What Are Seattle People Called?

/ Maria's Green Cleaning/

Seattle is best known for rain, coffee, and technology. Yet, have you ever really looked into how people from Seattle refer to one another? If not, you can find yourself questioning if there is, indeed, an accepted term to describe people from Seattle. Let's examine this amusing question and put this debate to rest for good.

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When Referring To Someone Who Resides In Seattle, The Term "Seattleite" Is The One That Is Most Commonly Used And Accepted

If you ask one of Seattle's residents to describe them, they most typically answer using the term "Seattleite." It is accepted and used in news stories, publications, and general conversation. It follows in the trail of place names such as "New Yorker" for people living in New York or "Chicagoan" for people living in Chicago. The term "Seattleite" is sophisticated, suave, and appropriate enough for a place as unique as Seattle.

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The Origin Of The Word Seattleite And Why People Started Using It To Describe Themselves

The reason for the term “Seattleite” is most likely simply because people needed to refer to people from Seattle in a straightforward and natural way. It is normal for many place names to end in a form where adding “-ite” or “-ian” is natural. Seattle, lacking an “a” or “o” at its end, simply can’t sound right if called “Seattlean” or “Seattler.” People, therefore, began using “Seattleite” over time. It is easily pronounced and recognizable and is, for this reason, the best choice.

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Some Other Names People Who Reside In Seattle Would Call Themselves Instead Of Seattleites

While "Seattleite" is the formal and most commonly used term, residents like to call themselves in different ways. Below are some of the alternative names that individuals can call themselves:

  • Seattle Native: It is usually used by people born and raised in the city.

  • Pacific Northwesterner: Since Seattle is in the Pacific Northwest, people often prefer to use a broad term.

  • Emerald City Resident: Seattle is known to be called "The Emerald City" due to its greenery, and therefore, people find this to be a great tongue-in-cheek term to call themselves.

  • Seattlite: An unfamiliar and less frequently observed spelling of “Seattleite,” but not one that is regularly utilized.

Despite existing names, individuals tend to stick to using “Seattleite” since it is the most familiar and easiest.

 
 

What Other People In Other States And Cities Frequently Call Residents Of Seattle In Casual Contexts

Even if Seattleites call themselves that, what about people from outside the city? Well, sometimes, outsiders have their own names! These are just a few of them:

  • Seattle Residents: One of the most direct and colloquial ways to refer to them.

  • Coffee Lovers: As Seattle is where Starbucks and numerous stand-alone coffee bars can be found, outsiders may affectionately call Seattle residents "coffee lovers."

  • Rain Fans: People in sunny states can think that people in Seattle enjoy rain because rain is in their weather year-round.

Most of them are just affectionate nicknames, but they reflect how people see residents of Seattle in light of the image and culture of the city.

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Now That You Know How To Correctly Call People From Seattle, You Can Use It With Confidence

So, there you have it. The accepted term for people from Seattle is “Seattleite.” It is how locals refer to them, and it is one that is accepted everywhere. Sure, there may be some cute variations, but “Seattleite” is the champion. The next time you go to Seattle or encounter someone from there, you can call them proudly a Seattleite and impress them with this bit of trivia. Who knew something as mundane as the name of a city could hold so much fascinating history?