What do you call it?

[MilesGregarius]

...sugared water.

More accurately these days - diluted corn syrup.

I pick between soda, pop, and tonic, mostly because saying pop and tonic confuses the New Englanders.

Only place I ever heard "tonic" was in the Boston area. Tonic confuses other New Englanders?

 

[BvBPL]

Confuses them enough.

 

[Perfection]

mixer

 

[ZeletDude]

Soda.. And my county is the only 'soda' county in Idaho, guess it makes sense because a lot of people from California move here

 

[MagisterCultuum]

According to the map, 50-80% in my country call it coke, as do over 80% of those in all neighboring counties.

I call it soda when being general, but usually refer to the type I want specifically. I have never cared for colas, so I would not want an actual coke. I generally just drink water, but when I do drink a soda it is generally Sprite or Minute Made Orange soda. I tend to like mine less carbonated than most, and often opt to mix the soda with lemonade.

 

[MjM]

Soda. Only people from other parts of the country call it pop around here.

It intrigues me that citrus flavored sodas are called 'lemonade' in some countries. How do you distinguish them from normal lemonade? Or do you just not drink standard lemonade?

 

[Tycho Brahe]

We don't drink a lot of freshly squeezed lemons whith sugar where I live.

 

[MjM]

We don't drink a lot of freshly squeezed lemons whith sugar where I live.

You're missing out.

 

[Tycho Brahe]

You're missing out.

No doubt about it.

 

[DaveShack]

Funny, my daughter asked about this a few days ago.

The term "soda" comes from soda water, which was made with bicarbonate of soda. You used to get the stuff at a "soda fountain". During the soda fountain era, young people tended to call older men "pop", hence "Give me a soda, pop!" And thus the terms "soda", "pop", and "soda pop" were born.

No, I don't have links -- learned this from my parents, who lived it.

Personally, I have noticed the regional differences, having lived in Colorado, New York, Minnesota, Missouri, and Arizona; though I did not remember which terms were used which places.

 

[Camikaze]

I call coke 'coke', and I call soda 'soda'. I also still call my grandfather 'pop'. 'Soft drink' is the term here.

What do you people call lemonade (i.e. Sprite), as distinct from, say, coke?

 

[DaveShack]

Sprite, Sierra Mist, 7-up. Typically dominated regionally situationally by the associated cola brand : Coke=Sprite, Pepsi=Sierra Mist, RC (Royal Crown) = 7-up.

Situationally: McDonalds -> Coke; Taco Bell -> Pepsi. Or if a family prefers a specific cola they tend to use the associated non-cola name generically.

edit: here, lemonade is a drink made from water, lemon juice, and sugar. Sometimes sold on sidewalks by little kids, from pitchers made by mom.

 

[Arwon]

Here's another one: What colour is creaming soda? (correct answer: pink)

Soda. Only people from other parts of the country call it pop around here.

It intrigues me that citrus flavored sodas are called 'lemonade' in some countries. How do you distinguish them from normal lemonade? Or do you just not drink standard lemonade?

Not much, but you'd refer to it as "old fashioned lemonade" I guess.

Pub squash is lemon flavoured soft drink, fanta is orange, lemonade is clear (like Sprite).

I would say if this poll was held here you would get 95% "soft drink" , 5% fizzy drink

I'n not sure I've ever heard "fizzy drink" here.

 

[Camikaze]

Sprite, Sierra Mist, 7-up. Typically dominated regionally situationally by the associated cola brand : Coke=Sprite, Pepsi=Sierra Mist, RC (Royal Crown) = 7-up.

Situationally: McDonalds -> Coke; Taco Bell -> Pepsi. Or if a family prefers a specific cola they tend to use the associated non-cola name generically.

edit: here, lemonade is a drink made from water, lemon juice, and sugar. Sometimes sold on sidewalks by little kids, from pitchers made by mom.

So you actually have to refer to a specific brand to differentiate between different types of soft drink? What happens if you're buying somewhere, and don't know if they have Sprite or 7-up? Do you just guess?

I'n not sure I've ever heard "fizzy drink" here.

You serious?

 

[Arwon]

Yeah I think so. It's probably on its way out I guess?

 

[Polycrates]

Yeah I think so. It's probably on its way out I guess?

More common with kids, I think

 

[El_Machinae]

Coke is commonly used to refer to any cola here (Ontario), even Pepsi. But never for other pop (i.e. root beer)

The generic term is pop. Soft drink is infrequently used, but more broad term that can refer to any non-alcoholic beverage whether carbonated or not.

People will order 'Coke', and the waitress will say 'is Pepsi okay?'. So, Coke is the go-to for caffeine, but we still recognise that it's not short-hand but an actual order.

 

[say1988]

What do you people call lemonade (i.e. Sprite), as distinct from, say, coke?

Sprite is Sprite, Coke is Coke. Both are pop. They can be referred to by their flavour, lemon-lime of cola, or a common brand can be used to refer to any brand of that flavour (usually restaurants will confirm with the actual brand, but sometimes they wont as I recently got Pepsi when asking for Coke).

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

"Pop" sound so stupid.

 

[Ice_Tyrant]

Coke, apparently it his the 80-100 percent area in my county too, lol.

I usually just call it by the name like Dr. Pepper though.