the interstate

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "the interstate" is the straightforward name for the major divided highway system - no nicknames like "freeway" or "expressway." Folks simply say "the interstate" plus the route number.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

If you start talking to somebody about 'the freeway' or 'the turnpike' or somethin' like that, they won't get it; we call it 'the interstate,' no matter which one it is.

Pronunciation

[thuh IN-ter-stayt]

Meaning & Usage

- The major multi-lane highway (noun/dialect)

Mae:

How you headed down there?

Earl:

We’ll take the interstate - it’s faster than the two-lane.

- Generic term for any big divided highway (noun/dialect)

Mae:

They call it the freeway out west.

Earl:

Not here - it’s just the interstate.

other spellings: the highway (generic)

★ In the South and Appalachia, people say "the interstate" instead of "the freeway" or "expressway." It’s a plainspoken marker of the region’s travel talk and how folks navigate by type of road, not by nicknames. ★

Origin

The Interstate Highway System began in the 1950s. In rural Southern/Appalachian speech, locals adopted the literal term "the interstate" for the new high-speed roads, contrasting it with "the four-lane" or "the old road." Other regions coined "freeway" or "expressway," but "interstate" stuck here.

Notes

Still the default term in Southern/Appalachian talk. Outsiders may understand "interstate" but are more likely to use "freeway," "turnpike," or "expressway" depending on their region.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "the interstate." Often followed by the number: "the interstate - I-40."

Kin Topics

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Common Questions

Is "the interstate" different from "the four-lane"?

Yes - "the interstate" usually means the official Interstate Highway, while "the four-lane" can be any divided road.

Do people in the South ever say "freeway"?

Rarely - "freeway" is a West Coast term.

Is it still used today?

Yes - it’s the everyday term for major roads across the South and Appalachia.