The Drive35 ways to talk like you live here

Los Angeles talks about itself in shorthand. A freeway is a number with a "the" in front of it, a month is a weather condition, and half the sky has a name.

Four legs, thirty-five terms, one day's drive — morning overcast through whatever happens after dark.

  • Leg 1Where things are10
  • Leg 2The commute12
  • Leg 3Sky and air5
  • Leg 4After dark8

Usage varies block to block — every gloss is a starting point, not a ruling.