Co-Cola
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Co-Cola" is a regional pronunciation of Coca-Cola. The middle syllable drops out, turning "Coke-uh-Cola" into "Co-Cola."
synonyms: Coke, soft drink, pop (outside the South)
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I have heard and said 'Co-Cola' all my life. It's common. But we were a Pepsi dope family growin' up. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I have heard and said 'Co-Cola' all my life. It's common. But we were a Pepsi dope family growin' up. Pronunciation
[COE-cola] /ˈkoʊˌkoʊ.lə/
Meaning & Usage
- Regional pronunciation of Coca-Cola (noun)
Hazel:
You want somethin’ to drink?
You want somethin’ to drink?
Earl:
Yeah, grab me a Co-Cola.
Yeah, grab me a Co-Cola.variations: Coca-Cola (standard spelling)
★ In many parts of the South, folks still say "Coke" when they mean any soft drink - but "Co-Cola" was the old-time way of ordering the real thing. ★
Origin and Etymology
This pronunciation comes from natural Southern speech patterns that simplify unstressed syllables. Documented in the early-to-mid 20th century, especially in the Deep South and Appalachia, "Co-Cola" became a cultural marker of Southern talk.
Usage Notes
- Common in the South from the 1930s through the 1970s, especially among older generations.
- Still remembered today, sometimes used playfully to evoke old-time Southern speech.
- Distinct from "Coke," which became the generic Southern word for any soft drink ("What kind of Coke you want? A Sprite?").