Common phrases you'd hear in Los Angeles...? (transplants, live)

[RhiannonCJS]

"I'm an actor."

(Usually said by folks who won't aren't.)

[BarcelonaFan]

What about saying an area is "industrial"? I've noticed this when asking around about neighborhoods. Instead of apartment complex leasing agents telling me the area is ghetto, they would say "it's industrial".

[FreeSpirited1]

I heard this a lot...

and the other one...

"I'm working on a screenplay".

[Userdavey]

"You're from Colorado?!? I LOVE Colorado!"

"You're from Albuquerque? Where is that?!?!"

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by ccm123

"Dude"

""Sigalert" - phrase coined in Southern California by LAPD and CHP

In the 1950's Loyd C. "Sig" Sigmon was working for KMPC 710Am Los Angeles when he developed a recording device that would alert the station to important information. The station notified the Police department that it could be used to help with traffic and other events. The Police department agreed to use it only of all the radio stations had the device available to them. Police Chief William H. Parker told Sig that they were going to call the device "Sigalert".

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

And when you see someone that you know is famous only you don't remember who they are:

"Dude your you."

To which I would say, "Yes and you are you."

[BitofEndearment]

As someone who lives in LA a few comments:

Dude is not used that much. I'm from New England and NEers (and a friend from Jersey said the same thing to me) used dude way more. People in LA use bro, much more than in other parts of the country.

I think NorCal speak is taking over some of that outdated LA language. Hella and chill are about nearly the only adverb and adjective left in the vocabulary of people under 25.

Also, the minutes/time as distance? We use that in New England, too, it doesn't sound like a Cali/LA thing at all. The "the" thing totally is though. I can't imagine, "the" 93, or "the" 495? No way!

Also, "Imma" is a lot bigger in LA. Imma do this, Imma do that.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I hear some people say fool quite a bit, such as "Hey fool what you doin today?" Or, "I was telling this one fool to hook me up." Then again those that seem to use the term don't seem to have drifted through life and maybe barely made it past the 9th grade.

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by BitofEndearment

As someone who lives in LA a few comments:

Dude is not used that much. I'm from New England and NEers (and a friend from Jersey said the same thing to me) used dude way more. People in LA use bro, much more than in other parts of the country.

I think NorCal speak is taking over some of that outdated LA language. Hella and chill are about nearly the only adverb and adjective left in the vocabulary of people under 25.

Also, the minutes/time as distance? We use that in New England, too, it doesn't sound like a Cali/LA thing at all. The "the" thing totally is though. I can't imagine, "the" 93, or "the" 495? No way!

Also, "Imma" is a lot bigger in LA. Imma do this, Imma do that.

I don't know, when I moved to Boston people definitely did a double take when phrased things by time and not mileage - and often mentioned that it is something they only hear from people in the west.

[Caladium]

Two I heard all the time in LA:

"the industry", as in "I work in the industry" (entertainment for those not from southern CA)

"only in LA"