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Alaska Slang

So you want to move to Alaska, huh? Well, you better learn some Alaska terms so you don't sound like a tourist.

Going Outside:	Leaving the state for any reason.
Lower 48:	The 48 states south of here. (Guess we don't know how to refer to Hawaii)
Cheechako:	Anyone new to Alaska
Sourdough:	Anyone old to Alaska
Cache (cash):	A very small, food storage cabin - elevated out of reach of animals and your kids. Second meaning: What you are missing when you move to Alaska.
Ice Fog:	A dense, winter fog of suspended ice particles that can sparkle all around you when there's a little sun. Second meaning: Sunday morning.
Ice Worm:	Small, very tiny worms that actually live in glacial ice. Has nothing to do with Tequilla.
Bear Insurance:	Handguns .357 or better, 12 gauge shotguns, or small, handheld, nuclear weapons.
Snowmachine or Tin Dog: (by Jeff Nations)	Snowmobile
Musher:	A person who travels in winter by dog sled. Yells 'mush' a lot.
Permanent Fund:	Money we get from the state for living here.
Ulu Knife:	A native, half-moon, all-purpose knife - pretty cool actually.
Bullchitna:	Bet you've guessed this one already .......... it means BS.
Stampled: (submitted by TJR)	Being trampled to death by an elk but popular among the Southeast Alaskans to include stomped on, crushed, flattened, chewed on, or otherwise clomped upon.
Moose Nuggets:	Moose droppings found in everyone's yard AND in all the gift shops believe it or not ..... dried and cured. Not to be eaten.
Bear Insurance #2:	It's the best protection of all ...... always be with someone you can outrun.
Mukluk:	No ... it's not something you just stepped in out there on the tundra but rather very warm, fur boots usually knee high.
The Bush:	Places in Alaska you can only get to by plane or boat (that's almost the entire state) and the villages that are located there.
Termination Dust:	The first, light dusting of snow on just the mountain tops. It's a warning - the first, really big snow is just around the corner. This of course, triggers an huge shopping frenzy.
Cabin Fever:	When Alaskans start bouncing off the walls, from being inside those walls, way too long in winter.
Ditch Divers: (submitted by John Zutz)	4-wheel drive owners learning the hard way - they have to drive slow on ice and snow .... just like the rest of us!
Arctic Entry:	A pre-entry to your home where dirty, slushy boots, winter gear, mud boots, work clothes, etc. can be taken off before they're taken off 'inside' your clean house.
Mosquito Dope: (aka Bug Juice): (submitted by Jackie)	Mosquito repellant: spray, liquid, and roll on. Patches, bracelets, smoke rings, and citronella anything. We do have a sketter problem here. Second meaning: Alaska perfume.
Alaskan Sneakers: (submitted by Bill)	Waders - leg, hip, or chest waders
Permafrost:	From about 2-5 feet under the surface - ground that is frozen year round. Probably should be called perma-ice.
A Three Dog Night:	It's so cold, that two dogs ain't keepin' ya warm enough.
Combat Fishing: (submitted by Wendy Hackett)	Casting a fishing line where 1500 other people are doing the same thing at the same time. Oh! and you only have six inches between you and those on either side of you.
Twofers: (submitted by Robert C.)	Necker Bay sockeye salmon are usually much smaller than other salmon. The old timers used to get a dollar for sockeye but had to have two Necker Bay sockeye for that same dollar.
Sing Song:	Any concert, recital, or competition for singing.

Breakup:	The process by which all snow and ice finally melts away but all at once. Just a little sloppy for about 2/3 weeks. For Alaskans, it means the end of winter and the beginning of tourist season.
Borough:	Alaska's answer to the "county". We have to be different don't you know. Not to be confused with what small animals do.
Two Seasons:	We have two - winter and road construction. Actually it's road "fixing" construction.
Sundog:	A large, noticeable circle around the sun on very cold days. Sun glasses realy help here.
Bunny Boots:	Big, fat, white rubber boots that keep your feet warm to -65. But it looks like you're wearing small boats.
Heater Plugs:	An electrical plug protruding from the grill of your car/truck. Plug it into an outside outlet at home to keep your engine block warm overnight. Very handy!
Fireweed:	The weed everyone loves. Grows anywhere it wants to in Alaska. Has pink flowers and in fall the leaves turn a fiery red.
Dip Netting:	Holding a large fishnet on the end of a long poll in a river waiting for fish to swim into it. Has nothing to do with chewing tobacco on a fishing boat.
Spenard Divorce:	A loud and sometimes fatal way of ending a relationship made famous in the Spenard section of Anchorage. Involves a gun.
Moose Gooser:	Similar to a cow catcher on the front of a train. We goose here rather than catch.

A special thanks to our friends who provided us this slang including our friends at Décor photo. Visit their website at www.decorphoto.com .

Alaska Slang

So you want to move to Alaska, huh? Well, you better learn some Alaska terms so you don't sound like a tourist.

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