Maine Locals vs. Tourists: A Friendly Guide to Maine Culture and Lingo

Maine, fondly known as “Vacationland,” welcomes millions of visitors each year to its beaches, mountains, and lobster shacks. But its year-round residents have a culture, a dialect, and a way of life all their own. Whether you are visiting or just hoping to blend in a little, here is a warm, tongue-in-cheek guide to what sets Maine locals apart — from how they talk to what they eat.

How Mainers Talk

The Maine accent is the first giveaway. Locals famously drop their “r” sounds, so car becomes “cah,” here becomes “heah,” and lobster is, of course, “lobstah.” Then there is the vocabulary. “Ayuh” means yes — and it is properly pronounced “eh-yeah,” almost inhaled, a sound unique to Maine. “Wicked” means very (as in “wicked good”), your “dooryard” is the space just outside your door, and if you were not born here you are, and forever will be, “from away” — even after forty years. This lexicon grew from maritime English, French-Canadian influence in the north, and generations of small-town isolation.

Downeast, The County, and Getting the Names Right

Mainers have their own map of the state. “Downeast” refers to the eastern coast — a term left over from the days of sail, when ships ran downwind and to the east to reach these waters, so “down” east is actually up the coast. “The County” means Aroostook, the vast county at the top of the state. And nothing marks a visitor faster than mispronouncing a place name: it is “BANG-gor,” not “Banger,” and the Down East city of Calais is said “CAL-us,” not the French “ca-LAY.”

The Foods That Define Maine

Ask a Mainer about food and the list comes quickly. Lobster is king, though locals tend to eat it simply, steamed and cracked with butter, no fuss. The Italian sandwich — a roll piled with meat, cheese, and vegetables — was invented by Giovanni Amato on the Portland docks around 1902 and is a true local rite of passage. There is Moxie, the bracingly bitter soda created by a Mainer back in 1884 and now the official state soft drink; the whoopie pie, the official state treat; wild blueberries, the state berry, of which Maine grows the lion’s share of the nation’s crop; and famously bright-red hot dogs. You can read more in our guide to Maine’s state symbols.

Weather, Seasons, and Self-Reliance

Locals will tell you Maine really has more than four seasons: a long winter, “mud season” in spring, black-fly season just after, and then the glorious summer and world-famous fall foliage. Through it all, Mainers dress in layers, keep their Bean boots by the door, and never seem to be in a hurry. That practical, self-reliant streak — along with a tradition of town-meeting democracy, where neighbors gather to run their own towns — runs deep. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t like the weather in Maine, wait a minute.”

A Love of the Outdoors

Above all, Mainers love the outdoors. They hike, fish, hunt, and ski, and many spend summers at “camp” — a distinctly Maine word for a cabin on a lake or in the woods. This deep, respectful bond with the land is central to the local identity, and it is easy to share: see our guide to the best hikes in Maine to get started.

“Vacationland” and Maine Pride

Maine has proudly worn the slogan “Vacationland” on its license plates since 1936, though its official motto is the Latin “Dirigo” — “I lead” — and its nickname is the Pine Tree State. Mainers take fierce pride in their traditions, from summer lobster bakes and county fairs to quirky celebrations like the Moxie Festival. And while they will gently tease the “people from away,” they welcome their visitors warmly — because sharing this beautiful, singular corner of the world is part of the Maine way, too.

That welcome extends inland as well: our own town of Winslow, on the Kennebec River, has greeted travelers since the days when Fort Halifax guarded the frontier in 1754.

Frequently Asked Questions