Local Explains - 10 Ways To Know You Are in Pittsburgh 

one thing I notice about people from Pittsburgh is that they can't wait to get out of Pittsburgh but then when they get to their new place they can't wait to tell everybody they're from Pittsburgh

I know I'm in Pittsburgh because when I pass or meet someone I don't know while walking down the street, if I say hello or good morning and they look me in the eye and say hello or hi how are you doing. You don't get that in Erie or Cleveland or Columbus. They ignore you there and look away, I think their scared since 9/11. We don't have that here.

The "Pittsburgh Potty" was from the Steel Days. My old man worked at the J&L plant in Hazelwood, and he said the showers were ice cold and most guys went home dirty and men going home without showering was common at most mills. Hence the basement toilets and usually a sink like a stationary tub they were added so husbands could get cleaned up and use the bathroom before coming upstairs in the house.

False: the Pittsburgh left does not block traffic unless done incorrectly. The Pittsburgh left is ment to help the flow of traffic. It is to keep a whole line of traffic going straight from being held up because a person is turning left at the front of the line.

I was born in Pittsburgh and moved out the the country when I was 9, I love the fact that I can hear a Pittsburgh accent, and you definitely have one. Awesome video

I grew up in the Beaver Valley (1945 to 1965). I traveled to high school from my hometown to a private school in Ambridge Pa. I use to hitch hike to school in my 11th grade. Many times that year (67 times to be exact), I would get a ride from some one and when asked how far they were going and their response was down town Pittsburgh or very close by. I would skip school and spend my day in town. I'd go spend hours in the Carnegie Museum (it was free and there wasn't many people back then in the museum, Or go to the aviary, I visited so many different churches, (some of the most interesting churches I've ever seen in one area) and many other points of interest. I would have lunch at Tads Steaks, $1.29 got me a steak and baked potato. I would spend the rest of the afternoon in used book stores. I'd spend a dollar or two on old books and National Geographic magazines (usually a nickle or dime each). Then hitch some rides back home. many times I never got home until after 9 o'clock,I would never trade that education for any organized system of schooling and higher learning. Please note I was kicked out at the end of my 11th grade, and had to do my 11th grade again in public school. I'm now in my late 70's, I never stopped self studying, I still do art, and restoration work. I'm in pretty good health. Thank you Pittsburgh. I do miss it.

I've always understood "the Pittsburgh left" to be a courtesy thing. If you're sitting at a red light and the car facing you has it's left turn signal on, when the light changes to green you let the oncoming car make their left turn, allowing any cars behind them to go straight if they need to, rather than making them wait for you and cars behind you going straight. I'm not sure what she's talking about unless she means drivers who "take the P left" without it being "offered" then get stuck in the intersection, which happens.

In most cities, if you make a wrong turn, all you have to do is make a right turn, another right, and then another right and you'll be back where you started. In Pittsburgh however, you can be driving for an extra 2 hours to get back where you were. You do not want to miss your turn in Pittsburgh because the road setup is complicated and very old.

I love the way she kept saying ekspecially. I grew up in Oklahoma but was born in Pittsburgh. My mom and grandmother, who lived with us while I was growing up were from McKees Rocks. My mom had to explain chipped ham to the butcher in Oklahoma. I had to Redd up my room before playing outside. When I was in trouble I had to either sit on my teeth or on the Devan and hush up. My grandmother used to call our neighbor a real nebshit. My mom had dozens of Pittsburgh venaculars. This video made me really miss my mom. My dad may have taken her out of Pittsburgh, but he never took Pittsburgh out of her. We may have never left, but our home burnt down on Brownsville road. With 7 kids and grandma, and being under-insured, he decided that going home to Oklahoma where he had family was the best way to get back on his feet. My mom was an only child and her father died working for the P&LE. The hardest thing about Oklahoma for my mom was getting used to eating brown eggs from a chicken instead of white eggs from the store, and drinking whole milk from a cow instead of skim milk from the milkman. She actually warmed up to having cows, pigs, goats, chickens and geese, and she enjoyed watching rodeos and attending Powwows. But I think she missed the streetcars, inclines and the mountains.

We don't call treed areas "forests". We refer to these areas as "woods".

