In the summer heat, we find ourselves drawn to that glorious section of the drinks menu that promises relief in the form of a cold, creamy, brain-freezing indulgence. But ordering a frozen drink looks different in different parts of the U.S., and in different restaurants and ice cream shops.

So, what is the difference between a milkshake, a malt, a frappe or maybe even a concrete?

Geography, tradition and local lingo all play a role in how frozen drinks are made and what they’re called. • A chocolate milkshake is displayed at the Lexington Avenue Candy Shop Luncheonette in New York on Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Guido Neira) • Pedestrians walk outside the Lexington Avenue Candy Shop Luncheonette in New York on Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Guido Neira) • A Coca-Cola float is displayed at the

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