Californians Can't Stand It When Visitors Break This Unspoken Rule In San Francisco

If you're going to San Francisco ... what are you going to call it? The City by the Bay has many nicknames, from the rather old-fashioned Paris of the West to The Golden City, which harks back to the place's days as a Gold Rush town. (And, let's be honest, suits this gorgeous, sun-kissed city well.) If you're planning a trip, this guide to the most budget-friendly time to visit might help. But before you pack your bags, there's one small — yet surprisingly important — detail to keep in mind: what you call the city. There are two nicknames that visitors should absolutely avoid when in San Francisco: San Fran and Frisco are no-gos, according to locals. 

Overhearing an enthusiastic tourist standing on the Golden Gate Bridge shouting, "I'm loving San Fran!" into a phone is like nails on a chalkboard to locals. It might even prompt some snickers from San Franciscans — calling their city San Fran is a dead giveaway that you're not from there and sounds painfully like you're trying (and failing) to be cool. Clipped names for the state of California also tend to grate on people's nerves. Most Californians don't call their state Cali or refer to Southern California as SoCal.

So what about Frisco? The reasons to avoid this nickname aren't quite as clear-cut. Some locals say that people just don't use that name. Back in the mid-20th century, then–San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen famously declared war on the nickname, even publishing a book titled "Don't call it Frisco." It's seen as a lazy shortening of the beautiful full name of San Francisco. On top of that, there is a town called Frisco in Texas (though confusing the two is fairly unlikely in our opinion).

However, other locals insist that calling the city Frisco is fine, and say the name has been unfairly maligned. If you dig into San Francisco's amazing history, you'll find that Frisco was associated with the working class and with Black and Latino populations. Over time, other groups in the city decided Frisco wasn't the "right" nickname, and it fell out of favor.

So, what do locals call their city now? Most say that SF is fine, and it's in a similar vein to DC and LA. One of the more popular nicknames is The City, which marks you out as a local. After all, you have to be in close proximity to San Francisco for people to know which "City" you're talking about. Of course, it's your prerogative what you call San Francisco. If San Fran or Frisco roll off the tongue or make you happy, we say go for it!