Do you call it "soda" or "pop?"

[Saluki Alex]

Growing up in Southern Illinois, I've always called soft drinks "soda." The only times I ever heard someone say "pop" were when my family from Chicago or Wyoming would come down. Yet, I noticed there was a group on Facebook at my school, Southern Illinois University, touting the use of the word "pop." There is also a group for those of us who call it soda, but nevertheless it got me thinking. Now, I knew that most of the kids at my school are from central or northern Illinois or the northern midwest, where they call it "pop," but I just never thought about the fact that there would be such a clash among soft drink drinkers about what to call that refreshing beverage.

I also know a lot of people who just refer to soft drinks as "coke," no matter what brand, which is a predominately southern term. Although I myself will occasionally interchange the terms "soda" and "coke," but that's because Coke (specifically Diet Coke) is what I usually drink.

I'm interested in hearing everyone else's thoughts on this.

 

[Josh]

Both, but more often I say "pop."

For more info, check this out.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

I usually refer to the brand of what ever I drink, rather then calling for soda or pop though have used both terms.

 

[WildCowboy]

It's a year and half old, but here's the "official" MR thread on it. I'd imagine most people are still calling it what they called it back then.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

"Pop" vs. "Soda" vs. "Coke" Edit: Too slow...

 

[TheMonarch]

digg much?


Anywho, I call it by it name to try and avoid confusion [coke, pepsi, dr pepper. etc.]


If speaking of soft drinks in general, Its soda.

 

[j26]

Soft drink or fizzy drink.

 

[Vster]

I usually just say soda, unless I have a particular brand in mind, like Sprite or Mountain Dew.

 

[bousozoku]

There was an extensive thread on this that included a map denoting which areas said what.

I'm one to say soda. Having pop in the can just leads to prank phone calls.

Someone calls a restaurant in Indiana:

"Do you have pop in the can?"
"Yes, we do."
"Could you please let him out?"

 

[Saluki Alex]

I've seen that map before, that's one of things that prompted me to start this poll. I probably should have included that in my initial post.

 

[Felldownthewell]

People here used to call it pop, but I have always called it soda. I've been hearing soda more and more recently in the last few years.

 

[kettle]

Soft drink or fizzy drink.

yeah, fizzy.

A high sugar, nose tingling drink that tastes like ***** at any temperature but cold.

 

[Mr. Durden]

i call it coke. its interesting that when i grew up in the south, everything was "coke". then you could specify which "coke" you wanted.

 

[bousozoku]

i call it coke. its interesting that when i grew up in the south, everything was "coke". then you could specify which "coke" you wanted.

That would certainly make sense around Atlanta since Coca-Cola is headquarted there.

 

[TheAnswer]

When I'm ordering I ask for Cola...that way I avoid the "We only have Pepsi (for example), is that ok?" questions. When I'm asking a friend what they want I usually say soda.

My dad is the exact opposite, he'll look at what they offer and ask for one they don't have...when we go to a place with both Coke and Pepsi, he always asks for Boylan's Cane Cola. Once we were up near Mt. Shasta...he went through trying to order the whole Shasta Cola line up before finally having tap water "That's Shasta water right??"

 

[CoMpX]

I usually say soda, but I occasionally ask for a soda by brand name when I'm at a friend's house for example.

 

[Maxiseller]

It's pop over here - but like everybody else, if i'm after a specific brand name I'll say that!

Soda refers to a horrid nasty fizzy water style drink...!

 

[Tanglewood]

I say soda for my default response though I normally refer to drinks by their brand name. Drink of choice FYI: Coca-Cola

 

[gadgetgirl85]

I call it soft drink? Thats what Aussies refer to it as I think

 

[Killyp]

Well I call it Lemonade. That's the OLD english for soft drinks...

 

[Bern]

- Soda is what you mix with scotch
- Pop is what you call your grandfather

I call it soft drink, although it's all pretty disgusting stuff anyway.

 

[SuperCompu2]

Pop = frozen confection or candy substance on a stick

Soda = bubbly drink available in many flavors.

 

[baby duck monge]

i call it coke. its interesting that when i grew up in the south, everything was "coke". then you could specify which "coke" you wanted.

Isn't that how it's supposed to be?

I tell you, though, when I was up at school in Minnesota I never heard the end of it. Of course, that's from the people who call it "pop." Some of them even had the nerve to call waterfountains "bubblers." Don't they know that bubblers are devices used for smoking marijuana?!

 

[Sesshi]

"fizzy drink"
"crap that I should not be drinking like a fish, but do"

 

[Frozone]

Coke!

But, I'm from Georgia, so that's only to be expected.