There are a handful of words that are commonly heard in a conversation that is unique to Alaska, and you’re less likely to hear in other states. From the ALCAN highway to subsistence, floatplanes, and mudflats, Alaskan’s have a variety of words that correlate with their one-of-a-kind lifestyle.
If you’re from Alaska or have spent time in the state, check to see if any of these words are familiar to you! Some of the words are used in other places, of course, but they will undoubtedly be understood by Alaskans all over the state.
- Lower 48
Thomas Hawk | Flickr The Lower 48 is common terminology used between people from Alaska referring to all of the North American states other than Alaska and Hawaii.
- Permafrost
Bruce McKay | Flickr Permafrost is well known among those who travel the Alaskan Highway. The heaves and bumps in the road are caused by permafrost; frozen ground that never fully thaws throughout the year causing uneven and rough roads.
- The Bush
Denali National Park and Preserve | Flickr The Bush is well known to Alaskans or people who watch most Alaska related reality TV shows, although they really only represent Alaska stereotypes on television. The Bush essentially refers to a majority of the state that is not accessible by any road system. It is truly the wild.
- Snowbird
Ben Kucinski | Flickr Ah, the Snowbird; depending on the day you may either think them weak or lucky. A snowbird is a person who lives in Alaska but flys south for the winter, dodging the grueling winter months for those of warmth and ease.
- Sourdough
Joseph | Flickr Sourdough refers to a long-time, if not lifetime, Alaskan. Someone who has put in the years and dedicated their lifestyle to the Alaskan way, and enjoys living in Alaska!
- Termination Dust
Jonebabana | Flickr This picture is the perfect example of termination dust. As the summer comes to a close, Alaskans keep their eyes focused on the mountain peaks surrounding their town and await the day when the frosted caps don’t melt away by the end of the day indicating that winter has finally arrived.
- PFD
Dustin Moore/Flickr The PFD is the permanent fund dividend allocating a quarter of the states savings from oil among permanent residents of Alaska.
- Snowmachine
DCSL | Flickr If you are Alaskan you know that a snowmachine is what you say instead of snowmobile. Why? Because we have enough snow and don’t see the point in a machine that makes snow.
- Alpenglow
Dru! | Flickr Alaskans or people who spend a lot of time out on the slopes are familiar with the term alpenglow. It’s the hazy pink glow that lights up a mountainside just before sunset.
What other words would you add to this list? Do you recognize these words that are unique to Alaska? Let us know in the comments below!
Thomas Hawk | Flickr
The Lower 48 is common terminology used between people from Alaska referring to all of the North American states other than Alaska and Hawaii.
Bruce McKay | Flickr
Permafrost is well known among those who travel the Alaskan Highway. The heaves and bumps in the road are caused by permafrost; frozen ground that never fully thaws throughout the year causing uneven and rough roads.
Denali National Park and Preserve | Flickr
The Bush is well known to Alaskans or people who watch most Alaska related reality TV shows, although they really only represent Alaska stereotypes on television. The Bush essentially refers to a majority of the state that is not accessible by any road system. It is truly the wild.
Ben Kucinski | Flickr
Ah, the Snowbird; depending on the day you may either think them weak or lucky. A snowbird is a person who lives in Alaska but flys south for the winter, dodging the grueling winter months for those of warmth and ease.
Joseph | Flickr
Sourdough refers to a long-time, if not lifetime, Alaskan. Someone who has put in the years and dedicated their lifestyle to the Alaskan way, and enjoys living in Alaska!
Jonebabana | Flickr
This picture is the perfect example of termination dust. As the summer comes to a close, Alaskans keep their eyes focused on the mountain peaks surrounding their town and await the day when the frosted caps don’t melt away by the end of the day indicating that winter has finally arrived.
Dustin Moore/Flickr
The PFD is the permanent fund dividend allocating a quarter of the states savings from oil among permanent residents of Alaska.
DCSL | Flickr
If you are Alaskan you know that a snowmachine is what you say instead of snowmobile. Why? Because we have enough snow and don’t see the point in a machine that makes snow.
