NationStates Jolt Archive

Is the carbonated beverage we all love and drink known Soda, Pop, or coke?
Please give Answer, and location. My roommate and myself are having an arguement over what its called..He is from N. Illinois and calls it pop.I am from S. Illinois and call it soda or sometimes sodie..Pop is a noise and one cannot drink that. Soda refers to the carbonated beverage. Agree or disagree?

This is purely a regional dialect issue. About a month ago, someone posted a link to a test where you answer questions like this, and it can tell you what part of the country you are from. Somebody here has it bookmarked, I am sure. The quiz was something like, what % yankee or redneck are you?



edit: to answer the question- I ahve always called it coke, even though I drink Pepsi. And I live in Florida.

I prefer fountain drink.

I dont like Coke so...........

Drink L and P it is the Best!

As AllCoolNamesAreTaken said, it's regional. http://www.popvssoda.com/ has more information, and this nifty map (http://www.popvssoda.com/countystats/total-county.html) showing the common terms by county. The data there suggests exactly what you have described - pop is the preferred term in northern Illinois while soda is common in southern Illinois.

I'm from one of those counties on the SE Texas coast that show up brown on the map, where everyone calls it coke. To me pop is either a sound or an alternative to dad. And soda can be a lot of different things - caustic soda, washing soda, baking soda, and soda water.

As AllCoolNamesAreTaken said, it's regional. http://www.popvssoda.com/ has more information, and this nifty map (http://www.popvssoda.com/countystats/total-county.html) showing the common terms by county. The data there suggests exactly what you have described - pop is the preferred term in northern Illinois while soda is common in southern Illinois.

I'm from one of those counties on the SE Texas coast that show up brown on the map, where everyone calls it coke. To me pop is either a sound or an alternative to dad. And soda can be a lot of different things - caustic soda, washing soda, baking soda, and soda water.
Soda is mostly Baking here.

Soda, god damnit. I've always called it soda!

Sure, most people in Nueces county call it "coke", but Port Aransas (where I grew up) is full of "soda" people.

Why isnt Cola an option?

Most people if not all would call it Coke.

Soda, god damnit. I've always called it soda!

Sure, most people in Nueces county call it "coke", but Port Aransas (where I grew up) is full of "soda" people.

Curious. The stats connected to that map I posted above list about 16% of the respondants from Nueces as using "soda". Port Aransas may well account for that blip.

http://www.popvssoda.com/countystats/TX-stats.html

Harlesburg, I grew up in the shadow of Dow Chemical's Texas division plants (and close enough to be very nearly quite literally in the shadow!), so soda means caustic soda to me. (And cola and juice are the popular terms here in Japan. Cola for the cola drinks and juice for almost all other non-cola and non- coffee or tea soft drinks.)

Curious. The stats connected to that map I posted above list about 16% of the respondants from Nueces as using "soda". Port Aransas may well account for that blip.

Most likely. Port Aransas is full of Michiganders, Ohioans, and general Northeasterners.

Curious. The stats connected to that map I posted above list about 16% of the respondants from Nueces as using "soda". Port Aransas may well account for that blip.

http://www.popvssoda.com/countystats/TX-stats.html

Harlesburg, I grew up in the shadow of Dow Chemical's Texas division plants (and close enough to be very nearly quite literally in the shadow!), so soda means caustic soda to me. (And cola and juice are the popular terms here in Japan. Cola for the cola drinks and juice for almost all other non-cola and non- coffee or tea soft drinks.)
Oh how sweet you spelt my name correctly.:)

When thinking of Soda i think of Caustic Soda except when i am in an especially Sadistic Mood then it is Baking Soda which makes me think of mixing it with Vinegar and making one of those nice little Volcanos.

Most likely. Port Aransas is full of Michiganders, Ohioans, and general Northeasterners.

Aha. That would indeed account for it.

Harlesburg, copy and paste are old friends almost as good as Mr. Webster and Dr. Johnston. ;)

If it doesn't have cocaine or artificial cocaine flavoring, it's not coke.

If it doesn't have kola or artificial kola flavoring, it's not cola.

Soda pop is carbonated, flavored water.

Sodium bicarbonate is already called baking soda instead of just soda, sodium carbonate is already called washing soda instead of just soda, and sodium hydroxide is already called caustic soda instead of just soda so there's nothing to be confused about there.

