AAVE Roots
Slang rooted in African American Vernacular English — the origin of much of what goes mainstream.
44 terms
Charisma, charm, or the ability to attract a romantic partner through smooth talk and confident ener…
To do something exceptionally well or look amazing doing it. Originated in drag ballroom culture ("s…
A lie — flat-out untrue, inflated, or an exaggerated claim. "Capping" (verb) is the act of lying. "N…
Extremely good — usually food, but increasingly applied to songs, weather, and outfits. The doubled …
No lie; for real. "Cap" is a lie — so "no cap" is the opposite. Used to emphasize that what you're s…
"Okay," "sure," or "sounds good" — a one-word affirmative. Can also be a challenge acceptance ("I'll…
Greatest Of All Time. Used for the best ever at something — sports, music, any competitive endeavor.…
Abbreviation of "for real for real." Used to emphasize sincerity — the doubled "real" is the point. …
Something that affects you more than expected — a song, food, or moment that lands harder in a speci…
(slang, AAVE) On fleek.
(US, slang, originally, AAVE) To be real, honest, truthful.
(AAVE, slang) What's going on? What's up?.
A musician — especially in jazz contexts. "He's a cat" = "he can play." Generalized in some Black co…
Seriously, no joke. Used to emphasize that what follows is 100% sincere, even if it sounds unbelieva…
Temporarily emotional — melancholy, sentimental, or soft — often triggered by a song, memory, or lat…
Standard English: water dripping; a small slow drop. The slang style sense is metaphorical (style "d…
Going to / about to — contraction of "fixing to." "I'm finna leave" = "I'm about to leave." Ubiquito…
(slang, AAVE, derogatory, usually, offensive) White people.
(AAVE, slang) and family; kith and kin.
Address term for a close friend, shortened from "cousin." AAVE-rooted; used nationally by the 2020s.…
(AAVE) (in various senses).
(AAVE, New York, hip-hop, _, slang) alone, by oneself, without a companion.
(African American Vernacular English) A romantic vacation for two taken with one's bae or sexual par…
(AAVE, slang) kindred spirit, friend.
(AAVE, slang, derogatory) A man who is secretly dating a woman who is already in a more serious rela…
Emphatic "period" — end of conversation, no debate allowed. Adds a hard T for maximum finality. "Per…
Past tense of wake: "I woke up early." The cultural usage is metaphorical.
(chiefly, _, AAVE, and, UK, _, slang) ; aggressive, angry.
(colloquial, from, _, AAVE) People of African descent tend to wrinkle less with age than people with…
(US, California, slang, AAVE) To get high from the drug MDMA (Ecstasy).
AAVE slang for a secret romantic or sexual partner that one meets discreetly, typically without publ…
(AAVE, slang, pejorative) A contemptible person.
New York City AAVE slang for a notably large, shapely backside. Used primarily as a noun but also ad…
Curvy in an attractive way. The intentional misspelling marks the word as slang and signals affirmat…
Standard English: brutal, ruthless. Slang sense extends from this — admiringly rather than negativel…
(AAVE, slang, sometimes, derogatory) A woman.
(originally, _, AAVE, US, slang, vulgar) grown-up; adult; often used in reproach of an adult's immat…
Looking flawless, especially in terms of style and grooming. From drag culture; a "snatched" face is…
New York City AAVE slang for a woman considered promiscuous or sexually loose — used as a derogatory…
Your local area; the neighborhood you're from. Strong territorial connotation.
(originally, AAVE, ) To perform an individual’s experience of being black in the United States.
(originally, AAVE, slang) A younger (often female) love interest.
(vulgar, originally, AAVE, slang) oral sex involving a lot of saliva.
Bidness is a phonetic spelling of 'business' reflecting Southern American and AAVE pronunciation pat…