Travel to any part of the country and you’ll find words and expressions peculiar to that area. Kentuckians often call a seesaw a “ridy-bob.” West Virginians call playground slides “slicky slides.” Folks in Illinois sometimes refer to a potluck supper as a “scramble dinner.” And in Vermont, a soft-serve ice cream cone is called a “creemee.”

But nowhere are you likely to find more peculiar slang words than in Boston. Ask newcomers to town and they’re liable to tell you it’s similar to having to master another language. Order a milkshake and you’ll probably get a drink of frothed milk and syrup (no ice cream included). And those chocolate sprinkles you want on your sundae at JP Licks? They’re called jimmies.

We commandeered several students who have been here a while to help translate—so when new students hear the word “packie” or “bubbler” now, they won’t be in the dark.

Alan Wong can be reached at alanwong@bu.edu. Jason Kimball can be reached at jk16@bu.edu.