That leaves "soda" and "pop" as the two choices that make any sense.

Aha. That would indeed account for it.

Harlesburg, copy and paste are old friends almost as good as Mr. Webster and Dr. Johnston. ;)
Oh i get it now.
Just tell that to the 150000 other people that bastardise my name.

Soda. Nobody on the west coast calls it "pop"

Both are short for sodapop

I wish that map extended to Canada. I'm right across the border basically, Hamilton Area. Tip of Lake Ontario for those not Canada Familiar.

I'd say we call it Coke here, which is wierd if true as across the border seem to call it "Pop". I really couldnt tell ya the last time I heard that term used. On the other hand, I'd also say*none of this is backed up in anyway, just how i percieve things", we generally don't even use the generic terms. Theres a sharp Pepsi/Coke divide around here, and so its generally specified to avoid confusion.

I wish that map extended to Canada. I'm right across the border basically, Hamilton Area. Tip of Lake Ontario for those not Canada Familiar.

I'd say we call it Coke here, which is wierd if true as across the border seem to call it "Pop". I really couldnt tell ya the last time I heard that term used. On the other hand, I'd also say*none of this is backed up in anyway, just how i percieve things", we generally don't even use the generic terms. Theres a sharp Pepsi/Coke divide around here, and so its generally specified to avoid confusion.

Interesting. I thought Canada would be huge on the whole "pop" thing.

If it doesn't have cocaine or artificial cocaine flavoring, it's not coke.

:eek: Cool! When did they start using cocaine or artificial cocaine flavoring to make steel?

If it doesn't have kola or artificial kola flavoring, it's not cola.

Soda pop is carbonated, flavored water.

Sodium bicarbonate is already called baking soda instead of just soda, sodium carbonate is already called washing soda instead of just soda, and sodium hydroxide is already called caustic soda instead of just soda so there's nothing to be confused about there.

That leaves "soda" and "pop" as the two choices that make any sense.

Nice try but no kepie doll for you. Language is not that simple.


"Coke" is a well established brand name for "Coca-Cola". Furthermore, brand names have a long history of becoming generic common terms (Band-Aid, Xerox, Tissue, etc.). Thus Coke is entierly acceptable.

As to soda and pop, both have various meanings, including the ones listed above.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=soda
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pop
(and for good measure, http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=coke)

Oh i get it now.
Just tell that to the 150000 other people that bastardise my name.

Of all the forums I've been active on, this seems to be the worst for name mutilations.

Soda. Nobody on the west coast calls it "pop"

The map above shows you wrong - soda in California and pop in Oregon and Washington, with Alaska being a mix (as one might reasonably expect).

So what is it called in the Nevada Dakota etc area?
What the hell is other?

We call it soft drink here (as opposed to "hard" alcoholic beverages).

So what is it called in the Nevada Dakota etc area?
What the hell is other?

The Dakotas are solidly in the pop region and Nevada is divided. Other is exactly that - the responses from those areas were some other answer. They include fountain drink, sodapop, cola, fizzy drink, soft drink, and so on - there are several more I can't recall at the moment.

Soda. My parents are from mexico and they say soda, it's multi-lingual :)

The Dakotas are solidly in the pop region and Nevada is divided. Other is exactly that - the responses from those areas were some other answer. They include fountain drink, sodapop, cola, fizzy drink, soft drink, and so on - there are several more I can't recall at the moment.
Ah of course all those answers make sense.


But there is a whole area of the Western Mid West region of the US of A with out any representation.

Is it true those that say Pop are the coolest?

We call it soft drink here (as opposed to "hard" alcoholic beverages).

"Soft drink"? That's so ordinary. :p

The map above shows you wrong - soda in California and pop in Oregon and Washington, with Alaska being a mix (as one might reasonably expect).

People from Oregon I've met call it soda. So does my friend who moved here from Seattle.

"Soft drink"? That's so ordinary. :p
That is the Australian way of life mind you they cant steal everything or can they........

As far as I know, we Brits just call it Coke, pepsi sprite or whatever it is...

