1

"How you doin’?" – Friends

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Friends gave us a lovable group of New Yorkers navigating life and love. But it was Joey Tribbiani’s cheesy yet charming "How you doin’?" that stole the spotlight. This flirty greeting, delivered with a confident grin, became a pop culture gem and Joey’s signature move. It’s the kind of line that can’t help but make you smile—even if you’re not on a date at Central Perk.

2

"You got it, dude", "How rude!", and "Have mercy" – Full House

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Full House warmed hearts with its family-centered humor and wholesome charm. Michelle Tanner, the tiny powerhouse, gave us "You got it, dude," and "How rude!"—adorable comebacks with surprising sass. Meanwhile, Uncle Jesse’s "Have mercy" was his smooth, rock ’n’ roll way of reacting to… well, just about anything worth swooning over.

3

"Well, isn’t that special?" – Saturday Night Live

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With sketches that parodied everyone and everything, SNL gave us the ultra-judgy Church Lady. Dana Carvey’s purse-lipped creation mastered the art of sarcasm. You didn’t need to be holy to recognize that smug tone.

4

Fonzie’s "Aaaay" – Happy Days

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Arthur Fonzarelli, aka Fonzie from Happy Days , made leather jackets cool and jukeboxes come to life with a single punch. His signature "Aaaay," complete with thumbs-up, said it all—cool, confident, and just a little bit rebellious.

Whether he was fixing a motorbike or schooling Richie on life, Fonzie’s catchphrase became a national symbol of laid-back swagger.

5

"Did I do that?" – Family Matters

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Steve Urkel from Family Matters was the lovable nerd who left a trail of chaos behind him. Whenever a plan backfired—and we all know they usually did—he’d pop out with his nasal "Did I do that?" It was part apology, part mischief, and it made Urkel a household name. That clumsy charm was irresistible, even when he turned the Winslows’ house upside down.

6

"Yada, yada, yada" and "Newman" – Seinfeld

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Seinfeld , the "show about nothing," gave us plenty of quirky phrases. "Yada, yada, yada" became shorthand for skipping the boring parts—or hiding juicy gossip. And then there was Jerry’s exasperated, drawn-out "Newman" whenever his nemesis neighbor appeared. Both lines are still used today. Sometimes, saying very little says it all.

7

"Dy-no-mite!" – Good Times

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J.J. Evans from Good Times had a big personality and an even bigger catchphrase: "Dy-no-mite!" He’d shout it with such enthusiasm that you couldn’t help but laugh. It captured his upbeat attitude in a show that balanced humor with tough realities. That one word became a rallying cry of fun and energy in every episode.

8

"And that’s the way it is" – CBS Evening News

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Walter Cronkite signed off each evening with calm, steady authority: "And that’s the way it is." It wasn’t flashy, but it became iconic because it felt real and trustworthy. In a time when Americans gathered around the TV for the news, that line gave a sense of closure and comfort after a long day.

9

"Come on down!" – The Price Is Right

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The Price Is Right turned everyday folks into instant game show stars with four exciting words: "Come on down!" Bob Barker’s booming voice (and later Drew Carey’s) invited contestants to race down the aisle and guess the price of, well, just about everything. That line still gets hearts racing for bargain hunters and lucky guessers alike.

10

"Yabba Dabba Doo!" – The Flintstones

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Fred Flintstone’s caveman cheer, "Yabba Dabba Doo!" from The Flintstones was pure cartoon joy. Whether he was sliding down a dinosaur’s tail after work or just in a good mood, that prehistoric phrase made everyone’s inner child want to shout it too. It was goofy, energetic, and unforgettable.

11

"Norm!" – Cheers

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Whenever Norm walked into Cheers , the whole bar would greet him with a booming "Norm!" It wasn’t just a greeting; it was a welcome from friends who felt like family. That running gag captured the cozy, familiar vibe of the show, where everybody really did know your name.

