Pop, soda, or coke? A look at the history behind the soft drink’s many names

The debate over what to call a generic soft drink, whether it's "soda," "pop," or "coke," has been a long-standing one in American culture. The term used often depends on the region, with Midwesterners saying "pop," Northerners and Westerners saying "soda," and Southerners saying "coke." The history of soft drinks dates back to the early 1800s, when carbonated water was first discovered and became popular as a health drink. Pharmacists sold this "soda water" at soda fountains, which eventually led to the creation of unique flavored concoctions. These flavored drinks gave rise to the linking of "soda" with a sweetened carbonated beverage. The term "seltzer" was originally used for naturally carbonated mineral water from Germany, but eventually became a generic term for fizzy water. Regional naming patterns emerged due to a mix of economic enterprise and linguistic ingenuity. The popularity of "soda" in the Northeast likely reflects the soda fountain's longer history in the region, while the Midwestern preference for "pop" may be linked to a Michigan bottling company or the prevalence of bottles in the region. The use of "coke" generically originated in the South, where Coca-Cola was first served in 1886. The term "soft drink" was originally used to distinguish nonalcoholic drinks from "hard drinks," but eventually came to mean only sweetened carbonated beverages.