(US, originally, AAVE, slang) A close friend.
(US, originally, AAVE, slang) A close friend.
Soon David and "Scottster" are "ace boon coons," as my mother used to say, golfing together and making plans for joint ventures in computer programming.
"ace boon coon" comes from African-American Vernacular English or Multicultural London English and means a close friend. It has spread well beyond its origin through hip-hop, drill, TikTok and gaming, so a teen of any background may use it. It is not in itself a sign of bad behaviour; it is a style of speech the way 'cool' or 'wicked' once was. The conversation worth having is about respecting where the language comes from, not about banning the word.
"ace boon coon" comes from African-American Vernacular English or Multicultural London English and means a close friend. It has spread well beyond its origin through hip-hop, drill, TikTok and gaming, so a teen of any background may use it. It is not in itself a sign of bad behaviour; it is a style of speech the way 'cool' or 'wicked' once was. The conversation worth having is about respecting where the language comes from, not about banning the word.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Slang from Black American Vernacular English (AAVE), hip-hop, drag and ballroom culture, the Caribbean, and NYC street vocabulary. The single largest source of new mainstream English slang in living memory.
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"ace boon coon" is informal, ethnically marked slang English meaning a close friend. It is mainly used in North American English. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "a close friend" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "ace boon coon" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.
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A close male friend.