Why is "Frisco" considered an insult or bad when referring to San Francisco?

Question

I'm from the Bay Area and I know that "Frisco" is supposedly an insult when referring to SF, but WHY?? No one has ever explained it but just says "don't call it Frisco". What is the reason people don't like the term "Frisco"? What is the big deal? San Francisco is a long name and Frisco just makes it easier to say. So could someone please explain to me how this became an insult?


Also what do people have against the term Cali? I don't really use it but I've seen some people on Y! Answers say it's insulting and people here don't use it, even though I've seen some native Californian's use it too.

Yes, I already know you are not suppose to call it Frisco or Cali, BUT WHY??? What is the reason behind it?

I've heard people call Massachusetts "Mass" or Philadelphia "Philly" and Arizona "Zona", so what's the difference between that and "Cali"?

I am from the Bay area and I already know they call SF "The City" and what not, that's not my question. I just want to know how these terms became derogatory?

Answer 1

Although it has pretty much become a meaningless tradition, there's a historical reason for an aversion to the terms.

In the 19th century, the use of "Frisco" was very common among cowboys and settlers in the West. These folks tended to move to California because they were struggling back East (often escaping from debts, responsibilities, and jails). And the East Coast establishment regarded them as vile, low-class, and boorish. Eventually, "Frisco" became a term used to mock San Francisco's boomtown roots.

By the end of the 19th century and early 20th century though, San Francisco had become large, wealthy, and cultured. So, the local aristocracy -- Hearst, DeYoung, Spreckels, Stanford, and others -- decided to adopt a more snobbish attitude (in an attempt to gain legitimacy with the old-money types). They made a rule that using "Frisco" was bad. They forbade their workers from saying it. They had their newspapers write editorials condemning the term as incorrect and crude. They even had the Board of Supervisors pass a resolution against it.

Apparently, the plan worked because it soon became taboo.

As for the term "Cali", there are a couple possible explanations. Some claim the term was derived from immigrant communities in Southern California. Since California was hard to pronounce (still is for some, look at the Governor)... many Asian immigrants simply shortened it to an easier form.

The La Raza movement claims it comes from the Mexican slang word "Califas" (which is derived from the Spanish for an Islamic Governor during the Muslim conquest of Iberia, and insinuates that California is an occupied territory). Obviously, there are political overtones to this explanation that makes it more controversial than the alternative above.

But as with "Frisco", most people are unaware of the reasons behind their dislike for the "Cali" term. It has simply become a practice without meaning.

Answer 2

It is considered slang, and sounds discordant. San Franciscans don't call it that and would prefer not to hear it is all.

My favorite reason not to call it Frisco is because Joshua Norton; the First Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico decreed that to utter that syllable was an offense subject to a fine of $25! In 1872! [Equal to more than $1000 today]

He had some other great ideas too
Called for Religious Unity between Jews and Christians
Abolish Congress
Fire almost every politician in office; Mayor, Gov, and 2 Presidents!
Build a bridge from SF to the East Bay by way of Yerba Buena Island

One of the characters that helped shape San Francisco.
http://www.notfrisco.com/nortoniana/

Answer 3

I honestly don't know why "Frisco" is derogatory. My guess was always because there's a city in Texas called "Frisco", and San Franciscans tend to not like Texas (myself included). I also always had my suspicions that it was for religious reasons... "San Francisco" means "Saint Francis (of Assisi)", and to Catholics (who SF traditionally has a lot of) calling a saint by a crass nickname is like calling God "G" or Jesus "J-Dawg" (my grandmother, who was very Catholic, always despised "Frisco", which is why I came up with that theory).

Other than that...??? Probably something long ago that just stuck. No one seems to know. It's kinda stupid... it's just a word.

That said, I'll sometimes write "San Fran" instead of "San Francisco", and I'll sometimes call the city "Saint Francis". So I really don't care. Though I think calling it "the city" is retarded.

As for "Cali"... that just sounds stupid. The only people who ever call California "Cali" are Southern Californians, which would explain why San Franciscans hate it.

Answer 4

They both reek of laziness, and sound annoying. Plus there's already a cali in colombia.

This isn't a recent phenomenan (I mean hating Frisco, Cali is newer , Emperor Norton made the following a edict over 100 years ago:

Whoever after due and proper warning shall be heard to utter the abominable word "Frisco", which has no linguistic or other warrant, shall be deemed guilty of a High Misdemeanor, and shall pay into the Imperial Treasury as penalty the sum of twenty-five dollars.

Ooops, AJ already posted the emperor's edict, glad to see I'm not the only fan of his around. :)

Answer 5

Because both Frisco and Cali just sound completely retarded. For my entire life growing up SF is affectionately known as The City. You say the City to anybody in the bay area and they know you are talking about San Francisco. When I hear it referenced as Frisco, San Fran, what have you, I instantly think tourist and/or non-bay area person.

And as far as the Cali thing, do year people in Washington state calling it Wash? Or How about South Dakota being South D? I would rather it be abbreviated like the postal code CA. Just more appropriate. I also find that more Southern Cal people call it cali then northern cal people. I never use the term Cali, because it just sounds dumb. and it is one letter off from calling it Cal, which is a college in Berkeley.

Answer 6

I've never heard people call "frisco" refering to SF before. I live in Southern CA, but wasn't born here. And honestly i don't know nothing about the bay area but like to give my opinion. It doesn't make sence to me that Frisco sounds stupid, yet I know all we have to respect the history of every city or country etc...but what about people who don't know this word is weird to everyone there, they going to call it whatever they want. When i want to refers to san francisco.. i just simply call it:
-SF
-SFO ( i know this is the airport code but like the sounds of the letters together ok!)
-San Fran I feel easier to say like that instead of the long name
-San Chico! This is very very own of my country cuz' we use the word "Chico" to make shorter "Francisco"
-I also call it "The Bridges city" i dont care if there another city with this nickname but i love to use it with SF
I dont like to say "the city" because firstly i'm not live in the bay area ( for the moment!) and second, saying the word "city" you could refer to thousand and thousand of other places not especially SF.
Talking about Cali; i dont see nothing wrong with that word, maybe some people dont like it because of how it sounds. In addition, i have heard here in souther CA people who say cali are most mexicans...maybe the "thing" comes for cultural reasons, some people know what i talking about and im not gonna say more about because dont like complains lol

Well this is just my opinion and let me tell you that is doesn't matter how you call it....just be happy if the people you are talking with know that your refering to SF

Answer 7

I'm from So Cali, so maybe my opinion doesn't count.....
Obviously if some one wasn't looking at the city, they wouldn't know what city you were talking about, so it's obviously only you No Callies who call it that, because you know what city you're referring to, however, there are other cities and people who live in the surrounding neighborhoods will commonly refer to their nearest metropolitan area as "the city".
We call it Frisco sometimes, obviously we're not as sensitive as the Friscans though.
I think the girl who said it sounded touristy is probably right.
So anyone who tells you not to call it that, needs to directed to a $100 dollar cab ride, and get over themselves.


hey, I just thought of it...it's from that Journey song, My City by the Bay.

Answer 8

frisco considered insult bad referring san francisco

Answer 9

I have lived in San Fran all my life and never have i heard that Frisco is bad to say. Heck I said it when i was younger. Maybe its something that its not used anymore because now I hear people say the city. here is an old article hopefully this helps

Answer 10

You don't call it Frisco or Sanfran. It's The City (or actually thecity). Why? Don't know... but my ex-girlfriend who's from San Francisco coached me on that before I flew there to meet her parents.