Coke
In much of the South and Appalachia, "Coke" can mean any kind of soda pop - not just Coca-Cola. Folks use it as a generic word for soft drinks, while outsiders expect it to mean only the brand.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
We were a Pepsi family. But we still called all of it 'coke.' Hillbilly Dude Says...
We were a Pepsi family. But we still called all of it 'coke.' Pronunciation
[KOAK]
Meaning & Usage
- Any soft drink (regional use) (noun)
Mae:
What y’all want to drink?
What y’all want to drink?
Earl:
Get me a Coke.
Get me a Coke.
Mae:
What kind?
What kind?
Earl:
Orange.
Orange.- The Coca-Cola brand (noun, standard use)
Mae:
Pick up a six-pack of Coke.
Pick up a six-pack of Coke.
Earl:
You want regular or Diet?
You want regular or Diet?variations: soda
pop
soft drink
cold drink
Co-Cola (local pronunciation for Coca-Cola)
all Coke is soda, but not all soda is Coke
★ In Southern talk, "Coke" doesn’t always mean Coca-Cola. You have to ask *"what kind?"* to know which soda they really want. ★
Origin and Etymology
Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1886. The brand dominated the South so strongly that its name became shorthand for any soft drink in many communities. The generic use spread through family and local speech.
Usage Notes
Still common across the South and parts of Appalachia. Outsiders may be confused when "Coke" refers to Sprite, Dr Pepper, or Pepsi, but within the region it’s natural speech.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "koak." Often stretched a bit in Southern drawl: "Cohhhk."