Why Do Bostonians Say “Wicked” and Other Things Outsiders Don’t Get?
There are a few things that instantly signal you’re in Boston — Red Sox hats year-round, Dunkin’ iced coffee in a blizzard, and someone casually dropping “wicked” in conversation.
Wicked
In Boston, “wicked” means “very” as in “wicked good” or “wicked cold.” But the word didn’t start here, and it didn’t always mean that.
“Wicked” originally meant something evil or morally wrong in early English. By the 1600s in Britain, it had already started to loosen, showing up in speech as an intensifier, used to emphasize something rather than describe it literally.
When settlers brought English to New England, they brought that usage with them. Most places eventually dropped it or replaced it with other intensifiers, but Boston held onto it. Over time, the meaning flattened completely. In Boston, “wicked” stopped implying anything negative and became a pure amplifier.
By the late 20th century, especially in working-class neighborhoods, it was everywhere. Saying “wicked” wasn’t just about emphasis. It signaled local identity. If you used it naturally, you were from here. That’s why it stuck. Not because Boston invented it, but because Boston never let it go.
Visitors may cringe, but locals love it. You’ll even spot it on T-shirts, beer cans, and storefronts all over the city.
Looking for more uniquely Boston behavior? Check out our list of 20 Unique Things To Do in Boston — yes, some are wicked fun.
Rotary
Ask any Boston driver, and they’ll confirm: navigating a rotary (aka roundabout) here is like entering the Thunderdome. They exist across the state — often instead of traffic lights — and each one has its own unspoken set of rules. Good luck if you’re not from around here.
The rotary at Fresh Pond Parkway or the chaos outside Sullivan Square? Pure Boston energy. No two are alike, and that’s exactly the problem.
If you’re planning to explore beyond downtown, check out our guide to Free & Cheap Things To Do in Boston — just budget time for the rotary stress.
A handy Boston glossary:
- Packie = liquor store
- Jimmies = chocolate sprinkles
- Frappe = a milkshake (with ice cream)
- Spucky = sub sandwich
- Clickah = remote controle
- Bubblah = water fountain
- Dungarees = jeans
- Regulah = coffee with cream and sugar
- Tonic = soda
- The Pike = Massachusetts Turnpike
- Storrowing = crashing a truck into a low bridge on Storrow Drive
- Southie = South Boston
- Dot = Dorchester
- Bang a U-ey = make a U-turn
- No suh = no sir, often said fast and flat
- Townie = someone from Charlestown
- The T = subway system
- Triple-deckah = three-family house
- Parlah = living room (older usage)
Dropping (and adding) an R
It’s real. “Park the car” turns into “pahk the cah,” while “idea” picks up an extra R and becomes “idear.” Linguists call this non-rhotic speech. Boston inherited it from southeastern England, where the “r” after vowels was often dropped. The flip side is linking and intrusive R, where speakers add an “r” to connect sounds between words.
It took hold in working-class neighborhoods and is still heard across the city, from Southie to Charlestown to Dorchester. It’s less common among younger speakers, but it hasn’t disappeared.
And no, we don’t care if it sounds confusing — this is Boston.
Need help decoding the local vibe? Our roundup of Top 10 Boston Summer Events will give you plenty of spots to overhear “wicked” in the wild.