12

"Nip it in the bud" – The Andy Griffith Show

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Barney Fife, the overly enthusiastic deputy from The Andy Griffith Show , had his own way of handling trouble: "Nip it in the bud!" He meant to squash the problem early, though his methods were often hilariously over the top. The line became a comical mantra for over-preparing and overreacting—Barney style.

13

"Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" and "Oh, my nose!" – The Brady Bunch

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The Brady Bunch gave us sibling drama in its purest form. Jan’s jealous cry of "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" captured classic middle-child woes, while Marcia’s anguished "Oh, my nose!"—after getting hit with a football—was a dramatic moment that still gets laughs. Both quotes are etched into the memories of anyone who grew up watching the blended Brady family.

1

Abigail Adams

Image: Christian Schussele, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Women in the 1770s were not supposed to be concerned about politics. But Abigail Adams, wife of the second president of the United States, talked and wrote about politics with extraordinary insight. She was one of the earliest supporters of independence, and her ideas influenced the Founding Fathers.

Often ill as a child, Abigail educated herself in her father’s library. Her studies prepared her for a life of public service in which she fought for freedom from England and women’s rights, and stood firmly against slavery. She even wrote the famous "Remember the ladies" letter 150 years before women were allowed to vote. Abigail’s influence over John Adams was so great that some rival politicians nicknamed her "Mrs. President."

2

Mary Katherine Goddard

Image: Thomas Jefferson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Mary Katherine Goddard was the director of the Baltimore Post Office and one of the world's first female publishers. Her greatest contribution to the Revolution, however, was the printing of the first copy of the Declaration of Independence that included the names of all signatories.

During the war, she ran the Providence Gazette and Maryland Journal , two newspapers that actively supported the American patriots' efforts. Despite the challenges she faced as a woman trying to make her way in a male-dominated society, Mary Katherine Goddard left an invaluable legacy as a pioneering woman in journalism and federal government work.

3

​​Martha Washington

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During her lifetime, she was known as Lady Washington, but Martha Dandridge Custis Washington will always be remembered as the first in a long line of first ladies of the United States. Martha married George Washington in 1759 and would be by his side in private and public life, even joining him on the battlefield.

While Washington was in office, Martha was in charge of the Presidential galas held to entertain members of the administration and foreign dignitaries. Although at that time she had no official duties or title, her warm temperament and classy poise laid the foundations for a key role that continues to this day.

4

Esther de Berdt Reed

Image: National Portrait Gallery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Even though Esther was born and raised in England, she sided with her husband, an aide to General Washington, in the American fight for independence. Five years into the war, Esther felt it was time for women to support the Continental troops in a more active way.

Esther's group, the Philadelphia Association, went door to door to ask for contributions. They ended up raising a large sum of money, which they used to supply soldiers in desperate need of provisions. Eventually, they stitched over 2,000 shirts by hand. Esther's vision and the group's dedicated efforts helped remind the men fighting the American Revolutionary War how much they were appreciated.

5

Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton

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Elizabeth Hamilton, sometimes called "Eliza" or "Betsey," was the daughter of one of New York State's wealthiest and most politically influential families. In 1780, Eliza married Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. During their more than 20 years of marriage, she helped Hamilton write his letters and newspaper contributions and accompanied him on numerous historic events.

Strong-willed but caring, Eliza would devote her long widowhood to charity, helping to found New York's first private orphanage. In addition, she worked tirelessly to spread her husband's legacy and ensure that Hamilton had the place he deserved in American history.

6

Patience Lovell Wright

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Did you know that during the American Revolutionary War, the Patriots had an American spy in the heart of King George's court? More interestingly, it was a woman! Famous for molding incredible wax sculptures, Patience Lovell Wright had to move to England after her New York studio caught fire.

Her friend, Benjamin Franklin, introduced her to London society. Soon enough, word of her talent reached King George III, who invited her to Buckingham Palace. But she remained loyal to her "dear America," as she called it, and when trouble started back home, Patience decided she could help America's fight for independence by providing decisive information her prominent clients revealed while posing for her.