We're clever like that :D

it depends on where you live, I have a friend from the east coast who calls it *pop* my friend from Georgia (the state not the country) calls it soda water, but just about everyone here (native okies, not transplants) calls it Coke, even if we are going to get another brand.

when I first met my friend from the east coast I said, "here let me buy you a coke"
and she said "I don't like Coke"
I said "me either, I am a Pepsi girl"
"then why did you say Coke?"
"it is a generic term, like candy bar"
"no it isn't it's a brand name like Hershey"
" not in Oklahoma"
she got so frustrated.:p

coke is coke... If I asked for a coke, and got given pepsi because coke is a 'generic name', that person would get a punch in the face.

coke is coke... If I asked for a coke, and got given pepsi because coke is a 'generic name', that person would get a punch in the face.
yeah, I am that same way, if I say dr pepper and they give me mr. pibb, I get so mad, I think I am going to start forcing myself to say soda or pop

which one is better? ;)

coke is coke... If I asked for a coke, and got given pepsi because coke is a 'generic name', that person would get a punch in the face.
Well it could be worse you might get the white powder.

Is the carbonated beverage we all love and drink known Soda, Pop, or coke?
Please give Answer, and location.
Soda is for baking, pop is for sound effects and coke is reduced coal. Where I live (South-West England), they're called 'fizzy drinks'.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=soda

Soda! Though it seems the dictionary isn't giving us a true correct answer.

I live near the spot where Mr Pemberton first bottled Coke in 1894. So, it's all Coke to me.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=soda
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pop
(and for good measure, http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=coke)

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=soda

Soda! Though it seems the dictionary isn't giving us a true correct answer.

;) Did you really need to post it again? It's only a few posts up....

coke is coke... If I asked for a coke, and got given pepsi because coke is a 'generic name', that person would get a punch in the face.

Well in the places where it is a generic name, you'll get asked what kind.

;) Did you really need to post it again? It's only a few posts up....

Yup. Thought it was important. :)

I'm from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. I think people in our area generally call it soda or cola. On the other hand, I just call it all Coke.

I'm from the midwest...and everyone around here calls it "pop".

Pop is a music genre.
Coke is a soda flavor.

It's all soda! The way it's meant to be!

Läsk pwns you!

Soda. Nobody on the west coast calls it "pop"

Both are short for sodapop

Majority in the Northwest call it pop. There goes your theory.

Is the carbonated beverage we all love and drink known Soda, Pop, or coke?
Please give Answer, and location. My roommate and myself are having an arguement over what its called..He is from N. Illinois and calls it pop.I am from S. Illinois and call it soda or sometimes sodie..Pop is a noise and one cannot drink that. Soda refers to the carbonated beverage. Agree or disagree?

Pop is soda pop.
Soda is soda water, club soda.
Coke is a gods damned brand, people.

One of the regional things in the US that drives me nuts...especially the use of the last one.

Answer: Soda
Location: Florida, USA

This is a purely regional issue.

When I lived in Michigan I called it pop. In Ohio they used them interchangably. Now that I'm in Philadelphia they tend to call it soda. Most people tend to call it soda so I prefer that. Coke is just stupid because it is a brand name. Though I'm being a hypocrite because I often call tissues klenex which is also a brand name.

But really it's just silly to have someone ask "What sort of Cokes do you have?" And then say, "I'll have a Pepsi, it's my favorite Coke."

*Note, I say this in jest. Don't mean to offend anyone who calls it coke. I could care less what people call it. It's just fun to pick sides on meaningless debates.

Yeah, here in Michigan we call it pop. Calling it anything else immediately points you out as being from out-of-state and automatically suspect. You drink pop and bake with soda.

And since we're home to the oldest pop in the US, Vernors ginger ale, that automatically makes ours the proper American way to say it :D

Jokes aside, it's just a fun regional thing. Sometimes I think people forget that the US isn't one big homogenous culture.

Well in the places where it is a generic name, you'll get asked what kind.
Well that is ashuming MP is going to one of these Generic places.
It is also fair to assume they will get a Generic punch in the face to boot.

Coke

Pop? Sounds like something your grantmother used to drink when she were a wee lass :p

Soda is water. I believe you call it 'Selzer/Seltzer'? in the States.

Coke is just a broad generic term for carbonated fizzy crap that destroys your teeth :D

Majority in the Northwest call it pop. There goes your theory.

If you had read my previous reply to this, you'd know that all the people from Oregon I've met call it soda. My friend who moved here from Seattle calls it soda.

The only times I've ever heard it called "pop", I've been in the midwest.

And there's no need to be an asshole, jesus christ...

