Term used Pop or Soda?

[aprilgail2]

This is what I do not understand about the 'coke for everything' people.

I'm from the land of soda and people don't order like that here, because it's just mildly masochistic, or sadistic, or both I suppose, depending on one's pov.

'I'll have a coke.'

'What kind?'

'A Sprite.'

Why not just order a sprite?

I've never heard anyone say, 'I'll have a soda,' to waitstaff, to which waitstaff would theoretically then say 'what kind?' They just lead off with 'I'll have a Sprite,' or, if they're not sure if the place has whatever brand they want 'do you have Sprite?'

Why make it into a two-step process?

People don't do that with much of anything else except dessert, either, and that's usually only because they don't know what the dessert offerings are, hence 'we're thinking about dessert' or whatever, if the conversation isn't initiated by the server, 'would you like to hear our dessert offerings?'

But no one says 'I'll have a cocktail,' and waits for 'what kind?' 'a mojito.'

People don't say, 'I'll have an entree.' They just order.

I really don't understand where the 'coke.... which one...' thing came from or why it originated and why it perseveres. Any etymology experts?

LOL- I find it funny because I can just see these people going to another state and ordering a "coke" in a restaurant and then getting pissed because they got what the ordered and not the Sprit that they wanted when they ordered a Coke LOL.

 

[136368]

Neither - we use brand names (Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, etc.) or, in a pinch, "soft drinks", a term which encapsulates pop/soda, juices and so on.

 

[blana]

Either Coke or drink. Never really use the terms soda or pop. Generally if someone in this area says they want a drink, they're talking Coke, etc. Not alcoholic.

 

[mhsjax]

I use the name. I never say soda or pop. If you say soda or pop, you still have to ask what kind. I am VERY specific, if I order a diet coke and they give me a diet pepsi, I get pissed, as another pp stated. So it isn't just about using the correct term. I give it back and ask for an un sweet tea. After all, I am being very specific and ordering a diet coke not a diet pepsi. lol

 

[136368]

 

[mrodgers]

In Pennsylvania:

Soda: Any carbonated, flavored beverage

Have to disagree with ya there. I've never ever heard anyone in Pennsylvania call it soda. It is pop. When on vacation to Ocean City or Myrtle Beach when I was a kid, everyone knew we were from western PA because of "pop" and "sucker" (lolipop).

As for ordering pop, soda, soft drink, coke, I wouldn't think anyone orders it that way and that isn't what the discussion is about. I think it is just what the general term is, but you wouldn't order it that way because it is general. As someone said, you wouldn't order "dessert" and just have someone bring it to you, or order "entree" and expect someone to bring you something. You order the specific.

The discussion is more, "I don't drink pop/soda/soft drink any more because I'm on a diet..." for example. Or your kids asking if they can have "pop" because you the parent would know what specific "pop" whether Pepsi, Coke, Sprite, or Mountain Dew they meant. Another example, ordering at fast food where the fountain drinks are self serve. You ask your kid what kind of "pop" they want, not "do you want 'pop'?"

Also, as for soft drink, that would be more specifically a fountain drink around here and not the term for Pepsi or Sprite in a can or bottle.

 

[stevenpensacola]

This is what I do not understand about the 'coke for everything' people...

Why not just order a sprite?...

Why make it into a two-step process?...

I really don't understand where the 'coke.... which one...' thing came from or why it originated and why it perseveres. Any etymology experts?

What's your hurry?...Us "coke" people are more laid back and relaxed...it's a Southern thang...

 

[Scurvy]

This is what I do not understand about the 'coke for everything' people.

I'm from the land of soda and people don't order like that here, because it's just mildly masochistic, or sadistic, or both I suppose, depending on one's pov.

'I'll have a coke.'

'What kind?'

'A Sprite.'

Why not just order a sprite?

I've never heard anyone say, 'I'll have a soda,' to waitstaff, to which waitstaff would theoretically then say 'what kind?' They just lead off with 'I'll have a Sprite,' or, if they're not sure if the place has whatever brand they want 'do you have Sprite?'

Why make it into a two-step process?

People don't do that with much of anything else except dessert, either, and that's usually only because they don't know what the dessert offerings are, hence 'we're thinking about dessert' or whatever, if the conversation isn't initiated by the server, 'would you like to hear our dessert offerings?'

But no one says 'I'll have a cocktail,' and waits for 'what kind?' 'a mojito.'

People don't say, 'I'll have an entree.' They just order.

I really don't understand where the 'coke.... which one...' thing came from or why it originated and why it perseveres. Any etymology experts?

That's exactly what I find so odd about this whole "Coke" thing.