7

Mercy Otis Warren

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At a time when women were expected not to air their views on political issues, Mercy Otis Warren was a poet, playwright, and activist.

During the American Revolution, Warren not only maintained a close relationship with leading political figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, but she also became a historian and outspoken commentator, as well as the leading female intellectual of the early republic.

8

Penelope Barker

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In the 18th century, women had no public outlet to express their convictions or to take a stand. Rebellion was considered men's business. Yet, the courageous Penelope Barker proved to everyone that women could contribute a great deal to the efforts for independence.

In 1774, in Edenton, North Carolina, a group of fifty-one women signed a declaration by Penelope, stating they would not drink tea or wear clothes made in England. The British press called it the "Edenton Tea Party" and ridiculed them. But soon enough, women all over the colonies were boycotting British products. Thanks to Penelope Barker's declaration, every woman in America discovered a smart and original way to rebel against the colonists.

9

Mary Norris Dickinson

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The daughter of wealthy Pennsylvania Quakers, Mary Norris Dickinson was well-educated and owned one of the largest libraries in the colonies. She believed in a life without violence and in equal rights for men and women, ideas that she did not shy away from voicing in public to the dismay of some more conservative individuals.

For her fundamental role in political thought, influence on other women, and involvement in events related to the Constitutional Convention, the wife of Founding Father John Dickinson definitely deserves her place in history.

10

Phillis Wheatley

Image: Phillis Wheatley, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Brought to America as a slave, Phillis Wheatley became the first African-American author. Her poems celebrated learning and virtue and described a yearning for freedom. She also wrote a number of patriotic verses on subjects like the peace treaty of 1783 that ended the American Revolutionary War.

Her most famous piece was a poem to George Washington, in which she refers to him as "first in peace." The poem was published several times during the war to promote the Patriot cause, and Washington liked it so much that he asked to meet her. A true patriot and later a symbol for the abolition of slavery, Phillis Wheatley will always be known as a key contributor to freedom.

1

California - "Eureka"

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According to legend, after the Ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes discovered his groundbreaking principle, he happily proclaimed, " Eureka! " This expression, which means "I have found it," is almost as famous as Archimedes’ work, so it stands to reason that the State of California chose Eureka as its state motto.

The Golden State’s slogan references the California Gold Rush. It is believed that a miner who finally struck gold was as excited about his discovery as Good Old Archimedes was. While the California State Seal has included the word Eureka since its design in 1850, it was only adopted as the state’s official motto over a hundred years later, in 1963.

2

Kansas - "To the stars through difficulties"

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In 1861, the State of Kansas adopted its official state seal which depicted a beautiful prairie at dawn, filled with hardworking Kansans under 34 stars and the Latin motto Ad Astra Per Aspera. Anyone who reads the English translation of this motto will immediately realize how perfectly it describes the industrious and resilient people of Kansas: Ad Astra Per Aspera means "To the stars through difficulties."

Our 34th state chose this phrase alongside its state seal in 1861, only a few months after the first Governor of Kansas delivered the inaugural "State of the State" address. Nowadays, this motto stands as a reminder of both the bravery and diligence of the state’s first settlers, as well as the hardships that Kansas had to go through in order to gain statehood.

3

Indiana - "Crossroads of America"

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The phrase "Crossroads of America" has long been associated with the state of Indiana , particularly after a specific intersection in Terre Haute, where U.S. Highways 40 and 41 met. Over time, Indiana itself proudly embraced the title of "the Crossroads of America," eventually adopting it as the state motto in 1937.

Interestingly, while "Crossroads of America" is the state’s official motto, some Hoosier cities have adopted this phrase —or variants of it— as their respective city slogans. For instance, Indianapolis adopted the motto in 1988, to reference how the city serves as a junction of 4 different Interstate Highways.

4

West Virginia - "Mountaineers are always free"

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Have you ever reached the summit of a particularly steep mountain after hours of arduous trekking? If you had to describe that amazing feeling in one word, what would it be? We’ll leave you to ponder that while we tell you the first word that came into our minds: freedom.

