Nashville Slang: 43 Words and Phrases Locals Actually Use

The downtown street named for Timothy Demonbreun, an early French-Canadian settler. How you say it is how locals spot a newcomer.

“Take Demonbreun to the Roundabout. No, duh-MUN-bree-un.”

The city down I-24. Locals swallow half the syllables and mostly just call it the ’Boro.

“She drives in from the ’Boro every morning.”

Anyone who moved to Nashville, which lately is most people. Said with a little side-eye, mostly kindly.

“Half the room was transplants and the other half asked where they’re from.”

The rarest title in town, worn proudly (often on a bumper sticker).

“He’s a native. He remembers when the Gulch was rail yards.”

The running joke about the building boom: count the construction cranes on the skyline.

“Eleven cranes from one rooftop. The state bird is the crane.”

The 2010s nickname from the national press when Nashville became the hot place to move, visit and get married.

“Ever since we became the It City, brunch takes an hour.”

The old nickname from Nashville’s colleges, which is why there’s a full-size Parthenon in Centennial Park.

“Athens of the South, and yes, the Parthenon is real.”

South of Broadway: the downtown blocks around the Music City Center and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

“Parking in SoBro and walking up to Broadway.”

Wedgewood-Houston, the warehouse-and-gallery neighborhood south of downtown. Not the California one.

“First Saturday art crawl in WeHo.”

The crossroads at the heart of East Nashville: bars, coffee and the best people-watching east of the river.

“Meet at Five Points and we’ll figure it out.”

The three stars on the state flag, for East, Middle and West Tennessee. In Nashville it’s on everything.

“That Tristar sticker is on half the water bottles in town.”

Nashville’s nickname since a WSM radio announcer called it “Music City, U.S.A.” on air in 1950.

“Welcome to Music City, here’s your guitar-shaped keychain.”

The city’s flashier, neon, out-till-2am side.

“Lower Broad on a Saturday is pure Nashvegas.”

Lower Broadway, the downtown strip of honky-tonks between the river and Fifth.

“Meet us on Lower Broad after dinner.”

Lower Broadway’s run of bars with live bands playing from late morning until close.

“Three bands, two blocks, one Honky Tonk Highway.”

The AT&T tower downtown. Its twin spires look like Batman’s ears.

“Turn left when you see the Batman Building.”

The Ryman Auditorium, the Opry’s home from 1943 to 1974 and still the best room in town.

“Any show at the Mother Church is worth it.”

The blocks around 16th and 17th Avenues South where the labels, publishers and studios live.

“She writes on Music Row three days a week.”

East Nashville, across the river. Said with love.

“We moved to East Nasty for the coffee and the porches.”

The neighborhood built where the old rail yards sat in a low gulch south of downtown.

“Brunch in the Gulch, then the wings mural.”

The walkable stretch of 12th Avenue South: shops, sidewalks and one very famous mural.

“Get a popsicle in 12South and walk it off.”

A downtown alley of late-night clubs that grew up among the old print shops.

“Nightcap in Printers Alley?”

J. Percy Priest Lake, east of town. To most locals it’s just “the lake.”

“Boat day on Percy Priest Saturday.”

Briley Parkway, the loop that gets you around town (most days).

“Take Briley to the airport.”

I-440, the inner loop. Always “four-forty.”

“Four-forty’s backed up again.”

Fried chicken painted with cayenne paste, on white bread with pickles. Heat levels go from plain to regret.

“I got medium hot chicken and I’m still crying.”

A plate lunch: one meat, three sides, cornbread. Mac and cheese counts as a vegetable.

“Let’s hit a meat-and-three for lunch.”

Caramel, marshmallow nougat and peanuts in milk chocolate, made in Nashville since 1912.

“Grab a Goo Goo for the road.”

A bar on wheels that a dozen people pedal through downtown, usually singing.

“We got stuck behind a pedal tavern on Demonbreun.”

Bachelorette parties in matching outfits, named for what they shout.

“Here come the woo girls.”

The Grand Ole Opry, the live country radio show on WSM that’s been on the air since 1925.

“We got Opry tickets for Saturday night.”

The chord charts studio players here write in numbers instead of letters, so a song can change key on the spot. Started by the Jordanaires’ Neal Matthews in the late 1950s.

“Just give me a number chart, we’ll cut it in G.”

The spring songwriters’ festival: a week of writers’ rounds in clubs all over town.

“We saw four hit writers in one night at Tin Pan South.”

The country music festival that takes over downtown every June. Locals plan their errands around it.

“Don’t go near Broadway during CMA Fest unless you have a wristband.”

Songwriters sit in a circle and take turns playing the songs they wrote, with the stories behind them.

“The writers’ round at the Bluebird sold out in minutes.”

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, the purple honky-tonk behind the Ryman.

“Meet you at Tootsie’s.”

The letterpress poster shop that’s been printing show posters since 1879.

“That poster’s an original Hatch print.”

Dolly Parton. No last name needed, ever.

“What would Dolly do?”

The song. One of Tennessee’s official state songs, and the one every UT fan sings.

“Somebody always starts “Rocky Top” at last call.”

Preds fans throw a catfish on the ice for luck. It’s tradition, not a fish fry.

“Somebody snuck a catfish in again.”

The kickoff-return lateral that won the Titans a playoff game against Buffalo in January 2000.

“Still the best play I ever saw: the Music City Miracle.”

Nashville football’s navy and light blue. Wear both on a Sunday.

“Two-tone on, tailgate packed.”

The University of Tennessee and its fans. Checkerboards included.

“It’s a Big Orange Saturday.”