DC Lingo, The Language of Washington: The Local Terms, Slang, and Acronyms of the DC Metro Area.
Welcome to DC Lingo, your ultimate guide to unraveling the vibrant tapestry of slang, insider acronyms, and the unique local language of Washington, DC! Whether you're a newcomer to the nation's capital region or a seasoned local looking to brush up on your DC speak, this page is your one-stop resource for mastering the language that defines the heart and soul of this dynamic city.
In our comprehensive glossary below, we've curated a diverse collection of DC-centric terms, from the iconic "Beltway" and "DMV" (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) to the local politcal jargon like "FLOTUS" and "The Hill." Here we delve into the historical and cultural origins of these expressions, giving you valuable insights into the rich tapestry of DC's linguistic landscape. Whether you're preparing for a job interview on Capitol Hill or simply want to navigate the city like a true local, DC Lingo is your trusted companion. Unlock the language of Washington, DC, and immerse yourself in the unique blend of tradition and innovation that defines our nation's capital. Explore our page today and become fluent in the language of DC!
Looking for more local content? Head over to the LiveTheDMV Blog.
Admo: Short for the DC neighborhood of Adams Morgan (known for its rowdy nightlife scene).
Air and Space Museum: Many visitors don’t know there are two; The popular one in DC on the National Mall (which is awesome), and the much larger Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, located next to Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia (this one is REALLY awesome). The Uvdar Hazy is a bit of a trek out of the city (~35 minutes each way), but is well worth the trip, displaying over 200 full-sized aircraft, including the Space Shuttle Discovery.
ALX: Alexandria, Virginia; Home to picturesque Old Town.
ARL: Arlington, Virginia, that high-rise city just across the Potomac River from the National Mall.
Bawlmer/Bomber: Baltimore.
Basilica: The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic basilica at Catholic University, and is the largest Christian Church in North America. It’s the definition of opulence.
B-more: Baltimore.
The Capital Beltway.
Beltway: The term for I-495, the 64-mile long interstate that loops completely around, but never enters DC.
BLM: Black Lives Matter is what we know BLM to mean today, but don’t be surprised if you hear federal workers use the term in a different context: The Bureau of Land Management. *If you haven’t yet visited, do be sure to make a trip to Black Lives Matter Plaza, just north of the White House and Lafayette Square; It’s a moving reminder of just how much work we have left to do in the fight for racial justice.
Brunch: A boozy meal that lasts a minimum of four hours, typically beginning very late morning or early afternoon. 14th Street is an ideal location to learn the ropes.
Bridges: There are a lot; Good luck! (See the list here.)
BWI- Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport. (Affordable flights anywhere.)
Capital (with an “a”): The seat of a government. IE- Washington DC is the capital of the USA.
Capitol (with an “o”): The building that houses the US Senate and House of Representatives. Everyone should tour at least once.
Capitol Hill: The historic neighborhood that lies behind the US Capitol Building.
Caps: Washington DC’s NHL (hockey) team, The Washington Capitals.
National Cathedral: Short for The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the City and Diocese of Washington. It’s pretty easy to see why it’s simply known as the National Cathedral. The view from the bell tower is one of the best in Washington.
The Cairo: The tallest residential building in DC, and the REAL reason behind DC’s building height restriction. Here’s why.
Chevy Chase: Not the actor, but a local neighborhood that straddles the DC/Maryland line.
Chocolate City- A term of endearment for the city among the Black community, noting the District’s Black majority population. According to DC Health Matters the current population of Washington is 43.9% Black, 42.3% White, 5.4% Other, 4.5% Asian, 3.5% Multi-Racial, 0.4% Native American.
ColHi: Short for the DC neighborhood of Columbia Heights (home of the DC Target [there are more than one, but this is THE Target]).
Columbia Heights, Washington DC
Dave Thomas Circle: A hellish nightmare of an intersection at Florida and New York Avenues NE, surrounding an island that housed a Wendy’s until Summer 2023. Bye, gurl.
D.C.: The District of Columbia (with 714,000 residents).