Apparently, we share this feeling with the good people of West Virginia , since its motto reflects the freedom that its magnificent mountains and hills inspire. West Virginia’s motto is the Latin phrase Montani Semper Liberi, which means "mountaineers are always free." Furthermore, since one of West Virginia’s demonyms is "mountaineers," this phrase also speaks to the core of West Virginians’ identity.

5

New York - "Excelsior"

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Any Marvel fan will associate this phrase with comic-book legend Stan Lee, after all, he made this word his catchphrase throughout his many media appearances. However, you might be surprised to learn that "Excelsior" is also New York’s official state motto, and it perfectly describes New Yorkers’ industrious and resilient nature.

"Excelsior" is a Latin word that’s commonly translated as "Ever Upward," but it can also mean "higher" or "superior." It is featured in New York’s coat of arms, which features the representations of Liberty and Justice standing above the state’s motto.

6

Montana - "Gold and Silver"

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Just like West Virginia, Montana pays tribute to its breathtaking mountains and landscapes with its motto. However, it focuses on another key aspect of its geography, more akin to its nickname: Montana’s motto Oro y Plata literally translates to "Gold and Silver," which is a direct reference to The Treasure State’s proud mining history.

Montana first included the phrase Oro y Plata on its State Seal many years before it was adopted as the state’s official motto. Shortly after Montana was declared an official U.S. territory in 1864, the newly formed state honored the gold rush that had led to its territorial status by including its two most precious metals into its State Seal. Finally, the state motto was officialized in 1865.

7

Tennessee - "Agriculture and Commerce"

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It’s no secret that state mottos sometimes reference their state’s most prominent industry: As we mentioned before, Montana and California pay tribute to the mining that helped build their economies. In that regard, Tennessee is no exception; its state motto is incredibly straightforward, directly praising the industries that helped the Big Bend State grow.

Tennessee chose "Agriculture and Commerce" in 1987. In turn, this motto was directly taken from the State Seal, which was adopted in 1801. The seal shows both sides of this state’s industry, with "Agriculture" referenced by a bundle of wheat and a cotton plant, while "Commerce" is depicted by a riverboat, presumably trading goods.

8

Texas - "Friendship"

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Texas’s state motto may only feature one word, but it singlehandedly describes an essential part of Texan history. Before we can delve into that, though, we have to take a quick look into the etymology of the name of this great state. The word Texas is believed to come from the Caddo word táy:shaʼ , which means "friend." Spanish settlers adopted this word for the area, spelling it as Texas or Tejas.

In that sense, Texas pays homage to its history with the single-word motto "Friendship." Not only that, while Texas is mostly known by the nickname "The Lone Star State," its official slogan is "The Friendly State."

9

Vermont - "May the fourteenth star shine bright" & "Freedom and Unity"

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Vermont is the only state on this list to feature two official mottos: "Freedom and Unity" and the Latin phrase " Stella quarta decima fulgeat, " which translates to "May the 14th Star Shine Bright." Interestingly, this last phrase is also the newest slogan to be made official, since it was elected as Vermont’s state motto in 2015.

In any case, both mottos represent Vermont’s individuality, strength, and, perhaps more importantly, its solidarity: "Freedom and Unity" describes Vermont’s mission to create a free and neighborly community, while "May the 14th Star Shine Bright" depicts the search of the common good throughout the entire state.

10

Rhode Island - "Hope"

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We’ll end this article with probably the most beautifully simple American state motto. The State of Rhode Island has the single-word motto "Hope," which is also featured in its State seal. In tune with their long maritime history, the seal depicts a golden anchor emblazoned in a dark blue field.

The inspiration behind both Rhode Island’s state motto and seal is probably a biblical quote found in the New Testament, which reads "Hope we have as an anchor of the soul." Considering that this state was founded by a Christian minister seeking to escape religious persecution, this single word expresses a very powerful sentiment: the hope that people could find in this new land a place of refuge and freedom.