City Ham
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "city ham" means a wet-cured or brined ham - the mild, pink kind you find at the grocery store. It’s contrasted with "country ham," which is dry-cured, saltier, and often homemade or specialty-cured.
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I always preferred 'city ham' to 'country ham' because the other is so salty. I always preferred 'city ham' to 'country ham' because the other is so salty. Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- Wet-cured or brined ham (contrast to country ham) (noun)
Is this salty like country ham?No - it’s just city ham, mild and sweet.Origin and Etymology
The term "city ham" arose in the mid-20th century South to distinguish mass-produced wet-cured hams from the traditional country-cured hams made in smokehouses. It reflects a cultural shift from homemade preservation to store-bought convenience.
Usage Notes
Still widely used in the South to make the distinction clear at family meals, grocery stores, and church cookbooks. Outside the region people simply say "ham" unless specifically contrasting it with country ham.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it plain: "city ham." The phrase draws a clear line between store-bought wet-cured ham and the old-timey dry-cured country ham.