North Dakotans are generally pretty understanding of misrepresentations of them known by outsiders. They know that the Peace Garden State isn’t the most well known and popular state out there. Some of the things they say and do may come across as confusing to others. However, there are some scenarios that can easily make any of them cringe. If you are an out-of-stater, you might want to take notes on these before interacting with someone living in North Dakota.
- Mispronouncing “kuchen.”
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr Kuchen is a very special treat North Dakotans love. The proper pronunciation is a bit surprising to some people and that’s understandable. But if you’re going to have it and experience its amazingness, you should know how to say it right.
- Saying “soda” instead of “pop.”
Alan/Flickr North Dakota is a pop state, because we actually know the difference between something like baking soda and a soft drink. Case closed.
- When out-of-state people ask if they live near Mt. Rushmore.
wolverine_9_5/Flickr Sorry buddy, but you’re thinking of the wrong Dakota. We’ve got plenty of awesome attractions of our own and yet it always seems to lead back to that confusion with out-of-staters.
- Hearing about other states entirely closing down over just a couple inches of snow.
Wes Peck/Flickr A little dusting of snow and every school and road is shut down? Come on guys, you need a couple inches of snow coming down every hour with high winds to get to that level!
- Calling hotdish a casserole.
srsldy/Flickr This may fly in other states, but a hotdish is a hotdish. And there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it!
- Assume they have the same accents as in the movie “Fargo.”
jpellgen/Flickr Trust us when we say that the accents in that movie were a little more than over-exaggerated. And besides, only one scene in the entire movie was actually in Fargo. The rest was in Minnesota and most of the characters were Minnesotan.
- Ask if there is any other season in North Dakota besides winter.
Jellaluna/Flickr I know that some people out there think North Dakota is a snowy wasteland all year long, but we do have summer (even if it doesn’t feel very long). Temperatures in the summer can get up to 100 degrees.
- Make the “a telephone pole is the state tree of North Dakota” joke.
NDPRD/Flickr Alright, I admit, that one is kind of funny, but if you actually think North Dakota is void of all trees then you’d easily find yourself to be wrong because we have tons of trees, forests even. The picture above? Yeah, that was taken in this state.
- Assume everyone in North Dakota lives on a farm.
Holly Hayes/Flickr You obviously haven’t been to any of North Dakota’s cities if you assume this. We’ve got busy metro areas just like everywhere else. There are more cities than just Fargo, too!
- Think that there is nothing to do or see in North Dakota.
Heather/Flickr People who think this couldn’t be more wrong! I know it isn’t the state with the most thriving tourism industry, but there are so many things to experience here. And I don’t mean just a visit to Medora; the list extends well beyond that.
What other things can easily make you cringe as a North Dakotan? And what are your favorite things about living in North Dakota? Let us know in the comments!
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr
Kuchen is a very special treat North Dakotans love. The proper pronunciation is a bit surprising to some people and that’s understandable. But if you’re going to have it and experience its amazingness, you should know how to say it right.
Alan/Flickr
North Dakota is a pop state, because we actually know the difference between something like baking soda and a soft drink. Case closed.
wolverine_9_5/Flickr
Sorry buddy, but you’re thinking of the wrong Dakota. We’ve got plenty of awesome attractions of our own and yet it always seems to lead back to that confusion with out-of-staters.
Wes Peck/Flickr
A little dusting of snow and every school and road is shut down? Come on guys, you need a couple inches of snow coming down every hour with high winds to get to that level!
srsldy/Flickr
This may fly in other states, but a hotdish is a hotdish. And there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it!
jpellgen/Flickr
Trust us when we say that the accents in that movie were a little more than over-exaggerated. And besides, only one scene in the entire movie was actually in Fargo. The rest was in Minnesota and most of the characters were Minnesotan.
Jellaluna/Flickr
I know that some people out there think North Dakota is a snowy wasteland all year long, but we do have summer (even if it doesn’t feel very long). Temperatures in the summer can get up to 100 degrees.
NDPRD/Flickr
Alright, I admit, that one is kind of funny, but if you actually think North Dakota is void of all trees then you’d easily find yourself to be wrong because we have tons of trees, forests even. The picture above? Yeah, that was taken in this state.
Holly Hayes/Flickr
You obviously haven’t been to any of North Dakota’s cities if you assume this. We’ve got busy metro areas just like everywhere else. There are more cities than just Fargo, too!
Heather/Flickr
People who think this couldn’t be more wrong! I know it isn’t the state with the most thriving tourism industry, but there are so many things to experience here. And I don’t mean just a visit to Medora; the list extends well beyond that.
If you are living in North Dakota, you may enjoy this previous article – 10 stereotypes in North Dakota that need to be put to rest.