Learned something new from this video! I once heard a Pittsburgh native say “Picksburgh” and thought she was just being silly. Had no idea that was a common pronunciation! Interesting.

Pittsburgh has some of the most beautiful old victorian homes..Its a great city..

been watching "Pittsburgh Dad" for a few years so that prepped me for most off this for my move this summer

I live in pittsburgh and i can tell you i dont skip a single day without checking the weather on google

Did you know that years ago.... Possibly still true, though for some reason Appalachia is derided a bit as backwards Hillbillies Pittsburgh was called the Paris of Appalachia??? You can google it. We are part of Appalachia which I rather think is an honor. Appalachian folk are family driven wholesome people. BTW, I'm 54. I was born in the now gone St. Francis hospital in Pittsburgh and grew up in Brookline South Hills! Still live in the area too.

I've been in downtown Pittsburgh and had the GPS cry uncle and quit. Driving is not for the faint of heart. Also Pittsburgh has more steps (outdoors) than any other city. It's four lanes feeding a two lane tunnel,take your tirn!

I grew up in the Pittsburgh area. I moved to Atlanta for 28 years and recently moved back home to my beloved Burgh! I loved ATL but there is no place like Pittsburgh! I am so Pittsburgh and LOVE IT! On another note, I'm looking to purchase a home around the Pittsburgh area. Pointer? Agent?

You got 5 seconds to get in the right lane out of the Ft. Pitt tunnel!

It was a real culture shock when we moved from Metro Denver to Beaver in 2001, especially hearing people saying expecially! 😉

When someone says they gotta 'redd up and run sweeper' before 'comp'ny comes dahn' , yinz know yer in Pixburgh. Bonus points if ya took a field trip to Heinz as a kid and got a pickle pin. And ya love The Clarks!

We love to live in in Pittsburgh! It's great City!

I grew up in a house that had a Pittsburgh potty and basement shower. And was actually in three rivers stadium December 23, 1972 for the reception. I now live in Lawrenceville were every street in on a hill off of Butler Street.

Dang I’m from Pittsburgh born n raised and still here! I thought a buggy was said everywhere lol I thought nebby was used to everywhere too!! Hahaha she got everything right! Love it eckspecially the dialect lol I thought we talked like that everyone else until today hahaha. And I'm 52

If yinz wanna buy a haus, expecially one wid a Picksburgh potty, she's reddy ta make a dill, 'n'at. 😆

Not only deer, but also wild turkeys are very common in the city.

Pittsburgh left is letting the first guy make the left across the intersection before you proceed straight. It save the people coming towards you time since the left turner cleared out. Try that crap anywhere else and you will get killed. I moved to Florida and wouldn’t think about it here (moved because of the winter weather). Your version f the Pittsburgh left is just taking control of the intersection so you can go when the traffic clears or if the light turns yellow.

For those who have never had an experience with deer, it is a lot easier to hit a deer than you might think. They will run or jump in front of cars, but with their tiny hooves, they get little or no traction on pavement, meaning when they try to jump or run out of the way they can slip like a hog on ice. In short, if you can't stop and the deer is in your path, it's a prescription for a collision.

Having lived/worked for apx. 15 years in Pittsburgh I can honestly say that the weather was something anyone considered, given the fact that it’s going to change within the next 15-20 minutes!

I’ve lived in a lot of states since 1983. I moved to just northwest of Pittsburgh back in 2006. Out of all the other states I love Pennsylvania! The scenery is gorgeous and the people are so friendly. It’s like a mini NYC. You’ve got Squirrel Hill with the Jews, Bloomfield with the Italians. Pittsburgh has some great restaurants too. I was born in Ohio near Indiana where it’s flat. I would never move back! I had never heard of perogies or haluski until I moved here.

Spent 21 years in the Navy, and have traveled to many states and foreign countries, but the 4 months I spent in Pittsburgh and the short trips back always made me dream of retiring there. Pretty much all the points here I would agree with, but they are also why I found the city so interesting.

I really enjoy your videos, keep it going!

When using the GPS in Pittsburgh and something doesn't feel right, I take out my phone and turn on its GPS as a backup to not get lost. I thought I'd seen everything with seeing deer in city neighborhoods like Stanton Heights and Homewood. That is until finishing the Homestead Grays Bridge portion of traveling to Squirrel Hill at evening rush hour. Just before the big intersection on Beechwood Blvd, a very large deer came out of nowhere and leaped over 4 lanes of cars in front of me. I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself.

