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.
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. 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
Meaning & Usage
- The major multi-lane highway (noun/dialect)
How you headed down there?We’ll take the interstate - it’s faster than the two-lane.- Generic term for any big divided highway (noun/dialect)
They call it the freeway out west.Not here - it’s just the interstate.Origin and Etymology
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.
Usage 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."