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Address: North Dakota, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Living In North Dakota March 28, 2020 Leah What stereotypes are there about North Dakota? There are quite a few stereotypes about North Dakota. Whether they are true or not is another store, but some area. For example, many people think about harsh winters when they think of ND. This one would be considered true by many - winters here aren’t for everyone. With temperatures reaching well below zero and windchills even further down than that, plus average yearly snowfall around 30 inches, it can be tough to deal with. One stereotype that isn’t true is that the entire state is flat and full of nothing to see or do. While areas like the Red River Valley are wide open and much of the state is used for agriculture, there are some amazing spots to visit and truly unique, rugged landscape. The colorful badlands in the west are a great example, and the rolling hills and forests of the Turtle Mountains in the north are another. What unique words and phrases do people in North Dakota say? If you want to learn some popular phrases in North Dakota, you’ve come to the right place. North Dakotans share a lot of popular phrases with other midwestern states. If someone offers you some “puppy chow,” don’t assume it’s for the dog. Puppy chow is a popular and delicious snack (for humans) with chocolate and powdered sugar involved, so it definitely isn’t for dogs. You might hear a North Dakotan say “oh for cute.” Though strange-sounding to some out-of-staters, it just means something is adorable. One of the most common phrases is “uff da!” Uff da can be used in many ways, such as coming home from a long day. Bumping into someone else, looking outside and seeing the weather is less than stellar, tripping over something… all of these are perfectly valid times to say “uff da.” Do North Dakotans have any strange habits? Here are some more quirky things about North Dakota and the people that live there. North Dakotans are known to be pretty nice, if not extra nice or “North Dakota Nice,” as they say. It’s not every state where you expect to have a pleasant chat with strangers at the store, have people be quick to offer a helping hand if you’re stranded on the side of the road or need a jump for your car in the winter, or simply smile and say hello to everyone you pass even if you’ve never seen them before in your life. There are many gravel country roads in North Dakota and you seldom pass another car (or tractor), but when you do, it is customary for North Dakotans to do a “two fingers off the wheel wave” to the other driver, regardless if you know them or not. Why? I’m not sure, but if you don’t, you definitely seem like an out-of-stater.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Living In North Dakota
March 28, 2020
Leah
What stereotypes are there about North Dakota? There are quite a few stereotypes about North Dakota. Whether they are true or not is another store, but some area. For example, many people think about harsh winters when they think of ND. This one would be considered true by many - winters here aren’t for everyone. With temperatures reaching well below zero and windchills even further down than that, plus average yearly snowfall around 30 inches, it can be tough to deal with. One stereotype that isn’t true is that the entire state is flat and full of nothing to see or do. While areas like the Red River Valley are wide open and much of the state is used for agriculture, there are some amazing spots to visit and truly unique, rugged landscape. The colorful badlands in the west are a great example, and the rolling hills and forests of the Turtle Mountains in the north are another. What unique words and phrases do people in North Dakota say? If you want to learn some popular phrases in North Dakota, you’ve come to the right place. North Dakotans share a lot of popular phrases with other midwestern states. If someone offers you some “puppy chow,” don’t assume it’s for the dog. Puppy chow is a popular and delicious snack (for humans) with chocolate and powdered sugar involved, so it definitely isn’t for dogs. You might hear a North Dakotan say “oh for cute.” Though strange-sounding to some out-of-staters, it just means something is adorable. One of the most common phrases is “uff da!” Uff da can be used in many ways, such as coming home from a long day. Bumping into someone else, looking outside and seeing the weather is less than stellar, tripping over something… all of these are perfectly valid times to say “uff da.” Do North Dakotans have any strange habits? Here are some more quirky things about North Dakota and the people that live there. North Dakotans are known to be pretty nice, if not extra nice or “North Dakota Nice,” as they say. It’s not every state where you expect to have a pleasant chat with strangers at the store, have people be quick to offer a helping hand if you’re stranded on the side of the road or need a jump for your car in the winter, or simply smile and say hello to everyone you pass even if you’ve never seen them before in your life. There are many gravel country roads in North Dakota and you seldom pass another car (or tractor), but when you do, it is customary for North Dakotans to do a “two fingers off the wheel wave” to the other driver, regardless if you know them or not. Why? I’m not sure, but if you don’t, you definitely seem like an out-of-stater.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There are quite a few stereotypes about North Dakota. Whether they are true or not is another store, but some area. For example, many people think about harsh winters when they think of ND. This one would be considered true by many - winters here aren’t for everyone. With temperatures reaching well below zero and windchills even further down than that, plus average yearly snowfall around 30 inches, it can be tough to deal with. One stereotype that isn’t true is that the entire state is flat and full of nothing to see or do. While areas like the Red River Valley are wide open and much of the state is used for agriculture, there are some amazing spots to visit and truly unique, rugged landscape. The colorful badlands in the west are a great example, and the rolling hills and forests of the Turtle Mountains in the north are another.
What unique words and phrases do people in North Dakota say?
If you want to learn some popular phrases in North Dakota, you’ve come to the right place. North Dakotans share a lot of popular phrases with other midwestern states. If someone offers you some “puppy chow,” don’t assume it’s for the dog. Puppy chow is a popular and delicious snack (for humans) with chocolate and powdered sugar involved, so it definitely isn’t for dogs. You might hear a North Dakotan say “oh for cute.” Though strange-sounding to some out-of-staters, it just means something is adorable. One of the most common phrases is “uff da!” Uff da can be used in many ways, such as coming home from a long day. Bumping into someone else, looking outside and seeing the weather is less than stellar, tripping over something… all of these are perfectly valid times to say “uff da.”
Do North Dakotans have any strange habits?
Here are some more quirky things about North Dakota and the people that live there. North Dakotans are known to be pretty nice, if not extra nice or “North Dakota Nice,” as they say. It’s not every state where you expect to have a pleasant chat with strangers at the store, have people be quick to offer a helping hand if you’re stranded on the side of the road or need a jump for your car in the winter, or simply smile and say hello to everyone you pass even if you’ve never seen them before in your life. There are many gravel country roads in North Dakota and you seldom pass another car (or tractor), but when you do, it is customary for North Dakotans to do a “two fingers off the wheel wave” to the other driver, regardless if you know them or not. Why? I’m not sure, but if you don’t, you definitely seem like an out-of-stater.
