Supernaturalhas always leaned into pop culture and rock music references throughout its 15 seasons, and it gave the show its distinctive charm. However, there were times when Sam and Dean Winchester used these references as more than just a funny comparison point. As avid hunters,Supernatural’sWinchester brothersmastered the art of stealth and combat against a variety of adversaries, including humans. Therefore, it makes sense that Sam and Dean developed their own codewords or “hunter’s lingo” to be discreet while hunting monsters.
Sam and Dean’s codewords have appeared just a few times throughout the show, mainly becoming a piece ofinterestingSupernaturaltrivia. Yet, other words, like the famous “Poughkeepsie,” have cropped up more than once. Either way, whether it is simply a singular or repeated occurrence,the Winchesters’ lingo has certainly left its mark, demonstrating their proficiency in working together as hunters.
1Five-O
Used: Season 1, Episode 1
Although it is not used exclusively by the Winchesters, “five-o” is definitely part of Sam and Dean Winchester’s hunter lingo. In the pilot episode, the brothers impersonate US Marshals to get information on the Woman in White case. Later in the episode,when he spots the same police outside the motel, Dean quickly calls Sam to alert him, saying, “Dude, five-o, take off.”The police, unfortunately, figured out that the Winchesters were fake US Marshals and were also using fake credit cards to pay for their motel room, leading to Dean’s arrest.
However, Dean’s quick thinking allowed Sam to escape, to continue the investigation, and later help Dean escape custody.The use of “five-o” is likely in reference toHawaii Five-0, a cop show from the 1970s, and is a common slang term for police. Considering the Winchesters often resort to illegal practices to do their job, it is a useful codeword to subtly alert each other of nearby cops, especially ones that are actively suspicious of them, although it hasn’t really been used since.
2Jim Rockford
Used: Season 2, Episode 7
Despite being taken into custody inSupernaturalseason 2, episode 7, “The Usual Suspects,” Sam and Dean prove their ingenuity once again with another codeword.When Sam escapes custody, thanks to a clever note and distraction from Dean, the investigating detective Ballard suddenly falls victim to a hauntingby the very ghost the Winchesters are hunting. Seeing the marks on the detective’s wrists, Dean gives up his brother’s location by revealing another codeword they use.
Detective Diana Ballard inSupernatural’s“The Usual Suspects” is played by Linda Blair, an actress best known for playing the possessed child, Regan, in 1973’sThe Exorcist.
Dean tells Ballard to“Go to the first motel listed in the yellow pages. Look for Jim Rockford - it’s how we find each other when we’re separated.”This practice of checking into the first motel under the name “Jim Rockford” shows thatSam and Dean Winchester learned from their past mistakes, having set up a secret meeting point system that no one else knows about. “Jim Rockford” refers to the fictional private investigator from the 1970s TV series,The Rockford Files, a relatively obscure reference consideringSupernaturalseason 2 takes place around 2006.
3Funkytown
Used: Season 2, Episode 10
“Funkytown” is an unusual codeword used by Sam and Dean inSupernaturalto signify that they are in trouble, without alerting the likely troublemaker. The word’s first and only appearance is in season 2’s “Hunted,” in which Gordon Walker holds Dean hostage to lure Sam in and kill him, believing him to be an evil soldier in the demon army. Dean uses it during a phone call to Sam, saying that he “Just got here myself. It’s a real funky town.”
“Yeah, I talked to Ellen. Just got here myself. It’s a real funky town. You ditched me, Sammy.” - Dean to Sam
While the codeword doesn’t mean much to anyone else, besides the possible connection to the famous 1980 disco song by Lipps Inc., when Sam hears the codeword, he immediately proclaims, “Someone’s got a gun on him.”The origin of this particular Winchester codeword is unknown, as Sam simply says Dean thought of it and“It’s kind of a… long story.” However, the somewhat silly codeword is a testament toSam and Dean’s brotherly relationship inSupernatural.
4"Something Stuck To My Shoe"
Used: Season 8, Episode 13
Season 8’s “Everybody Hates Hitler” contains the first Winchester codeword to appear outside theEric Kripke-era episodes ofSupernatural, asan astonishing 6 seasons passed without another utterance of “hunter’s lingo.”Interestingly, the phrase used by Sam is not a hard one to figure out in the right context. However, given that the seemingly innocent phrase can be used in a normal conversation quite easily, while alerting your desired target, it makes it a pretty good secret codeword.
At the beginning ofSupernaturalseason 8, episode 13, “Everybody Hates Hitler,” we see the Men of Letters’ secret bunker for the first time.
When Dean talks to Sam on the phone in the episode, he says, “I think we still got a case,” to which Sam realizes he is being followed by the Golem, and tells Dean, “That would explain why I have something stuck to my shoe.”Dean immediately picks up on the meaning, asking questions that Sam can answer without giving himself away. The effortless manner of the conversation hints that the Winchesters may have used this code phrase before, although it doesn’t appear again on-screen inSupernatural.
5Poughkeepsie
Used: Season 9, Episode 10 & 21 / Season 14, Episode 10
Appearing three times throughout the show,“Poughkeepsie” is the most famous codeword inSupernaturaland means “drop everything and run.”In season 9, episode 10, “Road Trip,” Dean and Castiel enlist the help of Crowley to remove Gadreel from Sam, as theangel has been possessing his body sinceSupernatural’s“I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here.”As Crowley needs to alert Sam that he is being possessed by the angel to expel him, Dean lets Crowley in on a secret Winchester codeword to get Sam to trust him.
Interestingly, Crowley utilizes “Poughkeepsie” once again a few episodes later, to warn the Winchesters that they are heading into a trap, although this warning was ignored and hidden by Dean. Furthermore, Sam emotionally uses the word “Poughkeepsie” to implore Dean to snap out of his infinite mind loop in season 14, episode 10, “Nihilism.” The official origins of the word are unknown to viewers, but the context seems to insinuate that something really bad went down in Poughkeepsie, as the codeword is only ever used by Sam and Dean in the most dire circumstances inSupernatural.