The District: A slang term for Washington DC.
DMV: The DC Metro Region, short for DC, Maryland, and Virginia (with a population of about 5,300,000 scattered across the three jurisdictions).
DelMarVa: Typically used when discussing local beaches, it’s a conjunction of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. (Rehoboth is our favorite local beach.)
Downtown: For suburbanites (especially those in the outer reaches of the DMV [we’re looking at you Leesburg, VA and Frederick, MD]) it generally means any part of DC. For Washingtonians, it refers to the area around the White House.
Dulles: Dulles International Airport. It’s also the name for the area where the airport is located, but it’s used almost exclusively to reference the airport itself.
Dulles Toll Road/ Dulles Greenway: The Dulles Toll Road is a 13.5 mile toll road that runs from Falls Church, Virginia to Dulles, Virginia, with a road in the median called the Dulles Access Road, which provides a free route directly to Dulles Airport (the only exit is at the airport, so don’t slide in looking for a free trip anywhere else). The Dulles Greenway is a 12.5 mile toll road that continues beyond Dulles to Leesburg, Virginia. Driving the entire length of the Toll Road and Greenway costs $356.48. JK, it’s only $10.55 each way during rush hour, or $9.50 in off-peak hours (but round trips add up quick).
Eagle Cam: Here in the Nation’s Capital region we take our Bald Eagle watching very seriously; We have two nesting pairs in DC: Mr. President and the First Lady live in a tulip poplar at the National Arboretum, and Liberty and Justice, who reside in a tree near the D.C. Police Academy in Southwest. If you missed your stories and you’re looking for a good dose of drama, just switch on the eagle cam and enjoy the betrayal and reconciliation of nature’s soap opera. *It seems Mr. President is stepping out on First Lady, and the new trick had the audacity to move into the nest and kick First Lady out. Tune in for more.
The Eastern Shore: The slice of land east of the Chesapeake Bay, and an ideal spot for a quick weekend getaway (many Washingtonians have vacation homes on the Eastern Shore [Easton, Maryland is a favorite spot]).
Emancipation Day: April 16th. A District-recognized holiday in DC (and only DC, sorry suburbanites) commemorating the end of slavery in DC in 1862. Schools are closed, and there’s no trash pickup, so don’t forget.
Embassy Row: The unofficial name for a strip of Massachusetts Avenue NW between Scott Circle and Observatory Circle, DC that houses a heavy concentration of Embassies and Diplomatic Missions.
FFX- Fairfax, Virginia; Both a city, and the state’s most populated county (1,140,000 residents).
FLOTUS- First Lady of the United States.
GoGo: The music of DC. A sub-genre of funk, the gogo style originated in the late 60’s to mid 70’s and was popularized in dance halls, utilizing a participatory call-and-response. Listen Here.
Grosvenor: It’s pronounced [Grove-ner], and is an area and Metro station in Bethesda, Maryland, and the home to one the premier performing arts halls on the East Coast, Strathmore Music Hall, home to the National Philharmonic Orchestra.
Gtown- Georgetown; Home to Georgetown University, colorful historic row homes, excellent shopping, and a great waterfront area, with kayak and paddle board rentals. It’s also the a prime spot to catch a glimpse of celebrities who are visiting the city.
Half Smoke- DC’s delicious take on a hot dog. Try one at President Obama’s favorite spot and legendary local institution, Ben’s Chili Bowl.
The Hill: Slang for The US Capitol Building (specifically the hill it sits on).
The US Capitol Building sits atop The Hill.
HoCo: Howard County, Maryland.
HOV: Lanes for High Occupancy Vehicles. The number of total occupants to qualify will be marked, and is usually 2 or 3. If driving in an HOV lane with no one else in the vehicle, you will get a ticket. Learn from our mistakes. Also, they run in different directions at different times of day, sometimes they aren’t open. Confusing? Yep.
HOT: High Occupancy Toll Lanes are lanes that allow vehicles with the occupancy minimum to travel for free, but also allow vehicles with single occupants to travel for a toll. These lanes require EZ-passes.
