EDMONTON - We love to categorize one another and ourselves, but none of the popular terms of recent decades have been too satisfying in Edmonton, mainly because they’re not specifically about us.

These terms — from hippies to hipsters, from yuppies (young urban professionals) to dinks (double income no kids) — have been imported from the United States. They mainly reference American culture, not our own.

That’s certainly the case with a new group known as yuccies (young urban creatives). A Brooklyn-based writer, David Infante, came up with the term for this progressive but privileged group. The defining yuccie motto, Infante says, is: “We want to make a living being ourselves.”

Some Edmontonians will relate to some yuccie characteristics, such as avoiding getting visible tattoos because it’s not a good career move. But other characteristics are pure New York, such as getting the New York Times Weekend Edition but not reading the news.

It’s always bugged me that these terms don’t necessarily relate to life in Edmonton, so I’ve made a start coming up with more Edmonton-specific categories.

Teshies (typical Edmonton slobbish hosers): Teshies are a salty, unpretentious bunch. They burp too much, love their truck nuts, have lots of tattoos, big bellies and tell endless raunchy and racist jokes — and all this goes for their husbands, as well.

Dalhies (downtown apartment-living hipsters): Dalhies are young, prosperous and the closest we have to yuccies. On a first-name basis with the staff at Credo. The fastest food they’ll ever deign to eat is butter chicken at Remedy Café. They can see the downtown arena construction from their condo windows, but are way too cool to gawk. Dalhies would rather be force-fed McDonald’s for a week than say even one good word about ring roads. On the hottest summer days, you will hear Dalhies saying: “See! Global warming!” If they ever said even one bad word against bike lanes, they’d lose all their friends.

Swumies (southwest upwardly mobile): A hard-working and successful bunch. If these folks aren’t hustling through their latest 10- or 11-hour work day, they’re at the rink or soccer centre with their kids. Their two main goals: buying a new and bigger house and relaxing on the beach at Hawaii. Most days, their biggest vice is a stiff cup of Tim’s, hold the doughnut.

Opofies (oilpatch Oilers fans): The gritty and grizzled backbone of the city, or at least that’s how they see themselves. Opofies work hard and play hard, or at least did so in their 20s. Would rather guzzle a can of Molson Canadian than sip from a glass of fancy craft beer. Likes: Gretzky/McDavid, steaks/burgers, AC/DC and country music, plus anything with an internal combustion engine. Dislikes: photo radar, the Flames, the Talus Dome, veganism, and any waste-of-skin who expects one red penny without first working their butt off for it.

Sepies (southside Edmonton progressives): This big-hearted group lives in or adjacent to Old Strathcona. You know you’re a Sepie if you posted at least one selfie from Edmonton’s Gay Pride parade. Sepies love the concept of bike lanes, but are too cautious to ride on them themselves. Have voted NDP every single election (except for that one mistake with Alison Redford). They think Don Iveson is the best mayor ever, or at least since Jan Reimer. The most likely of any Edmontonians to refer to the city as being on traditional Treaty Six land. They are often confused with like-minded left/liberal folk from Glenora/Groat Estates/Oliver, the Geopies.

Otefies (old-time Edmonton fogeys): These implacable traditionalists are fans of Edmonton the way it is. Or the way it was, I mean. Otefies did not and never will support LRT, the new provincial museum, the new art gallery, the new downtown arena and Winston Churchill Square’s makeover. They did support the Henday ring road and Danielle Smith (but don’t get them going about Smith). Otefies wish both the City Centre Airport and Keillor Road were still open. They are prepared to chain themselves to Telus Field to save it.