I'm just outside city (Mckeesport) too but have lived in and near Pittsburgh my whole life. I have no desire to leave Pittsburgh/area. Every season, breathe taking beauty awesome people. Even if I hit for mad $, Pittsburgh is home base❤

Add the annual Furries Convention over July 4th weekend and the Picklesburg festival in July. These are definitely unique events here!

I visited Pittsburgh for vacation and had a good time during the week I was there. Strangest thing was lack of a hot downtown scene. I guess it’s where everyone goes to work before going home to their neighborhoods.

As for wildlife, we have a ton of deer and other wildlife right here in the West End only two miles from 'Dahntahn' and on the back of MT Washington. Many streets become staircases in the city adding greatly to GPS confusion. And don't forget about J-walking. As a native Yinzer, I can tell when someone is NOT from Pittsburgh when I see them waiting patiently at an intersection for the walk man sign to come on even though no traffic is coming. I J-walk all the time and have never once ever heard of someone in law enforcement giving someone a ticket for it. Our streets are very narrow compared to other cities and are fairly safe for pedestrians statistically, btw.

Hello. Great information. Thank you.

Nice video with great information on some of the things that make the area unique. Another thing to include in your "Upcoming 10 more things to know that you are in Pittsburgh" video (that you didn't know that you were going to make) is to talk about Steeler mania. I was always impressed to see so much Black and Gold in the area when I would come home to visit. It has been like that for years and the fan spirit runs exceptionally deep. Pride in the history of the area and impact on the country are another unique factor. The person who commented on the Parking Chair had a good one as well !!

You're right about the deer.I,ve never seen so many dead ones on the side of the road as hiway 79 outside of Pittsburgh.Other people I know say the same thing when driving by there.Good hunting in the region,another plus.

One of my favorite Pgh quirks is how people park on whatever side of the street they feel like, not just the side that's with the traffic! First time I drove there I got fooled a couple times when turning into a street and seeing cars parked on both sides of the street facing the same direction. I thought I had mistakenly turned the wrong way on to a one way street 😲

I lived in Oakland going to the University of Pittsburgh from 1996 to 2000. I'm sure things have changed since then. Yeah, the dialect is crazy, even coming from Northeast PA. I never saw a deer while at University, so I assume that is a new thing. I did a lot of driving outside of the Pittsburgh/Oakland area. The food there is awesome. The tunnels are the worst. It isn't a 15 minute wait, it could be an hour. I co-oped at Washington, PA and Bridgeport, PA which meant going home was a trip through the Ft. Pitt tunnel I believe. Seriously, it could take an hour in traffic until getting into the tunnel and then when you were out, traffic was moving at 60 mph again. The radio shows even referred to it as the "tunnel monster." Don't get me wrong, I love the city.

I go hiking in Frick Park every week and I always see deer. I see them every few months in my neighborhood. I moved here in 2020 (to North Huntingdon) and what I find different about Pittsburgh is that it is not so much a city but a grouping of hundreds of overlapping small town/neighborhoods. It has lots of museums and culture but my favorite part is the number of large parks close by for hiking. (By large, I mean we do a four mile hike within the park without doing laps).

😂😂😂😂 Too funny... listening to you mentioning the "Pittsburgh Potty" made me think back to my childhood home..lol, we had a creepy toilet in our basement...and a coal room too..( A pittsburgh thing too I believe) I am a native Pittsburgher..😉Loved this!

The GPS thing is so crazy, I experienced it myself and was glad I did sort of know where I was going and not relying on it. I picture strangers driving around in circles for days LOL!

I miss some things about Pittsburgh such as good sense of community, good diverse cheap food, pretty good education/hospital systems, easy to get around once you know how, cheaper housing compared to most urban areas, lots of things to do, easy to get to rural areas, friendly people. The bad is not great for jobs, real estate is catching up to other markets, the Yinzer dialect is annoying, the downtown is pretty dead, high crime neighborhoods stay that way, whole areas allowed to rot away.

