Why do People in L.A. say “THE” before Freeway Names?!?

Whether you are on the 405, the 110, the 710. . .you always use the article “the“ before the freeway - at least in L.A.
However, people outside Southern California find this perplexing. So why do people from L.A. say “the“ before freeway names?
Let’s get into it!
#lainaminute #freeway #the #losangeles #californian

[@fairwaywoods]

I didn’t know other people don’t say “the” before the freeway number.

[@crickkett7510]

I’m from Los Angeles and it’s what we do. We put the word The in front of many things. Thx for the video!

[@toosweet6046]

The heck we do… oh wait guess you’re right

[@crickkett7510]

@toosweet6046 😁

[@Den-c7w]

because its a name

[@Nonakame]

One thing SNL got right with the “The Californians” ! ! “At this time of the day? Are you craaaaazy?” 😆

[@crickkett7510]

@@Nonakame my brother sends me relates of those. So funny, so true.

[@jaymeez]

My question is, who does NOT use “The” before mentioning a freeway? I have been all over the US and everybody does this

[@jerradwilson]

In many places, they address their freeways as I-xxx, I standing for Interstate. But many of our freeways here aren't interstates, such as the 2, 101, 118, 60, etc., so it would be a misnomer to refer to them as I-xxx.

[@crickkett7510]

@jerradwilson I say the 5, the 405, the 134, the 101, the 118, the 60 etc. it’s a given when you’re from L.A.

[@jerradwilson]

@@crickkett7510 True. When you say the-xxx, it refers to interstate and non-interstate freeways. In some places like Oregon, they refer to the 5 as I-5.

[@edl8056]

the THE !

[@daves2822]

It's called proper grammar and sentence structure.. Hey Jim, which freeway do you take to go to San Diego? Jim : The 8 Duh!

[@semipenguin]

It’s amazing how a bunch of US highways were decommissioned in California. If US Highway 6 was allowed to continue to Long Beach, it would still be the longest highway in the United States. Instead, they decided to end it in Bishop. Now US Highway 20 is the longest highway in the country. Part of old US 6 runs through the Antelope Valley, where I grew up. The 14 Freeway follows the old highway. US 60 and 70 used to start in California. Now they both start in Arizona. At least CA Highway 60 follows the old road.

[@katwilliams9483]

That’s so true of L.A. and I love it!!! But I wonder how the Brits refer to their roadways since they don’t always say “the” when referring to a location. They’ll say something like “Oh, he’s in hospital.” What’s up with that?😂

[@crickkett7510]

It’s how they speak. Have friends who live there.

[@nlpnt]

Other cities have named freeways - the Major Deegan, the Dan Ryan - but LA also has major routes numbered 1, 10, 101 and 110 which means giving directions without the definite article would sound like speaking binary. Add in that some of them keep the same number but can be Interstates, US Federal highways or California state routes with the same number along different stretches of their length...

[@juantime9616]

Didn't you cover this already?

[@tiojojo]

Hi all. Originally from Texas. I remember as a kid lots of people would say “i - ten” for the word “interstate” for those freeways. Saying the letter “i” before the numbers instead of “the”. Not sure if people still say it that way.

[@garytyler8655]

Here in the central valley, we do that too… the 5, the 99, a lot of the time ’the’ isn’t even used … take 5…take 99… 👍🏼 😊

[@downtowntrash]

Think 🤔

[@vistalite-ph4zw]

I say the all the time, even talking to people in other parts of the country. I say the 40, 80, 95, etc.

[@langelle1]

It's just short for "the 405 freeway" for example. You don't need to say freeway every time. If you were taking the 60 or 91 which are California State Routes, it's easier to say "the 60" or "the 91" rather than Route 60 or 91.