"the I-5"

[benDASHDASH]

How would you say this:

I drove down I-5 today.

or

I drove down the I-5 today.

Supposedly everyone from CA says "the" (I do too, and im from CA). And everyone up north leaves "the" out. I was having this discussion the other day, and browntown's OT thread reminded me of it. Saying "the I-5" sounds right to me, what do you think?

[PeaveyBassist]

I would say, "I-5" and leave "the" out. I'm from the middle of Indiana though lol My bro moved to Oakland, CA and I think he says "The" about freeways over there. I think...

Will

[benDASHDASH]

Holy quick reply batman

[Schniddy]

As far as I know in Pittsburgh we leave out the "the"

Also Pittsburgh is home to the ONLY word in any language that can not be written out as we pronounce it... pumpkin

[Ray Smoodiver]

Definitely "the"

[golde30]

i never heard any1 from around here say "the" before reffering to a freeway...

[Jon325i]

Around here people just refer to it as "the 5." I know, so Calif.

Jon

[benDASHDASH]

Around here people just refer to it as "the 5." I know, so Calif.

Jon

Heck yes, thats the best way IMO.

[browntown]

Everyone in Oregon and Washington seems to say I-5. Californians, especially southern seem to just say "the 5" not even the I-5. Just my experience.

[shiftbmw]

In norcal I am used to saying and hearing 24 or 680...socal its the 5, the 52...

[uofom3]

yeah i either call it "the 5" or "i5" no the infront of i5 though... sounds somewhat redundant... why call it the i5... is it the i5 as opposed to the other i5? doesn't make any sense

[e30Matt]

Here in NC we usually just say the number... i.e. "40 West" or "421". Never really use the "I" unless referring to somewhere where there is say, an interstate and business of the same name. In Winston, if you need to be specific, there's I-40 and Business 40.

[primo123]

I live in missouri for the time being for school. Locals here dont use "the". But when im in SoCal, we just say "jump on the 91, to the 215..etc.etc" Missourians love the word "yall" too.

[Sean]

Where's Rob, dammit?!????

[Rob]

so wait, california people, in the usual struggle to be cool, say "I'm going down the interstate 5 to get the there" ?

that place needs to fall off already. Once jon escapes though.