11) People put chairs in front of their houses to claim the on-street parking spots they've cleared of snow, 12) Steelers football permeate the culture, 13) extraordinarily gloomy winters, 14) extraordinarly green summers, 15) the three rivers divide the city between the north, east and south and people tend not to venture outside their division, 16) people can be a little clannish, often having a finite set of friends they've known since early childhood and conversations with strangers beyond the superficial can arouse suspicion, 17 ) snow tires are a good idea in winter and watch out for bone-jarring potholes, 18) public fireworks are a thing, 19) people can be thrifty; "If there's a can of red paint in the basement, the porch gets painted red", 20) vehicle rust, 21) cultural mores are probably more-defined here than elsewhere, 22) not really a metropolitan feel of a vast big city but more of a collection of neighborhoods and towns, i.e. "a big little city", aka "The Paris of Appalachia", 23) long, winding roads in the outer regions that change names, then change back again and sometimes seem to have two names at once, 24) "pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps" mentality, 25) the rivers are quite suitable for boating, 26) racially segregated neighborhoods, 27) traffic bottlenecks, 28) mish-mosh of home designs ranging from turn-of-the-(20th) century modest frame housing to upper-class and gentrifed areas of that same era, to areas of decay with razed homes, to post-WWII/mid-century housing to more recent developments in the suburbs, 28) some call the people "friendly" which seems less obvious to me than their cynicism, perhaps a product of the gloomy weather.

"Expecially," "tempachure" - a couple of things that pop out about your local accent that you didn't mention. 😃👍

Nice to see and hear what's life looks like in this part of US. Thanks for video. Best wishes from Serbia/Europe.

I once saw a dialect map of westerns Pennsylvania and noted I saw that map before, it was the Bituminous coal map. It is the legacy of that mining that caused the spread of the local dialect.

AS a progfessional driver, in Pennsylvania, left turns are to be made from the middle of the intersection!

You have to ask for fries on your salad...Chicken salad, and a Steak salad come with fries and cheese, not all salads come with fries.

It's genuinely so weird but super cool to see videos like this! Ive lived here my entire life and I'm more used to seeing videos about life in other cities. Our house (my childhood home!) Has a pittsburgh potty in it lol. If you're reading this and visiting, please check out the Strip District! So many fun shops and yummy foods. I have a lot of fond memories there. Also... I just learned that I might say Eckspecially. My dad says a lot of this stuff actually LOL. He's been living here for over 60 years.

Don't be a jag off and block the intersection with your Pittsburgh left!

Great video! I would also like to give some advice about traffic for the newcomers. Never rely on GPS, you won't get a signal in downtown. Sometimes, GPS can even show you the way against traffic! Also, if GPS tells you to turn left or right, you will have to choose in seconds, between 5 right or 4 left. The signs you will see most often are: "road works, single lane (shared), flagger ahead." Tunnels! Be very careful when entering and exiting the tunnels. Similarly, you will see 4-5 different right or left positions at the end of the tunnel, too. Keep it in your mind that there is no GPS signal throughout the tunnel. Don't drive in winter if you have wings. But, if you do, avoid using GPS, it will probably want you to drive on a frozen bridge or a steep road. You will pray that your vehicle does not roll over while climbing some amazing steep hills, but no worries, it will not, somehow! Deers! They can come out of anywhere, at any time, it doesn't matter if it's a highway or a city road. As soon as you arrive, you will notice dozens of dead deer, raccoons, or groundhogs on the side of the road, unfortunately. By the way, they're not afraid of human and the vehicles here anymore. There may be traffic in this city for no reason. It is just a matter of time to get used to it, relax! Being able to enter the tunnels is a great success, and being able to get out of it is a medal! After a tunnel, if you're able to shift your vehicle from far right or left (vice-versa) less than a hundred yards, on a 5-lane bridge, you're the king! I think the most appropriate traffic sign for Pittsburgh is: BE PREPARED TO STOP!

Seattle's weather is like Pittsburgh. There's a joke about Seattle's weather. "Don't like the weather? Wait ten minutes!"

I’m moving to Pittsburgh in a couple weeks from Charlotte and I’m so excited. Charlotte will forever be home, but I love Pittsburgh. It already feels like a second home.

The GPS thing is definitely something we noticed while visiting in Pittsburgh couple weeks ago.