ICC- The Inter-County Connector is a six-lane toll road that connects Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, Maryland, and Laurel, Prince George’s County , Maryland.
“I’m from DC”: Translate- I live anywhere within an hour of Washington DC, encompassing DC proper, Maryland, and Virginia.
Inner Loop: The lanes of the Beltway that travel clockwise.
Interns: Young political hopefuls who descend upon DC every Summer in hopes of being the next President or Speaker of the House. They work on Capitol Hill, but can be found in every bar far and wide during the after-hours. Lanyards, oversized blazers, and “Do you know who my daddy is?” are all dead giveaways.
The Mall: Nope, not a shopping center, but the meticulously manicured National Park that houses some of DC’s most infamous sites, such as The Washington Monument, The Lincoln Memorial, and the US Capitol Building. It’s a proven fact that 99.9% of photos taken in DC occur on the Mall. Thankfully, there’s a bevy of transportation options, ranging from bikes and scooters, to pedi cabs and nearby paddle boats.
Merlin: Maryland… with an accent.
MoCo: Montgomery County, the most populous county in Maryland (1,055,000 residents).
Motorcade: The #1 excuse for being late to work due to a high-ranking politician or dignitary traveling by car, resulting in road closures until they pass. The area between the White House and Observatory Circle (the Vice President’s residence) is a well-traveled route, and is often shut down at the drop of a hat.
Mumbo: An authentic DC original, mumbo (or mambo) sauce is a red-orange goodness that some liken to a sweet and tangy BBQ. Try some at Henry’s Soul Cafe on H Street or in Oxon Hill.
The Mixing Bowl (aka the reason my parents won’t visit me).
Mixing Bowl: The interchange of I-495 (the Beltway), I-395, and I-95 in Springfield, VA.
Mt. Vernon- (1) Mt. Vernon Estate (George Washington’s home) is in Alexandria, Virginia. (2) Mt. Vernon trail runs from Rosslyn, VA to the estate in Alexandria. (3) Mt Vernon Triangle is a neighborhood in NW just north of Chinatown, and is also the location of the (4) Mt. Vernon Square Metro station. A little confusing, huh? Just be sure to differentiate which Mt. Vernon you’re referring to.
Mystics: DC’s WNBA (women’s basketball) team, The Washington Mystics.
National Airport: The local’s preferred name for Reagan National Airport. Just across the Potomac River, this is one of the best places to spot politicians and they fly to-and-from their home states.
National Harbour: A touristy destination just outside DC in Maryland, known for its large political conventions at the Gaylord National Hotel, the Capital Wheel, and MGM National Harbor Casino.
Nats: DC’s MLB (baseball) team, The Washington Nationals.
NOMA: A NW neighborhood north of Massachusetts Ave, and bustling with developments and new construction.
Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest: The four quadrants of the Washington DC, with the US Capitol Building being the center point. Every DC address includes the quadrant, IE- 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW is the White House, while 1600 Pennsylvania Ave SE is a random apartment building across the street from a McDonald’s. (Brilliant location scouting, right? Their primary clientele is lost tourists looking for the White House.)
NoVa: Short for Northern Virginia (which is almost a different state than the rest of Virginia).
Outer Loop: The lanes of the Beltway that travel counter-clockwise.
OPM: The Office of Personnel Management. Perhaps the most important acronym on this list because this is the office responsible for calling snow closures and delays for the Federal Government workforce, and in the DC metro area, many other business and organizations also follow their protocol.
Parkway- Which one?
-In DC it typically refers to Rock Creek Parkway, which is a main travel vein that runs from the West side of the Mall up to meet Connecticut Ave NW near Woodley Park. Here’s the thing… in morning rush hours all lanes ONLY run South, and in afternoon rush hours, they ONLY run North. Some travel apps pick it up, and some don’t; Don’t get caught off guard.
In VA is references the George Washington Parkway (GW Parkway) which runs from the Beltway to Rosslyn.
In MD is refers to the Baltimore Washington Parkway (BW Parkway), which runs from, you guessed it, Washington DC to Baltimore, MD.
