow may close Texas schools and city government for the day, but it would literally take 10 feet of snow and a -1,495,385-degree wind chill to do the same in SoDak. Other seemingly normal things that South Dakotans do that may seem funny to everyone else is not pay income tax, not have a professional sports team of any kind, and hunt their state animal.

Where are the best places to live in South Dakota? Let’s face it; every place in South Dakota is the best place to live! However, if we had to break it down into certain categories, we would say:

Retire: The best place to retire in SoDak is definitely Brandon, as it gives its residents easy access to the big city (Sioux Falls), yet still boasts that safe, small-town feel that so many of us crave!

Work: Not quite ready to retire? Then head to Sioux Falls before you hit the suburbs, as South Dakota’s largest city was recently named one of the best places in America for young professionals! (You can read much more about that here.)

Raising a family: If you are in my shoes and have a young family to raise, you may want to consider moving to Huron, which boasts a population of just over 13,000, plus a great school district, arts scene, and strong sense of community.