JAGOFF!!!! My the childhood memories THAT word brings back!🤣🤣😂😂👍👍

Visitor : "Can you tell me how to get to Allegheny General ? " Pittsburgher : "You can't get there from here..."

I live 6 hours from Pittsburgh,Pa from Indiana and I visited Pittsburgh in October.Shaler and Moon township is beautiful in the fall.I would love to go back and explore more at some point.

Loved this! Thanks for the comments and for posting. I spent 2 high school years in Pgh. Loved it. The geography is wonderful. BTW, where are you from? i.e. Ekspecially? But you sound great.

Everyone in Pittsburgh don't say yinz or jag off. It's certain groups speak like that.

? Pittsburgh Weather ? "Partly cloudy" you can bet. ~ Joe DeNardo.

i love it here, i am from calif., the GPS being screwed up is no joke i went from beaver, pa in beaver county to greenock, pa past mckeesport, pa, gps said it would take 1 hr 20 min, it took 2 hours, i was 40 min late to lunch w/ a friend, leave earlier than the time on the gps depending how far you are going, closed roads that collapsed during a rainstorm or because of flash floods, road construction, no street signs on roads because they fell off or broke and have not being replaced, wrong turns, having to drive 1 mile to find a place to turn around, long road detours, having to take side streets because of heavy traffic, getting lost, losing your signal, curvy windy roads, you often cannot drive fast on, especially during snow, rain, so that adds more time to commute. In a area of heavy deer crossings esp. at dawn, dusk, night drive alot slower, i bought a electronic deer whistle that chirps loud, not the cheap kind that is the wind blowing throw the whistle, but a electronic whistle that you have to install and hook up to the cars electrical system, it works great, saved me from about 15 collisions with a deer, also in general with all animals, like raccoons, possum, pets etc..

I’m getting homesick. So we talk differently, not weird. Most cities have their own way and culture. Not a bad or weird thing.

From 1 Yinzer to another, I think it's really cool to offer a # to people visiting/moving to the 'burgh (n'at 😂). I moved away a few times, but I always gravitate back home. *side note...I used to give Segway tours outta Station Square. We had to learn about all these facts, locations & their significance, famous people, etc...I was SHOCKED at how much I didn't know about our beautiful Steel City, despite livin' here for 42yrs!! LOVE THE 🖤💛!!

I can attest to the GPS issue. The first time I drove to Pittsburgh, I was relying on my GPS and It directed me to turn right from a highway with no turns. The computer was referring to the road BELOW the highway I was traveling on. The road ran parallel below it.

Im from new york city but spent summers in Pittsburgh. I absolutely loved it. Does Originals still exist?

Must say that this is pretty much accurate. I'll never move back, but lived at least 30 years in the region. I'll forever miss home tho. And TBF, I've seen the Pittsburgh left quite often in Portland. I think they learnt the ways of the jagoffs in Allegheny County.

ok soo this is tha tourist version of pittsburgh. i can really break down slang from every hood for you if yall care to know, also yall might want to watch where u go out here. u go up tha wrong hill or take the wrong city steps. u might not make it out.

Glad to see u watching... Living back in WV now. I lived in Allegheny Center in N Shore. Also Southern Ave, and Natchez St Mnt Washington.. Natchez stole my heart! I worked in all types of restaurants and bars Downtown and Mnt Washington. I even enjoyed my Home Bar just around the coner on Shiloh St. I work and drank there. They were my family.. I moved at 30 yrs old. I had to come and help take care of my family here. If i move, I would go back to Da Burgh! I love listening to the T ASMR...

I like to say that Pittsburgh has 4 seasons, 3 on any given day.

I grew up about 7 miles south of downtown in the 1950s. When moved about I used to say that no two roads in Pgh went the same way.

I work as an instructor in Pittsburgh. I go through the Fort Pitt tunnel everyday.

We should all be glad having you doing such a kind and friendly video. I think you are perfect. Just 2 things, pretty please. One. Unless Webster's has changed it. If you use the word especially often. here is no letter x in the word. EX_pecially in a video. Second one you should add the "parking chair" habit practiced here😄

Wow i literally do the Pittsburgh left , everyone i know does and never realized it was a thing lol

What happened to Queen St ? North of Downtown off of East St./Rostock.

