the Milwaukee Glossary
A few terms heard around town – some now, and some long ago
aina
A “tag question” seeking affirmation of a statement along the lines of no? or right? A contraction of English ain’t and German ne, itself a shortened form of nicht, meaning not.
bakery
Not just the building, but the sweets inside it. Used in German settlement areas.
by
Replaces to in some uses, such as “I’m going by Grant Park,” based on the German preposition bei, meaning at or next to.
come with
The extraneous with appended to phrases like “Can I come?” is a relic of a common construction in Germanic languages.
fall downstairs
Get a haircut. Based on the German expression die Treppe herunterfallen, which apparently refers to the rough look of some home haircuts.
once
Appended to a request or command, such as “come here once.” It comes from the German mal, or einmal, which is used when you’re asking somebody to do something. The Dictionary of American Regional English reported in 1981 that its use was spreading from Milwaukee to the rest of the state, and that younger people were more likely to use it than older people.
parking ramp
Parking structure. Also widely used in Iowa and Minnesota.
schnibble
A small piece. A German grandmother who was cutting up meat or vegetables might call it schnibbling.
schnickelfritz
In German, a mischievous little boy.
squad car
Police car. It has scattered use around the country, but most widely in Illinois and Wisconsin.
yah hey
Used as an affirmation, greeting, or attention-getter, not just in Wisconsin but in Minnesota and Michigan, too.
Down South, they usually say Coke, even if it’s Pepsi or ginger ale.