Texas speech is shifting, but y’all and fixin’ to still dominate

Moneypenny’s survey of 1,001 Texans finds the state’s everyday language is changing as new residents arrive, with “soda” now beating “Coke” for carbonated drinks. But classic Texas phrases like “y’all” and “fixin’ to” remain widely used, especially among older residents and in major cities.

Why it matters: - Texas is growing and changing, and the way people speak is changing with it. - The survey suggests some long-held Texas language habits are fading, while core regional phrases remain strong. - For customer-facing businesses, the findings underscore how local language choices can affect tone, trust and how natural a conversation feels.

What happened: - Moneypenny surveyed 1,001 people across Texas in 2026. - The research found that “soda” is now the most common term for a carbonated drink in Texas, ahead of “Coke.” - Moneypenny tied the research to broader cultural shifts in Texas, including population change and the state’s role as a World Cup host.

The details: - Statewide, 56% of respondents said “soda,” while 26% said “Coke” regardless of brand. - Another 8% said “soda pop” and 6% said “pop.” - Older Texans were more likely to use “Coke” generically, including 31% of ages 35-44 and 34% of ages 55-64. - Among younger adults, 17% of ages 18-24 and 16% of ages 25-34 used “Coke” that way. - San Antonio had the highest share of “soda” users at 64%, followed by Houston at 59%, DFW at 53% and El Paso at 50%. - “Y’all” remained the top group-address term statewide at 59%. - Other options included “you guys” at 16%, “all of you” at 11% and “you all” at 9%. - Women were more likely than men to say “y’all,” 63% versus 56%. - Gen Z led all age groups on “y’all” use at 71%. - Austin had the highest regional share for “y’all” at 69%. - Houston, DFW and San Antonio were close behind, each around 56% to 57%. - El Paso was lowest on “y’all” at 38%, and 24% there said “you guys” and 24% said “all of you.” - Moneypenny suggested El Paso’s language mix may reflect its proximity to New Mexico and Mexico. - Statewide, 30% of respondents said they know a few words or phrases in Spanish, and 41% said they have higher fluency or comprehension. - El Paso had the highest Spanish ability at 72%. - That compares with 16% in DFW, 26% in Houston and 20% in Austin. - “Fixin’ to” was the most popular classic Texas phrase, used by 61% statewide. - “Reckon” followed at 34%, “over yonder” at 31%, “pitch a fit” at 30% and “might could” at 25%. - Women were more likely than men to use “fixin’ to” and “pitch a fit.” - Men were more likely than women to say “reckon” and “might could.” - More than two-thirds of Texans ages 45-54, 55-64 and over 65 said they use “fixin’ to.” - By contrast, 58% of ages 25-34 and 44% of ages 18-24 used the phrase. - “Over yonder” was also more common with older Texans, including 44% of those over 65 and 37% of those 55-64. - Only 17% of ages 18-24 said they use “over yonder.”

Between the lines: - The survey points to a Texas dialect that is becoming less uniform as migration and regional diversity reshape daily speech. - Some phrases associated with older generations still carry strong cultural weight, but younger Texans are not always rejecting traditional language. - “Might could” was more popular with younger respondents, at about a third of ages 18-24, versus 11% of ages 45-54. - That suggests at least some older-sounding expressions may be cycling back into use among younger Texans.

What’s next: - Moneypenny plans to keep using the findings to inform how it handles customer conversations across Texas and beyond. - The company’s CEO said natural language remains central to making phone and AI-assisted interactions feel appropriate and helpful. - The research may also serve as a snapshot of how Texas culture continues to evolve as the state grows.

The bottom line: - Texas still sounds distinctly Texan, but the state’s everyday vocabulary is clearly evolving.