Charlatan

I have always been one to use the term "pop", as in, "Can you pick up some pop when you are at the store?"

I've always found it jarring to my ears when someone calls it "soda". I understand that in much of the Southern US they call it "coke" even if it's a Dr. Pepper. That's just odd to me... but I suppose it's not all that different from using the brand name Kleenex when you want a tissue. Branding is a powerful force.

What do term do you use? Does anyone fall under "other" and if so, what do you use and why?

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biznatch

To talk carbonated soft drinks in general, I say soda. But when I drink soda, usually I drink mainly coke, so I ask for coke, or talk about drinking coke.

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grumpyolddude

I'm in one of those dark blue regions.

Let's compromise... just call 'em "mixers."

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Willravel

For the first time in my life, I'm happy not to be in a blue state. It's soda.

Kudos to Coca-cola for being able to make their brand name synonymous with soda.

absorbentishe

It's pop here in Toledo! BTW, Coke is the number one brand name in the world.

ngdawg

It's soda.

During a trip out to the Kansas City area, we stopped at a TGIF's and I asked our waitress for a club soda. She said "A what?" The spouse responded, "Like soda water." She went "ewww!!" and then was describing what I'd ordered to the bartender, who also made an "ew!" face.

They should do another map about hoagies. You know, subs, heroes, grinders.....

dd3953

Pop. Unless I'm talking about a specific brand (which is usually Mt Dew).

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Baraka_Guru

"Soft drink"

Call me "Other"

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Willravel

This partisanship is tearing out culture apart!!

SSJTWIZTA

soda, even though im in a "coke" area.

its odd, i hate the term pop. i can hear the nails on my mental chalkboard whenever someone says that word.

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Baraka_Guru

I hear "pop" a lot here in Canada and always thought it sounded a bit funny. "Soda" sounds unerringly American to me.

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Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
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spindles

yep, add me as an 'other'.

I'd be much more likely to ask for something specific if requesting something. e.g. "Get me some Ginger Beer" etc.

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telekinetic

soda, from a 'soda' area.

levite

I grew up in Minnesota, where it was always either "pop" or occasionally "soda pop;" unless you were over 70, in which case it was uniformly "cold drinks."

I have, for many years now, lived in California, where I have never heard anyone use a general term other than "soda."

Even growing up, I hated calling it "pop."

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Punk.of.Ages

Soda pop...

Usually I just say Dewskie though. That's really the only one I drink.

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Vigilante

Coke. Everything is coke, and from there you are either given a cup to get it yourself, or you are asked what kind, ie sprite, diet coke, etc.

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inBOIL

Soda, or occasionally, soft drink. I used to say coke, but pop just bothers me.

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LoganSnake

It's Pop. When I hear Soda, I see baking soda.

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Martian

I think pop is most prevalent in this part of the world, but at least everyone knows what I mean when I say soda. I don't often drink it outside of work anyway, so it's not that big a deal.

Soda in a pop world. I'm always one to go against the grain.

Haven't we had this discussion before? I'm having some major deja vu here.

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Vigilante

Same. Soda I can deal with, but I won't be the one saying it.

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ironman

Un agua that's how we call it here in Guatemala.

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Charlatan

I think we did, but this one has graphics!

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Grancey

I'm with the 80-100% in Alabama who say "coke". Always have, always will. I was in hell while I briefly lived in Iowa, and everyone said "pop". I could never get used to that. I never ordered "pop". I ordered a Diet Coke, etc. It was just too weird for me to say "pop" in reference to a Diet Coke. It's difficult to type as well.

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ObieX

The general term i use is soda. Otherwise i just ask for what i'm ordering be it coke pepsi dr pepper or whatever.

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dlish

ive never heard it called anything else but 'soft drink' in oz..

put me down as 'other' also

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thespian86

Pop.

Everyone else can go to hell.

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ObieX

I think the consensus is that everyone who doesn't say "pop" hates everyone who says "pop". (and vica versa_)

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Fotzlid

According to that chart, soda is the most popular term.
I grew up referring to it as tonic.
Guess the old ways are dying...

sapiens

I call it "soda". My wife calls it "pop". It's an issue that has concerned me greatly in my marriage.

genuinegirly

Soda. My dad calls it pop occasionally just to throw me off.

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snowy

"Soda pop." My dad is from Miami, where it's called soda, and my mom is a native Washingtonian, where it's called pop. Therefore, I grew up compromising between the two. Though occasionally my dad throws it all off by ordering the "house cola."

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sadistikdreams

Soda.
I'm in a blue state. And I call it soda because my pop grew up in New York, where they call it soda.

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jewels

Soda. Although the map says this area is a "soda" area, most people who serve in restaurants call it pop.

The pop people are just plain wrong.

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dlish

its funny that the OP says "what do you call carbonated SOFT DRINKS"

its obviously SOFT DRINK peoples!

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Poppinjay

I call hijinx on that map. Nowhere in eastern NC will you hear soda go by the generic "coke" name. It's Pepsi or else it's a fight you're wanting.

Birthplace of Pepsi

The stadium at ECU is named after a Pepsi distributor. In the 252, restaurants that sell coke are considered treasonous cavaliers.

My 30 years in the rest of the south leads me to believe that the most accepted term is simply, "drink". As in, "while you're up, can you get me some drink?"

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FuriousAvatar

Soda. Sooooooda.

I think everyone I know calls it that also. I guess I'm one of those tiny little olive spots in southeast Alaska.

I work in a restaurant and it's always interesting to hear what people from around the world ask for. I rarely get pop, though.

noodle

soda. from a coke area.
i love when idiots ask for a coke and the waitperson says "Is Pepsi products okay?"
and they're like "yeah, I just want a soda."

it drives me nuts. but i do always ask for a kleenex regardless of brand.

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little_tippler

That should definitely be a song title!

It's funny how big "soda" or "pop" or whatever you call it is in the States.

I mean, we drink Coke, and Sprite and all that here too, but it's just not important enough to warrant a whole new drinks category.

I would never say "I'm going out to the store to get some soda/pop."

Neither would I say "I'm going out to the store to buy some fizzy drinks."

Which is maybe what it's called more often out here.

Bebida com gás in portuguese.

I will call a spade a spade. I'm going to get some Coke/Sprite/Fanta/7Up.

I like my Coke but currently am wearing braces and it eats away at the glue that holds the damned things in my mouth so it's been almost a year that I've had any.

Also, I've noticed in several northern european countries I have visited that fizzy water is very popular. When you ask for water they brink it to you sparkling. Which is weird to me. Here in Portugal if you ask for water, you just get water, no bubbles. What is most popular in the states?

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In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
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Poppinjay

If you ask for water, you get water. maybe with a lemon wedge in it.

Fizzy water sells okay, but it's a rare restaurant that will have it on the menu, and I don't know anybody who would assume a request for water means seltzer or "sparkling" water.

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stevie667

fizzy drinks.

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