If someone told me they wanted a Coke, that's exactly what I would give them. I wouldn't think to ask "What kind?" because I assume they actually mean Coke. And I live where everyone supposedly says Coke for everything, but despite going out to eat with tons of people over the years (while living in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama) I have literally never heard anyone order that way. I have heard people ask what soft drinks someplace has, or if they have Coke or Pepsi products, and that makes sense because often the menu doesn't specify that. I've never been asked "What kind?" by a server any time I've ordered Coke, though occasionally one will ask me "Diet or regular?" which seems like a reasonable question. It's weird though because some weeks I go out to eat more than I eat at home and you'd think as common as it supposedly is around here that I would have encountered it at least once!

 

[twinboysmom]

It's all coke here. Southeast Louisiana is home and it's coke there too.

 

[Jennasis]

FTR, my Atlanta-based cousins call it COKE. When we are at a restaurant and the waitress asks "what would you like to drink" they will answer with the ACTUAL BEVERAGE, not the catch-all term "coke".

Ex.

Waitress: Can I get your drink order?

Cousin: I'll Have a Diet Coke

Cousin 2: I'll have a Mountain Dew

Cousin 3: Sweet Tea.



Now, when making a shopping list it might read:
Milk
eggs
bread
butter
coke
brownie mix
lettuce
ketchup

This is to indicate that they are out of coke/soda/pop and need to purchase more of whatever flavor they like.

 

[jujube]

It's all coke here. Southeast Louisiana is home and it's coke there too.

South Louisiana here too and we've always said soft drink. Just goes to show that even in the same area people use different terms for the same thing. Of course, being south Louisiana, we have to differentiate from the hard drinks.

 

[NotUrsula]

South Louisiana here too and we've always said soft drink. Just goes to show that even in the same area people use different terms for the same thing. Of course, being south Louisiana, we have to differentiate from the hard drinks.

And also from the "red drink" (New Orleans has its own idiosyncracies in this regard. For those not familiar, "red drink" is something very specific: Barq's Red Creme Soda.)

Times have begun to change, and "soft drink" is getting more common as time goes on, but back in the 60's it was definitely all referred to as coke at home -- even though RC Cola was actually probably 50/50 in terms of consumption in South Louisiana back then. (Pepsi was readily available, but not that many people drank it when they wanted a soft drink; S. Louisiana is one of those places where people tend to prefer their colas a bit on the more dry side. Ginger ale was also very popular there when I was a kid.)

The generic "coke" isn't used when ordering in a restaurant unless that is what you actually want (Classic Coke with the red label); that would be a waste of time. However, if you offer someone a coke in your home you would normally follow up with a list of choices if you happen to have multiple varieties available. As in, "Hey, are you thirsty; would you like a coke? I've got regular, diet, and some Sprite here, too."

 

[princesspiglet]

Born and raised in Western Pa and always said Pop. Moved out here to Hershey (central pa) and everyone here says soda. DH is from upstate and says soda, now my DD9 doesn't want to take sides with her parents so she says "sodapop" as one word.

 

[castleview]

I say soda, you silly Midwesterners.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

That's exactly what I find so odd about this whole "Coke" thing.

If someone told me they wanted a Coke, that's exactly what I would give them. I wouldn't think to ask "What kind?" because I assume they actually mean Coke. And I live where everyone supposedly says Coke for everything, but despite going out to eat with tons of people over the years (while living in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama) I have literally never heard anyone order that way. I have heard people ask what soft drinks someplace has, or if they have Coke or Pepsi products, and that makes sense because often the menu doesn't specify that. I've never been asked "What kind?" by a server any time I've ordered Coke, though occasionally one will ask me "Diet or regular?" which seems like a reasonable question. It's weird though because some weeks I go out to eat more than I eat at home and you'd think as common as it supposedly is around here that I would have encountered it at least once!

Same here. And I also come from an area where everyone claims to say Coke. Haven't heard it and the whole process you describe is exactly the situations I've always been in as well. If I'm out somewhere I order by brand name. If someone tells me they want a coke in my home, I'm gonna tell them sorry, we don't have coke here but I can get you a dr pepper or pepsi

 

[shell8558]

Southwest Louisiana checking in - its called Coke. Except when ordering in a restaurant, then it's Dr. Pepper, Coke ,Sprite, etc. (Just like previous posters have said.)

 

[landshark]

I've always used "soda" despite most people I know of using "pop".

 

[Scurvy]

Southwest Louisiana checking in - its called Coke. Except when ordering in a restaurant, then it's Dr. Pepper, Coke ,Sprite, etc. (Just like previous posters have said.)

So maybe I have met people who call everything Coke and just didn't realize it! I've always been confused about how I could have never known anyone who did that when it's apparently so common, but maybe they just do it at home and not out with other people. I always assumed everyone who said that everything is called Coke had the weird exchanges with waiters that some previous posters (on this thread and others) have mentioned, but maybe those sorts of people are the exception and not the norm.

 

[maui13]

Grew up in Illinois saying Pop. College in Wisconsin saying Soda. Living in Minnesota hearing both!

 

[Pooh2]

When I was growing up, my family called it "Tonic". My mother still refers to soda as "Tonic" and my kids always have a good chuckle when she asks for a diet tonic!