Chicagoans call the train “the L,” soda “pop” and sneakers “gym shoes,” and they save shoveled parking spots with chairs, a winter custom called “dibs.” Downtown is “the Loop,” Cloud Gate is “the Bean,” and a true Chicago-style hot dog comes with seven toppings and no ketchup. This guide covers the words and habits first-timers notice most.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The L | The CTA’s rapid transit trains (also spelled El) |
| The Loop | Downtown inside the elevated tracks; often all of downtown |
| Dibs | Saving a shoveled street parking spot with a chair or other object |
| Pop | Soft drink, soda |
| Gym shoes | Sneakers, athletic shoes |
| The Bean | Cloud Gate, the sculpture in Millennium Park |
| LSD / the Drive | Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive |
| The Mag Mile | The Magnificent Mile, North Michigan Avenue from the river to Oak Street |
| Frunchroom | The front room, or living room |
| Gangway | The narrow walkway between houses |
| The Lake | Lake Michigan |
| Dipped | An Italian beef sandwich dunked in its juice |
| Dragged through the garden | A hot dog with all the toppings |
Getting around: the L, the Loop and the Drive
The L
The CTA officially calls its rapid transit system the “L,” a name it has used since the 1890s. The name covers elevated, ground-level and subway sections alike. Writers and locals also spell it “El,” and the spelling debate has never been settled. See the CTA ‘L’ guide.
The Loop
Strictly, the Loop is the area inside the elevated tracks on Lake Street, Wabash Avenue, Van Buren Street and Wells Street. The elevated Union Loop opened on September 6, 1897, and is 1.79 miles around. In everyday speech, “the Loop” often means all of downtown. See the Loop guide.
Lake Shore Drive, LSD or DuSable Lake Shore Drive
On June 25, 2021, the City Council voted 33–15 to rename the outer drive, from Hollywood Avenue to 67th Street, Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The name honors Chicago’s first permanent non-Indigenous settler. Locals still say Lake Shore Drive, LSD or simply the Drive.
The Mag Mile
The Magnificent Mile is North Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Oak Street. Real estate developer Arthur Rubloff is widely credited with coining the name in 1947. Locals shorten it to the Mag Mile.
Everyday words
- Pop: Chicagoans say pop, not soda.
- Gym shoes: The local term for sneakers or tennis shoes.
- Frunchroom: The front room of a house, what others call the living room.
- Gangway: The narrow passage between two houses or buildings.
- The Lake: Always Lake Michigan.
- Da: A Chicago pronunciation of “the,” as in “Da Bears.”
- The sides: Locals place everything on the North, South or West Side. See geography and layout.
Dibs: the winter parking custom
After a snowstorm, many residents who shovel out a street parking spot claim it with a chair, cone, laundry basket or other household item. This is dibs, and it is a long-running source of neighborhood arguments. People have used ironing boards, garbage cans and even a pair of pants.
Dibs has no legal standing. The city has an ordinance against storing personal belongings in the public way, and police have said streets are for everyone regardless of who shoveled. The Department of Streets and Sanitation has said it removes leftover dibs items at the end of winter, starting with those reported to 311.
Food words and rules
No ketchup on a hot dog
A Chicago-style hot dog is an all-beef frank on a poppy-seed bun topped with mustard, relish, chopped onions, tomato wedges, a pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt. Ordering it with everything is “dragging it through the garden.” Ketchup is not one of the toppings.
The no-ketchup rule is more custom than law. Vienna Beef’s Bob Schwartz, who wrote a book titled Never Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog, has said the main reason is taste: ketchup’s sweetness clashes with the other toppings. Nobody will stop you, but you may get a look.
Dipped or not dipped
When ordering an Italian beef sandwich, you will be asked whether you want it dipped, meaning dunked in the meat’s juice. More on local classics in iconic Chicago foods.
Landmark nicknames
| Nickname | Official name | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| The Bean | Cloud Gate | Anish Kapoor sculpture of 168 stainless steel plates, about 110 tons; dedicated May 15, 2006 |
| Sears Tower | Willis Tower | Completed 1974; 1,451 feet; world’s tallest building until 1998 |
| The Mag Mile | The Magnificent Mile | North Michigan Avenue, river to Oak Street |
| LSD | Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive | Renamed by City Council vote on June 25, 2021 |
Tips first-timers miss
- Use the grid. Every address counts from State and Madison, and 800 numbers equal one mile, so you can estimate distance from any address.
- Tap to ride. CTA turnstiles and buses accept contactless bank cards and phones. A regular L ride is $2.50 and a bus ride is $2.25, with up to two transfers within two hours.
- O’Hare costs more. Boarding the Blue Line at O’Hare costs $5 on a regular fare. Unlimited passes cover it at no extra charge.
- Consider a pass. CTA passes cost $5 for one day, $15 for three days and $20 for seven days.
- Bring a layer to the lake. In spring and early summer the lakefront can be noticeably cooler than inland neighborhoods.
- Call 311 for city services. Non-emergency requests go to 311; emergencies go to 911.
- Learn the sides. Directions are given by side and cross street, such as “Clark and Belmont.”
For transit details, see getting around Chicago. For more basics, see the Chicago FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Chicagoans call the train the L?
The CTA has called its rapid transit system the “L” since the 1890s, short for elevated. The name now covers subway and ground-level sections too.
Do Chicagoans say soda or pop?
Pop. Soda is understood, but pop is the local word.
Is dibs legal in Chicago?
No. City ordinance bars storing personal belongings in the public way, and police say streets are for everyone. Streets and Sanitation removes leftover markers late in winter.
Why no ketchup on a Chicago hot dog?
It is a taste tradition: the standard seven toppings are thought to pair poorly with sweet ketchup. It is custom, not a rule.
What is the Bean in Chicago?
The Bean is the nickname for Cloud Gate, Anish Kapoor’s mirrored stainless steel sculpture in Millennium Park, dedicated in 2006.
Is it still called Lake Shore Drive?
The outer drive’s official name since 2021 is Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Most people still say Lake Shore Drive or LSD.
Related guides
- Chicago FAQ
- Geography and layout
- Iconic Chicago foods
- CTA ‘L’ trains
- Airports
- The Loop
- Chicago culture
Sources
- WGN-TV: Chicago slang, 11 terms you should know
- Planetizen: The many nicknames for Chicago’s elevated railway
- Wikipedia: The Loop (CTA)
- WTTW News: City Council votes to create Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive
- Gapers Block: The Magnificent Mile and North Michigan Avenue
- CBS Chicago: The controversial tradition of Chicago dibs
- Time Out Chicago: The 7 toppings of the Chicago hot dog
- Wikipedia: Cloud Gate
- City of Chicago: Chicago History
- CTA: Fares
- WBEZ Curious City: When is it no longer cooler by the lake?
- City of Chicago: CHI 311
Last updated: October 31, 2026