soda pop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MidInformal
Quick answer
What does “soda pop” mean?
A sweet, carbonated soft drink.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sweet, carbonated soft drink.
A colloquial or regional term for carbonated beverages, often flavored and sweetened.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American. In the UK, 'fizzy drink', 'soft drink', or a specific brand name is used. 'Pop' is regionally common in parts of the US and Canada.
Connotations
In the US, it can sound old-fashioned, regional, or quaint. In the UK, it is recognized as an Americanism.
Frequency
High frequency in certain US regions (Midwest, West); negligible frequency in the UK except when referencing American culture.
Grammar
How to Use “soda pop” in a Sentence
[subject] drinks/pours/opens [object] soda pop.We need to get some soda pop.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “soda pop” in a Sentence
adjective
American English
- The soda-pop machine was out of order.
- He had a classic soda-pop advertisement on his wall.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Could appear in marketing or distribution contexts targeting specific US regions.
Academic
Rare; might appear in sociolinguistic studies on regional dialects.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation in its regions of use.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “soda pop”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “soda pop”
- Using 'soda pop' in formal writing or in the UK where it is not understood as a common term. Confusing it with 'soda water' which is plain carbonated water.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Soda pop' is a sweet, flavored, carbonated soft drink. 'Soda water' is plain carbonated water, often used as a mixer.
It is most common in the Midwest, the Plains states, and parts of the West. Other regions may use just 'soda' or just 'pop'.
It will likely be understood as an American term for a fizzy drink, but it is not the natural term used in everyday British English.
It refers to the sound (pop) made when the carbonation is released upon opening the bottle or can.
A sweet, carbonated soft drink.
Soda pop is usually informal in register.
Soda pop: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsəʊ.də ˈpɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsoʊ.də ˈpɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the POP sound when you open a can of fizzy soda.
Conceptual Metaphor
A METONYM FOR YOUTHFUL INDULGENCE: Soda pop is often associated with childhood treats and simple pleasures.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common synonym for 'soda pop' in the UK?