Bill Cardill aka chilly billy was a celeb on WPXI TV 11. Bill was from my home town, Sharon Pa.

The Pittsburgh vernacular is not limited to just Pittsburgh. I had a sailor who worked for me in the Navy who came from State Collage and he used some of those terms, "Slippity' was one. We both retired in California. Also our pastor went to seminary in Pittsburgh and he frequently mentioned the way people spoke in Pittsburgh. I grew up in Grove City.

On Feb 27-28 the temp went from 70 degrees down to the 20s the next day.

Needs cleaned, needs washed, needs painted, Pittsburgh has eliminated the words "to be". Oh my Gauwd is another big one. The greyest sunny days you will ever see.

I grew up in Pgh area. Left there in ‘75. The only thing I miss is chipped ham and old settlers rye bread. I live in the south and I sure don’t miss snow

I lived there for ten yrs. I miss it..

Love your Pittsburgh accent!

Ha Ha.... you said "ekspecially"! Definite Pittsburgher! Love that city!

@3:42 As a person that grew up in Sheraden and just by living in Pittsburgh and going all over the place I know the area like the back of my hand. Recently, I work for a company that services the City of Pittsburgh, I and another younger coworker went out on a road call and he commented about how I just know how to get everywhere without GPS. I am 45 and he is 23.

I have such a bizarre fascination with Pittsburgh and really want to visit... but knowing that it can hit 17 degrees anytime, much less in March, is enough for me to know it's too cold to live there. I live in New Orleans and want to move somewhere warmer lol. But we do have to use the AC and heat in the same day a LOT. Basically October-December and then February-March. January is heat only and April-September is AC only.

Sounds like I'll fit right in.

This is so accurate, and I’m not sure if I missed it, but was there no mention of Yinzers? There is such a sense of pride here. And if anyone is trying to familiarize themselves with the lingo and what people are actually like, they can look up “Pittsburgh dad” to get a feel for the accent and our humor. Basically, it’s all the native Gen X dads… definitely mine 😂

The GPS thing is real lol 😆 was dahn in pittsburgh this weekend google maps fails to update closures. And tranist closures. What is up with the T ? Every time i go to pittsburgh, it's closed in certain places. I walked from steel plaza to the south side just because the T was down. Quick 20 minute walk got my exercise lo. It's still a inconvenience. Still love Pittsburgh ❤️

what about a philly cheesesteak sub. i want one. where can I buy one there?

The Pittsburgh connection is real gooodfella

I haven't lived in the suburbs of Pittsburgh since 1988 when I got married..my husband and I are from Shaler Township. Both of us still have some of the dialects. I still use "jagoff."

My grandfather used to say the Birmingham bridge is the longest bridge in the world.. It connects Poland with Africa!

Without the tunnels, all the traffic would jam up even worse close to Downtown. They serve as a good filter for traffic. There are far more than "several" bridges in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. On the contrary, there are more bridges in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities than just about anywhere else in the world. In fact, the International Bridge Conference is regularly convened in Pittsburgh. Nothing on the inclines or riverfront trails???

Is “undecicive” a pittsburgh word too or are there just too many steel mill chemicals still in the water ?

One thing about Pittsburgh that is different than any other city is we take pride on where we come from and when shit hits the fan we pull together stronger than before..ya if don’t no where u are going don’t worry you will get lost no matter ..lol I’ve lived here all my life and I still don’t no how to get home..ahhh yes the penguins and the Steelers…

Nice video but I grew up in Ross Township (1950s and 60s) in a salt and pepper dysfunctional neighborhood...a cauldron of racial hatred. I went to a Catholic grade school...tough experience especially if you have a psychotic nun and the public school kids take exception to your parents option. Pittsburgh is a very provincial town with the mindset of the provinces or was...I left when I was a young man in 1969...sheesh, not for me. Another one of the Pittsburghese is not balogna but jumbo...I used to ask the local butcher in California to slice the ham thin like chipped ham but never as good as from Isalys...

I'm 28 years old and I've been living in or around Pittsburgh, PA my entire life and I've never spoken or have ever understood the typical Pittsburghese slang... My entire life I've always said "ya'all" instead of yonz and "shopping cart" instead of buggy. 🤭🤣

Don't forget the parking chair.