I'm from Michigan. It is pop. If you ask for a soda in my area, people will act like they don't know what you're talking about.

I wouldn't dream of calling it coke, lest I end up either with actual CocaCola or some other kind of cola. Yech!

What's with all the peopel calling it coke? I thought that was a thing from the south of the states and not too widespread. Do we have a lot of southerners on here?

I'm from southern Ontario: It's pop here.

Well in the places where it is a generic name, you'll get asked what kind.
Well that is ashuming MP is going to one of these Generic places.
It is also fair to assume they will get a Generic punch in the face to boot.

But only if they bring him a Pepsi.

If you had read my previous reply to this, you'd know that all the people from Oregon I've met call it soda. My friend who moved here from Seattle calls it soda.

The only times I've ever heard it called "pop", I've been in the midwest.

I'm going by the statistics gathered by Matthew Campbell and Prof. Greg Plumb of East Central University in Oklahoma.

In Oregon, "pop" was 66% and "soda" was 26% ("coke" was 5% and other was 4%).
In Washington, "pop" was 75% and "soda" was 19% ("coke" was 3% and other was 3%).

The statistics gathered at that site also indicate a strong preferrence for "pop" in both states.

Thus you can see that "pop" is favored in both states. Your anecdotal evidence is quite likely skewed due to it's (apparantly) having been observed in California.

(all figures rounded up)
http://www.popvssoda.com/countystats/OR-stats.html
http://www.popvssoda.com/countystats/WA-stats.html
http://www.popvssoda.com/stats/ALL.html

And there's no need to be an asshole, jesus christ...

Nobody was being rude until you posted that. Pointing out that evidence shows you to be wrong is not rude. Responding to it with foul language is.

What's with all the peopel calling it coke? I thought that was a thing from the south of the states and not too widespread. Do we have a lot of southerners on here?

I'm from southern Ontario: It's pop here.

It is curious.

BTW, the www.popvssoda.com site I keep refering to has stats for Canada as well. They aren't as scientific as the ECU study, but they do show "pop" and "soda" split at 39% and 38%, with "coke" trailing at 18%.

http://www.popvssoda.com/stats/CAN.html

Well that is ashuming MP is going to one of these Generic places.
It is also fair to assume they will get a Generic punch in the face to boot.
How did i manage to spell assume two different ways in one post???:confused:
That dosent even make sense.

How did i manage to spell assume two different ways in one post???:confused:
That dosent even make sense.

Dude, most of your posts don't make sense.

Is the carbonated beverage we all love and drink known Soda, Pop, or coke?
Please give Answer, and location. My roommate and myself are having an arguement over what its called..He is from N. Illinois and calls it pop.I am from S. Illinois and call it soda or sometimes sodie..Pop is a noise and one cannot drink that. Soda refers to the carbonated beverage. Agree or disagree?

Pop: Our term for carbonated beverages.
Soda: The word we use to imitate americans.
Coke: A specific type of pop. One would not refer to a sprite or rootbeer as a Coke. And it is forbidden to call Pepsi Coke.

I am from Southern Alberta and I have always called it Pop, some Old People call it Soda but generally it is Pop around here.

Dude, most of your posts don't make sense.
That is true.
But i manage to understand what i am saying so what does it matter?

That is true.
But i manage to understand what i am saying so what does it matter?

You have a point. :p

You have a point. :p
Unless your saying you dont want to hear nonsense.

Unless your saying you dont want to hear nonsense.

No way, dude! Nonsensical posts keep this forum going. :D

No way, dude! Nonsensical posts keep this forum going. :D
Okay mdokay

I'll take a Mountain Dew..... Coke please! Huh? That is why it is called a carbonated beverage!

Wow, I'm surprised "pop" is actually that well used. The only person I know that uses it is my dad, and to him something from Italy is Eye-talian ;)

Personally, I use either soda or coke. If it is any cola drink whatsoever (though it usually is Coke), I use coke. All others (Sprite, 7-Up, any other carbonated drink) are soda. I'm from Atlanta, by the way. Maybe "pop" hangs around the Canadian border...

I'm from Adelaide (in Australia) and most people wouldn't know what you meant if you said soda or pop, and for us coke ONLY refers to brand.

Here we say fizzy drink or soft drink, but most people would just say the name of what they were talking about (fanta, 7up, etc.)

Sprite and Seben Up are Lemonade to me.