Do Californians use the term "Cali" or "SoCal"?

Left coast. I’m from LA many years ago. But SoCal works.

I lived in Redlands for about 5 years. I use SoCal. You might find this interesting.

Hm, a lot of people I know say they hate that term and don’t ever say it.

Just don’t call it San Fran!

I live in NorCal and we say “NorCal” and “SoCal” all the time here. I don’t hear “Cali” as much, though; that’s more of an out-of-stater thing to say. :)

I never liked the term “Cali” either…I like “Socal” term better.

I have never used Cali. If I am going to abbreviate at all I say So Cal, but I don’t really use that either.

I’ve only heard people outside of CA refer to it as “Cali.” None of my CA friends use that term.

I hear SoCal a lot. Cali seems like it’s annoying to people here and is used outside of the state. NorCal drives me nuts!
Also, I don’t think you’re allowed to say Frisco unless you’re from here, like born and raised.

Some names sound really cheesy, I wouldn’t use “Frisco” lol….I’m from Columbus, OH and people say “C-bus” sometimes and I’d never say that.

Sometimes people say “Cal.” Usually that’s a reference to one of the UC (University of California) schools, though. I never hear anyone say “Cali,” and I’ve lived in Northern California for more than 30 years. Trying to sound familiar when you’re not is ridiculous, like pretending you’re on a first-name basis with some celebrity you don’t even know.

I do hear “SoCal” but never “NorCal.” Ugh. I don’t live too far from you, @DominicX, and in the South Bay I simply don’t hear that.

I don’t use any of those abbreviations: I say California, Northern California, Southern California, and (when speaking of the university) UC.

I have never heard Cali.

It’s all about NorCal.

But yeah I hear Cal, Cali, SoCal, and NorCal fairly often when I’m visiting my parents and brothers.

@Jeruba

Yeah I don’t know, I hear it here in the Atherton-Palo Alto area, but it’s really only used when comparing it to SoCal.

I usually say Cali because I guess that’s what I’m used to. But it depends, really where you’re from.

So Cal
No Cal
Never Cali.

I have mainly seen “Cali” used in Latino communities.

I usually use So, CA when writing. I rarely say the phrase!

I don’t use NorCal much, because it represents such a huge area from the Oregon border to the Sierras.

I usually say I live in the Sierras as it is more of an actual place than a broad spectrum term.

I lived 5 years full-time in LA and 3 years half-time.

I never, ever heard anyone say “Cali”.

I never heard “SoCal” but people used it in writing.

I used to occasionally write Cali, but now I use SoCal because it’s more specific.
I usually say California, but sometimes I use Cauliflower when I do my governator impression. ;-)

haha brian!

first of all, you only call it SoCal when referring to southern California. NEVER say cali, cal, san fran or frisco. If you’re trying not to seem touristy, that’s a sure way to fail. :)

Cali is so non-California. It’s NorCal (the better part) and SoCal (the plastic part).

um excuse me Chuck, SoCal is the only partway decent region. I guess you could call it fun if your idea of that is hiding in subways and going to stuffy country clubs.

Spoken like people who don’t really know SoCal.

@psychocandy

I think I know it pretty well! I have lived in Southern CA for 39 years and I loathe much of it. What’s to love about conservative Republicans, freeway jams, smog, endless suburbs, wildfires, fleas, dust heat, and long commutes?

Wow. That is not my city. Always something to do, sun, great food, art & music. You obviously aren’t going to the right places. You choose to have a long commute and live where there are fires. Dust? Not here. Fleas? No, and I have 5 cats.

You obviously don’t hate it that much. You’re still here.

I’m not from LA but I really like the areas near OC. I love the beaches, the diversity, the gorgeous mountains and hills… =)

Most Californians I’ve met in GA or FL say “Cali” if they are from the Los Angeles area. If they are from either San Jose or around there they say they are from the “Bay”. When I first heard this I had to ask for clarification. And I was born in Los Gatos. Now if I am speaking with latinos they will say “Califas”, myself included.

@mrmijunte, were these Californians that you’ve met in GA or FL born in California? And were they people of various ethnicities? or all the same?

@psychocandy

“You obviously don’t hate it that much. You’re still here.”

Not by choice and not for long- I have been planning my escape for years! We have one offer on our house, another pending…by Fall I’ll be in the Pacific Northwest, where it’s green and cool and liberal and beautiful :>)

@Jeruba As far as I know at least raised in. And yes various ethnicities, but mainly latinos.

No one that I know uses either one of those terms. It’s mostly radio announcers or TV newscasters that use the term SoCal. And it is used on commercials (usually just to designate the area from Northern California). I’ve never heard anyone use the term Cali.

My boyfriend is from NorCal and now lives in LA. He does use NorCal and SoCal, but I’ve never actually heard him say Cali out loud, except when speaking about his calico cat.

Update: I’ve been home (in NY) since Thursday and EVERYONE here says “cali”—I find it really annoying! Could be because of this question though :)

@Samantha_Rae i’ll take blame for that since I belong in cali but am here in NY for college