PG- Prince Georges County, Maryland.
Potomac- A community in Maryland. Not to be confused with references to “The” Potomac (the river).
The Potomac- The inclusion of “the” is always in reference to the Potomac river (not the community Potomac, MD).
POTUS- President of the United States
Quadrants- Washington DC is divided into four quadrants: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast, with the United States Capitol Building being the central point. Every address in DC ends in the corresponding quadrant, and this is important to understand, as there can be two identical addresses, with only the quadrant being the differentiator. For example, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW is the address of the White House, whereas 1600 Pennsylvania Ave SE leads you to a McDonald’s.
SCOTUS- It sounds a bit dirty, but it’s just the abbreviated term for the Supreme Court of the United States.
Slugging: An organized system of matching drivers and passengers with similar destinations so they can utilize the HOV lanes for free, and avoid traffic (well, sort of).
The Spur: A two mile stretch of interstate that connects I-270 to Southbound Beltway lanes.
Spirit: DC’s NWSL (women’s soccer) team, Washington Spirit.
The Streetcar: DC has one streetcar, and it runs along the H Street corridor from Union Station to the intersection of Benning Road and Oklahoma Avenue (currently).
The Supremes- Not the music group, but the nine Justices of the Supreme Court.
“Taxation Without Representation”: The slogan on every license plate describes the plight of DC residents: they pay federal taxes, but have no voting members to represent them in Congress. That’s right; 714,000 residents, zero votes in Congress.
The Washington Temple reaches to the sky over the Beltway.
The Temple: The Washington DC Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Kensington, Maryland. If you’re on the North Section of the beltway you can’t miss it; It’s likened to the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz, and sometimes you can see the words “Surrender Dorothy” graffitied on a bridge not far away.
Tidal Basin- The man-made lake between the Washington Monument and the Jefferson memorial, and the area locals vehemently steer clear of in early Spring. Why? Three words: Cherry Blossom Crowds. Seriously, you can’t move; It’s like being at the most exclusive club in DC, but in broad daylight, and with people who don’t know where they’re going, and even worse, aren’t watching where they’re going. There are a few accidental swimmers every year as a result.
Truxton Circle: It doesn’t exist. Well, it does, but it’s a DC neighborhood and there is no circle. The circle was removed in 1945 after traffic became so bad the city didn’t have any other solution but to start from scratch (much like the modern-day Dave Thomas Circle).
Tysons: Formerly Tysons Corner, this the largest city in Fairfax County, Virginia, and is the home to many headquarters and high-rises. But, most locals think of Tysons for one reason only; The mall. An actual mall (well, two really, split into Tysons I and Tysons II), with shopping and food courts over an expanse of more that 2,000,000 square feet of retail therapy goodness.
United: DC’s MLS (soccer) team, D.C. United.
The Washington Commanders: DC’s NFL (football) team, The Washington Commanders play at FedEx field in Landover, MD.
Washingtonian: A true Washington DC resident. Also, the magazine to be seen in.
“What do you do?”: The official (unofficially) DC greeting. The answer however, is easy; 1/3 of Washingtonians work for the federal government, 1/3 work for contractors who work for the federal government, and the other 1/3 are attorneys.
Wine Country- Typically refers to Virginia’s wine scene, specifically in Loudon and Fairfax Counties. There are dozens of wineries within two hours of DC, and it’s a great way to spend a relaxing weekend. A few recommendations…
Wolf Trap: The only National Park that houses a world-class performance venue, Wolf Trap Park for the Performing Arts features The Filene Center, a massive open-air amphitheater with seating for up to 7,000 that hosts a variety of acts from Dolly Parton to the musical Dreamgirls, as well as a smaller second venue, The Barns, which hosts a resident opera company each summer.
The DMV is a beautifully diverse region, full of people from all walks of life, a myriad of cultures, and a cascade of socio-economic backgrounds. Even those of us fortunate enough to call this incredible area home are always learning something new about its charm, its people, and its complex terminology; Hopefully this guide proves to be a solid starting point. Cheers!
