If You Don’t Know These 15 Words, You’re Definitely Not from New Hampshire

New Hampshire isn’t just a state—it’s a state of independence. We live free, drive fast, and shovel our own driveways with pride. Outsiders might think we’re just “Vermont’s louder neighbor,” but real Granite Staters know there’s no place like home (and no sales tax like ours).

These words aren’t just vocabulary—they’re the sound of life north of Boston. If you don’t recognize them, you might still be stuck in a Dunkin’ drive-thru in Massachusetts.

1. Live Free or Die

Our state motto. Not a suggestion. A way of life.

2. Masshole

An affectionate (sometimes) term for our southern neighbors who visit, drive like maniacs, and then leave.

3. Leaf Peeper

Tourists who swarm in the fall to stare at our trees and clog up Route 16. Bless ‘em.

4. The Kanc

Short for the Kancamagus Highway. If you can pronounce it and know when to drive it, you’re one of us.

5. Wicked

An all-purpose adjective meaning “really.” Wicked cold, wicked good, wicked far from Massachusetts.

6. The Whites

The White Mountains—our playground, our pride, and the reason for half our car bumper stickers.

7. ManchVegas

What locals call Manchester—our biggest city with small-town chaos energy.

8. No Sales Tax

Two words that make us smug every time we cross the border into Massachusetts.

9. Creemee

Our word for soft-serve ice cream (borrowed from our Vermont cousins). Summer doesn’t start until you’ve had one.

10. Camp

Not “the lake house.” It’s camp. Rustic, bug-filled, and perfect.

11. Mud Season

That awkward time between winter and spring when roads turn to soup and 4-wheel drive becomes religion.

12. The Notch

Franconia Notch or Crawford Notch—if you don’t specify which, we’ll assume you’re new here.

13. Old Man of the Mountain

He fell in 2003, but we still talk about him like he’s family. Rest in granite, legend.

14. Power Outage Party

When the power goes out during a snowstorm and everyone lights candles, makes chili, and pretends it’s fine.

15. Dunkies

Dunkin’ Donuts. Yes, we still call it Dunkies. Yes, we have one in every town.

New Hampshire isn’t about showing off—it’s about showing up. It’s cold winters, tight-knit towns, and people who’ll help you dig your car out, then mock your parking job. If you don’t say “wicked,” complain about leaf peepers, or brag about the lack of sales tax, you’ve still got some learnin’ to do.

But don’t worry—grab a creemee, take a drive up the Kanc, and you’ll be saying “ayuh” in no time. Just don’t move here and try to change anything.