Transport
The border
thuh BOR-der
San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, the two land crossings to Tijuana. 'How's the border?' means wait times, and everyone checks an app before going.
SENTRI
SEN-tree
The trusted-traveller programme for the land border — vetted applicants use dedicated lanes and cut a three-hour wait to twenty minutes. Life-changing if you cross regularly.
The 5 / the 805
thuh fyve
Californians say 'the' before motorway numbers. The 5 runs from the border to Los Angeles and is the spine of the county.
The Trolley
thuh TRAWL-ee
San Diego's light rail. The Blue Line runs from the border at San Ysidro to UC San Diego — one of the few US transit lines that ends at an international frontier.
Culture
America's Finest City
—
The local nickname, used earnestly by residents and mocked gently by everyone else in California.
Zonkey
ZON-kee
The painted donkey on Tijuana's Avenida Revolución, photographed by generations of visitors. A shared regional joke more than a tourist attraction.
Food
Carne asada fries
KAR-nay ah-SAH-dah fryze
Chips under carne asada, guacamole, cheese and crema — invented in San Diego, and the city's genuine contribution to world cuisine.
Fish taco
—
Battered fish, cabbage and crema in a corn tortilla, brought north from Baja. The Baja-influenced food here is the real reason to be excited about eating in San Diego.
Daily life
May Gray / June Gloom
may gray / joon gloom
The marine layer that greys out late spring mornings on the coast. It burns off by afternoon and catches out everyone who moved here for the sunshine.
North County
north KOWN-tee
Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside and inland — a distinct half of the county, more surf and biotech, less city.
Emergency
Santa Anas
SAN-tuh AN-uhz
Hot dry offshore winds, mostly in autumn. They bring the county's hottest days and its fire risk.
911 / 619-236-2020
nine-one-one
911 for emergencies. San Diego uses a city services line rather than a 311 number for non-emergencies.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.