What do you call it?

short+sassy

IrishPirate60 said:

The one I get teased about is using the word "freeway" instead of "highway".  I grew up in So CA and always called them "freeways".  But apparently here in NOLA, people call them "highways".  I've actually had people I've just met ask me where I'm originally from because I use "freeway".  I don't notice either one.

There's a difference between "freeways" and "highways." Even in So CA, there's the Pacific Coast Highway or 101, then there's the I-5 or the I-10, right?

I think in NOLA some of the naming is a holdover from what the road was before it became an interstate.

(And now I'm thinking of that list that makes the rounds every now and then that begins with "Why do we drive on the parkway and park in the driveway?")

I'm not sure, I think there might technically be a difference.  At least where I lived in So CA, the freeways/highways were the big guys.  Like I-5 and I-405.  Pacific Coast Highway was referred to as PCH.  No one would ever refer to it as just a highway because people would think you were talking about the I-5.

Oh!  They also call it the "interstate" in NOLA.  Sorry!  That phrase is even more common than highway.  And THAT word sounds weird to me, lol.  They are referring to I-10.  That is the only freeway/highway/interstate we have.  We also have an Airline Highway that is always referred to by it's full name or just "Airline".  It is never referred to as just "highway", because it could be confused for the I-10.

kvruns

short+sassy said:

IrishPirate60 said:

The one I get teased about is using the word "freeway" instead of "highway".  I grew up in So CA and always called them "freeways".  But apparently here in NOLA, people call them "highways".  I've actually had people I've just met ask me where I'm originally from because I use "freeway".  I don't notice either one.

There's a difference between "freeways" and "highways." Even in So CA, there's the Pacific Coast Highway or 101, then there's the I-5 or the I-10, right?

I think in NOLA some of the naming is a holdover from what the road was before it became an interstate.

(And now I'm thinking of that list that makes the rounds every now and then that begins with "Why do we drive on the parkway and park in the driveway?")

I'm not sure, I think there might technically be a difference.  At least where I lived in So CA, the freeways/highways were the big guys.  Like I-5 and I-405.  Pacific Coast Highway was referred to as PCH.  No one would ever refer to it as just a highway because people would think you were talking about the I-5.

Oh!  They also call it the "interstate" in NOLA.  Sorry!  That phrase is even more common than highway.  And THAT word sounds weird to me, lol.  They are referring to I-10.  That is the only freeway/highway/interstate we have.  We also have an Airline Highway that is always referred to by it's full name or just "Airline".  It is never referred to as just "highway", because it could be confused for the I-10.

I use interstate. Maybe highway a few times, although I think I've heard people use highway to describe a big state road or similar. I've never used freeway though when I hear someone say it I assume that person is from CA.

SaintPaulGal

We referred to "the interstate" in the small town where I grew up, since there was only one in the area.  Now that I live in a city with multiple interstate highways, I wouldn't refer to those roads that way.  I still call the one that runs past my parents' house "the interstate," though.

WinstonsGirl

Up here, highway is the main rural roads (usually 2 lane, divided, etc.) between big cities.  Secondary highways are the smaller ones, usually between towns.  Freeways are main roads through cities, no lights, 3-4 lanes, merge on and off, etc.  Interstates are major American highways

ShesSoCold

I definitely say "shut off" or "turn off" the lights. I also put things away and have never heard of putting anything up.

Once I accidentally asked H to "turn off the candle" so we say that now.

Thinking about it, I think I use expressway, freeway, highway and interstate all interchangeably. Probably highway or expressway most. But in Chicago, the interstates are named. Like, you don't take I-90, you take the Dan Ryan.