T-shirts, those ubiquitous cotton knit tops, are a staple of American fashion. But what exactly do Americans call them? While "t-shirt" is the most common nationwide name, regional slang and alternative terms abound.
In this blog post, we'll take a look at the origins of the t-shirt and its early naming conventions. We'll explore how geography, culture, and language have diverged into local lexicon distinctions across the U.S. From wife beaters to guinea tees, dive into the nuances of what different parts of America call one of fashion's most basic building blocks.
A (Very) Brief History of the T-Shirt
Versions of the t-shirt emerged in the 19th century as underwear tops for men, women, and children. These early tees were made from wool or cotton in white or other solid, utilitarian colors.
The name "t-shirt" developed in the early 20th century. The moniker referred to the garment's T-shape, formed by its boxy torso and attached short sleeves. “T-shirt” was cemented as the default American English name by the U.S. military's adoption of crewneck cotton undershirts for soldiers in World War I.
Post WWII, t-shirts transitioned from underwear to outerwear. Fashion historians credit Marlon Brando's seminal 1951 film A Streetcar Named Desire as the turning point. Brando's iconic portrayal of working-class Stanley Kowalski in a tight white tee created a sensation.
By the mid-1950s, rebellion and rock-n-roll cemented the t-shirt’s status as a stand-alone fashion statement. Tees became a canvas for communication, adorned with graphic prints, logos, splashes of color and DIY alterations.
With this overview of the history of the t-shirt, let’s get into those regional names and nicknames!
East Coast Slang
On the East Coast, you'll hear a variety of creative takes on the word “t-shirt.”
In parts of New Jersey and New York, “tee” serves as the shorthand. For example: “That's a great tee - where'd ya get it?”
Bostonians may use “ts”: “Pick me up a new ts when you go to Marshalls.”
Some New Englanders abbreviate it further with just “T”: “You spill something on that white T?”
In urban slang, you'll hear East Coast rappers refer to t-shirts as “tees” or simply “shirts.” For example: “He was wearing a blue shirt.”
Mid-Atlantic Region
In Mid-Atlantic cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore, “T-shirt” or “tee-shirt” dominates.
Interestingly, the pronunciations vary. Philadelphians put the emphasis on the first syllable: “TEE-shirt.” Baltimore locals stress the second: “tee-SHIRT.”
You’ll also hear “T” or “shirt” as shorthand in both cities.
Southern Slang
The South is where things get really interesting!
In Alabama, Georgia, and parts of South Carolina, you'll hear the term "guinea tee." This unusual name likely refers to Italian immigrants who worked as manual laborers. They often wore white sleeveless cotton shirts that became known as “guinea shirts.” The term transferred to early t-shirts.
Coastal North Carolina boasts the most unique regional t-shirt term: the "bagger shirt." This is traced to the practice of wearing oversized t-shirts as bags to carry vegetables, laundry, and more.
Inland North Carolina, South Carolina and Kentucky may reference a "navy shirt.” This nods to the US Navy's role in popularizing t-shirts.
Meanwhile in the Deep South, from Mississippi to Florida, plain white crewneck tees earn the sometimes derogatory name “wife beaters.” This slang term arose in the 1970s, referring to an unfortunate stereotype.
Midwest Language
T-shirt terminology in America's Heartland keeps things straightforward. From Kansas to Ohio, you'll mostly just hear “t-shirt” or “tee.”
Minnesotans may show their Scandinavian-influenced linguistics by pronouncing it as “tee-short.”
In working class areas surrounding the Great Lakes region, the term “sleeveless” is occasionally substituted. For example: “It's supposed to be hot - just wear a sleeveless.”
West Coast Lingo
On the West Coast, “t-shirt” and “tee” remain most prevalent from California up to Washington.
However, you'll encounter “wife beater” in California. This once again ties back to the white tank tops associated with domestic abusers in media depictions.
In surf culture hubs like California's Huntington Beach, sleeveless shirts may be called “sleeveless tees.” Ditto for other hotspots like Hawaii.
In some California valleys and parts of the Southwest, the Spanish “camiseta” is a common term thanks to Latino/a influence.
So in summary, while “t-shirt” and “tee” broadly dominate across America, countless regional variations reflect the diversity of culture, background and language in different parts of the United States. From East to West coast and everywhere between, the terminology for this humble garment is actually quite complex!
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