Why do people call cokes and other soft drinks "Soda"?

Question

I was wondering.

Im from Virginia and growing up I always called it 'Coke'- or 'Soft Drink' . Soda sounds weird to me- because thats something you bake with- as in "Baking Soda". Its not Soda, and I always say "Coke Machine" not "Soda Machine".

I notice many people are saying Soda now where I live, but they didn't used to. Is this a regional thing?

Answer 1

Well, in different parts of the country people call it different names because of different customs like people in Florida are not used to snow, but Northern People are. The Soft drink terms are Soda, Pop, and Coke. In ohio we say Pop. In florida they say soda, in tennesse they say Coke.Whenever people say Coke I think they are refering to the drink coke. so whereever you go its different.

Answer 2

Where I live, they call all soft drinks Coke. Here's an example:

Me: "Hey, want a Coke?"

You: "Sounds good - thanks."

Me: "What kind?"

You: "WTF?"

Me: "Well, I have Sprite, Pepsi, Root Beer, Orange Crush and Coke."

You: "Um, I'll have Coke?"

Me: "Well, why didn't you say so?"

Definitely a regional thing.  

Answer 3

Well it all depends on where you live.

Some people call Soda "pop" which might be weird here.

Here it is called soda.

And soda is its real name just like anything else has a name.

You would be wrong about the coke machine thing because not all soda it Coke and not all Soda machines are Coke soda machines.

So technically if you're assuming all soda machines are Coke Machines then sometimes you would be incorrect.

Also, if you assume all soda is Coke, then you'd be wrong too.

Coke is a soda but its not the name for a carbonated beverage.

A carbonated beverage can be called either a soft drink or just soda.

And obviously, coke is not the only soda.

Its weird if you think that.

Answer 4

I'm from south carolina and moved to virginia and growing up we always called it a coke.  I guess its since more people are moving down from the north to the southern states that  more people are calling it soda.  Calling a soft drink a soda is way better than calling it "pop".