With an Ohio/Iowa/Michigan background, I absolutely relate to most of this. I can’t say I’ve ever used bubbler, though, which may be even more regional specific than the general Midwest.

I have to admit that I went for a good bit of my early life presuming that carmel is spelled carmel. Once, hilariously, I asked a new New York City friend if carAmel was similar to carmel. He gave me the oddest look! 🤣

Here’s a word for you from Ohio and Michigan (but not Iowa) that doesn’t mean the same thing here that it does elsewhere.

Goulash.

When we say it, we are not referring to that delectable Hungarian dish flavored with pungent paprika and served with sour cream. We mean anything made with lots of ingredients, some kind of meat, and noodles.

It’s a beloved home cooked meal, and can often be found in institutional cooking like in schools.

Real Hungarian goulash probably doesn’t even qualify under our definition of the dish.