11 Expressions Only a True Local Colorado Native Will Understand

Colorado may be famous for its mountains, craft beer, and unpredictable weather, but the way locals talk is just as unique. Whether you’re a native, a transplant, or just visiting to get winded walking up a flight of stairs, there are certain phrases you’ll hear that only make sense in the Centennial State. So, if you want to blend in and not sound like someone who just moved from Texas (we see you), here’s what you need to know.

1. “It’s just a little ways up the trail.”

Translation: Prepare to hike for at least an hour. Colorado locals have a skewed sense of distance. A “short hike” is usually anything under five miles and 1,500 feet of elevation gain.

2. “We need the moisture.”

Translation: Yes, it’s snowing in May, but don’t complain. No matter how inconvenient a late-season snowstorm is, Coloradans will always justify it because the mountains need it.

3. “I-70 is a nightmare.”

Translation: You will never make it to the mountains in less than four hours. If you’re heading west on a Friday or east on a Sunday, just bring snacks and expect to question all your life choices.

4. “Are you a native?”

Translation: Were you born here, or did you move in after 2010? Native Coloradans have a certain pride in their home state, and if you answer “no,” they’ll likely blame you for the rising cost of housing.

5. “Let’s go grab a beer.”

Translation: There are approximately 47 breweries within a 10-mile radius. If you don’t have a strong opinion on IPAs or sours, you’ll develop one quickly.

6. “Rockies tickets are cheap.”

Translation: Coors Field is a great place to drink beer and occasionally glance at a baseball game. Whether the Rockies win or lose (spoiler: usually lose), locals are there for the atmosphere and the mountain views.

7. “It’s a bluebird day!”

Translation: The weather is perfect for skiing, hiking, or doing anything outside. This means the sky is clear, the sun is out, and if it’s winter, every skier within 100 miles just called in sick to work.

8. “Denver’s getting too big.”

Translation: Traffic on I-25 is unbearable, and I now live in the suburbs. Even if they moved here five years ago, Coloradans love to complain about how much Denver has changed.

9. “Fourteeners.”

Translation: Climbing a 14,000-foot peak is a casual weekend activity. Colorado has 58 of them, and if you haven’t done at least one, are you even trying?

10. “We don’t use chains.”

Translation: We drive Subarus and laugh in the face of blizzards. If you see an out-of-state car stuck on the road during a snowstorm, it’s probably someone from Texas or California who thought their two-wheel drive rental car could handle it.

11. “Do you have an Ikon or an Epic pass?”

Translation: Your entire winter personality depends on your ski pass. If you pick Epic (Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone), expect to be called bougie. If you pick Ikon (Winter Park, Copper, Eldora), congratulations—you’re officially “core.”

If you understood these phrases, you might just be a true Coloradoan. And if you didn’t, don’t worry—just grab a craft beer, buy a Patagonia jacket, and pretend like you’ve been skiing since birth. You’ll fit right in.

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