We should point out, for the non-American audience. That "New York" means BOTH a state (of the 50 United States) and the main hub city "New York City" (it is not the capital, but it is the center of business and entertainment). So, New York STATE is "the Empire State". New York CITY is called "The Big Apple". We take for granted that many in the world do not know that, just as there is Boston, Massachusetts, and Los Angeles, California -- there is a New York, New York!

Disscusion: Erik is my favorite for his knowledge, Voice of America (VOA) educational series is also my favorite. VOA presented its eductional series on nickname for New York: " New York, which always thinks big, was called The Empire State because of its natural wealth. The most famous Manhattan skyscraper got its name from the state. It is, of course, the Empire State Building." In VOA's presentation, Empire State is the official nickname for New York (I still have the VOA in both written and voice copy.). Mr. Erik he knows big apple is call New York, Because, he is an american and he live at the region for most people understand what is big apple. I am also an American, I live in the region that I don't know big apple is call New York. If big apple is colloquial in United States, then people who live outside of the United States has learned the American colloquial languages. If it is widely spreaded in your country, then it is an colloquial in your country. We Americans only honor official recognition. Empire State is the nickname for New York, Big Apple for New York! it is colloquial American English.

I am from San Diego, California, its nickname is Golden State. Both Empire State and Big Apple are nicknames for New York. Precisely, big apple is colloquial nickname for New York. Mr. Erik said "it is usually used in print -- newspapers". The articles in NY Times are not the same as the Times in California.

I am from New York and yes "The Big Apple" is a widely used nickname for the city, for NY state there may be another nickname, maybe "The Empire State" because that is what I see on our license plates haha. In general, most people in the US would recognize NY as "The Big Apple", but as for Garden State, that would only be New Jersey. I have never heard NY called that. So perhaps the VOA broadcast has some misinformation or the transcript is mistaken?

I am from the United States, and, yes -- we certainly call New York "The Big Apple" here! A big, shiny, red apple is tempting. We want to eat it. The term "Big Apple" was first given to New York by a newspaper columnist in the 1920s. He used it in articles about horse racing. For a jockey, New York was the "big apple" -- the best city, the place to become famous, the place everyone wanted to be able to go to race. It was the "prize" place. Since then, the term just caught on (everyone started to say it). Now, most anyone in the United States knows that you mean New York when you say "The Big Apple". But it is usually used in print -- newspapers, playbills for plays on Broadway, etc. -- and not spoken as much.