Dru! | Flickr
Alaskans or people who spend a lot of time out on the slopes are familiar with the term alpenglow. It’s the hazy pink glow that lights up a mountainside just before sunset.
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Address: Alaska, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Unique To Alaska May 15, 2020 Megan McDonald What unique words and phrases do people in Alaska say? Going even more in depth than the list above, there’s quite a few phrases you’ll see being used in Alaska that you won’t hear anywhere else. A “Cheechako,” for instance, if a newcomer to Alaska that hasn’t lived through their first winter just yet. The “Alcan” refers to the Alaska-Canada highway, which is the most popular way to move to Alaska. Traveling this road is truly life changing! “Breakup” is a commonly used phrase to describe what happens to winter in the spring. The ice and snow “break up,” melting everywhere and leaving Alaska a soggy, muddy mess. There’s a wonderful language of Alaska slang in this state, that refers to life out here in the “Great Land,” which is of course our nickname for the greatest state in the United States! Do Alaskans have any strange habits? We have many habits born out of necessity that may seem strange to people from the lower 48. We take our shoes off before entering our homes, because glacial silt and grit are extremely hard to get out of your home once it has entered. Also your boots are usually a wet mess when you go inside the house after a tromp around in the snow, and it’s best to leave them to dry in the mud room or arctic entryway of your home. We also celebrate Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and Summer Solstice, the longest and brightest day of the year. Many people from Outside think that our obsession with daylight and the celebration at the height of seasons is a little much, but when your days are dictated by the weather and the light like they are in Alaska, you learn to appreciate every season in this glorious state.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Unique To Alaska
May 15, 2020
Megan McDonald
What unique words and phrases do people in Alaska say? Going even more in depth than the list above, there’s quite a few phrases you’ll see being used in Alaska that you won’t hear anywhere else. A “Cheechako,” for instance, if a newcomer to Alaska that hasn’t lived through their first winter just yet. The “Alcan” refers to the Alaska-Canada highway, which is the most popular way to move to Alaska. Traveling this road is truly life changing! “Breakup” is a commonly used phrase to describe what happens to winter in the spring. The ice and snow “break up,” melting everywhere and leaving Alaska a soggy, muddy mess. There’s a wonderful language of Alaska slang in this state, that refers to life out here in the “Great Land,” which is of course our nickname for the greatest state in the United States! Do Alaskans have any strange habits? We have many habits born out of necessity that may seem strange to people from the lower 48. We take our shoes off before entering our homes, because glacial silt and grit are extremely hard to get out of your home once it has entered. Also your boots are usually a wet mess when you go inside the house after a tromp around in the snow, and it’s best to leave them to dry in the mud room or arctic entryway of your home. We also celebrate Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and Summer Solstice, the longest and brightest day of the year. Many people from Outside think that our obsession with daylight and the celebration at the height of seasons is a little much, but when your days are dictated by the weather and the light like they are in Alaska, you learn to appreciate every season in this glorious state.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Going even more in depth than the list above, there’s quite a few phrases you’ll see being used in Alaska that you won’t hear anywhere else. A “Cheechako,” for instance, if a newcomer to Alaska that hasn’t lived through their first winter just yet. The “Alcan” refers to the Alaska-Canada highway, which is the most popular way to move to Alaska. Traveling this road is truly life changing! “Breakup” is a commonly used phrase to describe what happens to winter in the spring. The ice and snow “break up,” melting everywhere and leaving Alaska a soggy, muddy mess. There’s a wonderful language of Alaska slang in this state, that refers to life out here in the “Great Land,” which is of course our nickname for the greatest state in the United States!
Do Alaskans have any strange habits?
We have many habits born out of necessity that may seem strange to people from the lower 48. We take our shoes off before entering our homes, because glacial silt and grit are extremely hard to get out of your home once it has entered. Also your boots are usually a wet mess when you go inside the house after a tromp around in the snow, and it’s best to leave them to dry in the mud room or arctic entryway of your home. We also celebrate Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and Summer Solstice, the longest and brightest day of the year. Many people from Outside think that our obsession with daylight and the celebration at the height of seasons is a little much, but when your days are dictated by the weather and the light like they are in Alaska, you learn to appreciate every season in this glorious state.
