Soda is called pop for a few different reasons relating to the history of carbonated soft drinks and regional terminology differences in the United States. Some of the key reasons soda came to be known as pop include:
The popping and fizzing sound
When you open a bottle or can of soda, it makes a distinctive popping and fizzing sound from the carbonation being released. This popping noise seeming to have led to soda being referred to as “pop” in some regions as far back as the 19th century.
The popularity of soda
As soda grew massively in popularity in the late 19th and early 20th century, the beverage became closely associated with the word “pop” which can refer to something popular or trendy. The soda industry expanded rapidly and soda consumption absolutely exploded, making it a true “pop” culture phenomenon.
Regional terminology differences
Different regions of the United States came to refer to soda by different terminology. While some areas adopted “pop” as the term for soda, other regions favored terms like “coke” or “soda pop”. Regional dialect differences meant certain areas like the Midwest favored the term “pop” for any type of soda.
The Pop Art movement
Some suggest the 1950s Pop Art movement which used bright colors and everyday items like soda bottles in art may have helped reinforce “pop” as a term associated with soda. Andy Warhol’s famous pop art works depicting Coca-Cola and other soda bottles could potentially have helped further the use of “pop” to describe the drinks.
Soda’s lively, bursting qualities
The lively, bursting qualities of soda from the fizz and rush of bubbles suit the descriptive word “pop”. When you drink the soda, it seems to pop and burst in your mouth, so “pop” captures the sensory experience. The popping bubbles and fizziness are a large part of soda’s appeal.
Onomatopoeia
“Pop” is an example of onomatopoeia, words that imitate sounds. The word pops vividly captures the sound of opening a fresh bottle or can of soda, so it makes sense as a descriptive term.
First usages in the 1800s
Some of the earliest known usages of “pop” to describe soda date back to the 19th century. An 1812 newspaper reference to “soda pop” shows it was used in American English early on. An 1832 reference calls a soda shop owner a “pop-beer merchant”. In the 1870s, “soda pop” was used in medical journals to describe carbonated drinks.
Differences from beer
Some suggest soda came to be known as “pop” in order to clearly distinguish it from beer. Beer was a common beverage when soda first gained popularity in the 1800s. The noisy popping sound of opening a soda clearly differentiated it from beer.
Double surnames
Another theory contends “pop” arose from old double surnames which contained the word pop. Names like “Popjoy” were once somewhat common, and people with those names supposedly went into business selling soda. However, there is limited evidence for this origin story.
Spread by soda fountains
Early soda fountains helped popularize the term “pop” in reference to soda. Soda jerks working at the fountains frequently used the term “pop” in talking about carbonated beverages. As soda fountains multiplied, so did use of the descriptor “pop”.
Etymology is uncertain
While the exact origin of using “pop” to refer to soft drinks remains murky, what is clear is that it emerged in American English in the early 1800s. By the late 1800s, “soda pop” was clearly established terminology. The widespread popularity of soda fountains and rapid growth of major soft drink brands like Coca-Cola undoubtedly helped cement the use of the term “pop” in the following decades.
When did “pop” become common for soda?
Although the precise etymology is ambiguous, “pop” appears to have become widespread as a term for soda in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There are multiple references to “soda pop” and “pop” in published works of the 1890s. The term really took hold in the early 20th century as soda consumption exploded.
Use was centered in the Midwest
While soda was popular nationwide, use of the term “pop” seems to have been most centered in the Midwest region. Cities like Detroit and Chicago favored the term “pop” in the early 1900s. The first written reference to “pop” as soda came from Illinois in 1812, an early clue to the term’s Midwest roots.
When did “coke” become common for soda?
“Coke” emerged as a synonym for soda, even types other than Coca-Cola, in the American South in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Regional soda terminology evolved as “coke” became popular in the South and “pop” dominated in the Midwest.
Coke or pop by region
| Region | Common term |
|---|---|
| Midwest | Pop |
| Northeast | Soda |
| South | Coke |
| West | Soda |
This table demonstrates how “pop” dominated in the Midwest, “coke” became popular in the South, and “soda” remained common in the Northeast and West over the 20th century.
When did “soda” emerge?
“Soda” came into widespread general use as a term for carbonated soft drinks in the 1930s. “Soda” had previously referred to the key ingredient sodium bicarbonate used to make carbonated beverages. The broader use of “soda” for the drinks themselves gained popularity in the early 20th century.
Generic use of major brand names
Using Coke and Pop generically stems from the popularity of early market leaders Coca-Cola and Pop Cola in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Regional generic use of the brand names Coke and Pop stuck over time.
Is any term technically correct?
There is no single technically correct term for carbonated soft drinks. Both “soda” and “pop” are commonly used and generally understood nationwide. Regional terms like coke are also in widespread use. Dictionaries list both “soda” and “pop” as standard terms.
Which term is most common overall?
Nationwide surveys of the overall popularity of different terms for soda show:
| Term | Percentage using |
|---|---|
| Soda | 53% |
| Pop | 28% |
| Coke | 19% |
So while regional variations persist, “soda” remains the most ubiquitous nationwide term.
What about “soft drink”?
“Soft drink” arose in the late 1800s as a catch-all term for non-alcoholic carbonated beverages. While technically accurate, the term is considered somewhat formal or old-fashioned today. “Soda” or “pop” are far more common in casual conversation.
Does the term matter?
At the end of the day, the specific term used for a carbonated beverage is not hugely important. Regional dialects developed different terms, but people across the country understand typical sodas are being referenced regardless of if they say “pop” or “soda”. The popularity and proliferation of major soda brands like Coca-Cola also meant most people got the gist no matter what term was used.
Why do regional differences persist?
Once regional terminology conventions became entrenched in the first half of the 20th century, they became ingrained in the local culture and continued passing down through generations. Regional identities became tied up with terms like “coke” and “pop” to describe soda.
Conclusion
While the precise origin of using “pop” to describe soda remains uncertain, evidence points to it emerging in the late 1800s and early 1900s, especially in the Midwest. The noisy popping sound when opening soda along with the trendiness of early sodas seem to have led to the descriptor “pop”. But the terminology varied regionally, with “coke” also gaining prominence in the South. While “soda” emerged as the most common national term by the 1930s, regional dialects continue to favor calling any soda “pop” or “coke”.