Yooper is a common term for residents of the Upper Penisula of Michigan. It is derived from the initials U.P. which is pronounced you-pee. U.P. stands for Upper Peninsula, as opposed to the lower peninsula of Michigan.

It is not a derogortory term. It is used mainly by residents of lower Michigan and Wisconsin.

Usually reserved for a mixture of a knife and fork built on the body of a spoon, this tantalizing insult should only be reserved for times of great intensity and trepidation.

A native or inhabitant of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Yoopers are known to be extremely friendly and welcoming people and make anyone feel at ease. Most tourists leave the UP with a feeling that they can't wait to return.

Like other areas of the US, there is a regional dialect.
The dialect most associated with the Upper Peninsula is one with a strong Finnish influence. The reason the Finnish language seems to have had the most lasting impression on the dialect of the Upper Peninsula goes back to the mining boom. When Finnish immigrants first came to the Upper Peninsula.


"It is one of the prettiest places in the world".
---Henry Ford, 1920's---

The yunk-free doodlies hobbled on their hind masgurks. The turd wranglers were practicing their martial trouser dropping. As the sun rose, a bully came to his toes. A gunk poof and kobbled. The breastriary rumbled with life. All the minidurtquaffles hid from the heaving beast. The quacktoot wigglies all beefed in fear. Scampering munk lunkers filled the Youper floor. Loathing themselves to sleep. Stomp Stoump Sharrriiiiii! Heckled the Vinereal Imps.
Bone reflex, bite shorty’s dooks Appears Bone Hane the complisher. Bo Han! Abo Han! Gurtfliggities the Bone Hane. Qwerty creature of pompous deuce trousering steps forth. Qweef, Qweff! He howls
Bone Hane reaches for his bone. Bo Han! It glutes reaching for the shaft. A whirling smash to the Youper floor!
Stun Qwerty once shame on you. Qweff, Qweff! Stammers Qwetry Reaching for the bow of Annubis, he fires a Legolas.
Straight into the Schnozz of Bone Hane. A rumpus gurgle and tottering Philip. Abo Han! He grabs the shaft once more. A whiffling roundhouse to the peter for Qwerty.
Qweff, Qweff! It remps in pain. Stun Qwerty twice shame on Wu! Grasping the Almighty Dueceburg Salad He whips dressing of pure frothbogard into the pupil of Bone Hane.
Abo Han! Bone Hane had been boned Collapsing to the Youper floor. Qwerty immediately after dissent put his tail end in the air. Qweff, Qwaqwaqwaqwa Qweefeefffff!!!! He triumphs. He then looks to the Youper floor and what he sees is terwhilliger. A descendant baby born!