My uncles in Indiana do this weird thing where they use the word “dinner” for lunch and supper. It could mean either one. Like they take a “dinner break” during the work day. So confusing. But that got me to thinking that we Owensboroans have our own quirky wording, don’t we?
We call it “coke” whether it’s a Coke, or a Dr. Pepper, or Pepsi or whatever. When we say coke we mean any soft drink that’s carbonated.
Owensboroans call Daviess County High School “county” for short. But not so much “county high.” However, for some reason it’s perfectly acceptable to call Owensboro Catholic High School “catholic high” or even just “catholic” for short. Either way. But Owensboro High School is not “city” or “city high”. It’s “senior high” because it started out as Owensboro Senior High School back in the day and we just never stopped calling it that. There’s no confusion with Apollo though. It’s just “Apollo.” There’s no other way to say it. This never struck me as strange until I was explaining that to someone who just moved to Owensboro last week.
There are two bridges: the “new bridge” and “blue bridge.” We don’t call them by their proper names (like Glover H. Cary, for example). We keep it totally informal when it comes to our bridges.
No matter how many times it’s changed names or locations, we still – and will always – call it “Texas Gas.”
There is also no “East Parrish” and “West Parrish” avenue to an Owensboroan. It’s just “Parrish” and “54.”
The names “Brian” and “Ryan” are one syllable. (Go ahead. Try it… See!) “Kyle” and “Cal” almost rhyme, even though they should sound nothing alike.
And don’t even get me started on the pronunciation of Frederica Street. You slur it like Louisvillians slur the word “Louisville.” You don’t say it phonetically. It’s pronounced “Fred-rick-uh.” Three syllables. It’s only four syllables to out-of-towners.
