A slang term used in Multicultural London English (MLE) and some other British dialects to mean one's parents.
A slang term used in Multicultural London English (MLE) and some other British dialects to mean one's parents. Distinct from the more widely known sense of 'dukes' meaning fists (from Cockney rhyming slang 'Duke of Yorks' = forks = fingers/fists). Context within MLE usage makes the parents sense clear.
'Can't come out tonight — my dukes want me home for dinner,' he texted back.
"dukes" means a slang term used in multicultural london english (mle) and some other british dialects to mean one's parents. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
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.
Add your own interpretation of "dukes".
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
Browse all slang words starting with D.
(slang) To vouch for (someone), thus allowing them to join a gang, buy contraband from or otherwise be treated as trustworthy by criminal elements; to have been introduced to important people.
(slang, transitive) To fight, especially with fists; to knock out (someone).
(slang, transitive, or, intransitive) To dress up; to embellish or improve (something).
(slang, intransitive) To square up; to get one's fists ready for a fistfight.
Bill and his crop top and daisy dukes
"dukes" means a slang term used in multicultural london english (mle) and some other british dialects to mean one's parents. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
"dukes" is informal English meaning a slang term used in multicultural london english (mle) and some other british dialects to mean one's parents. It is used widely across English varieties. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "a slang term used in multicultural london english (mle) and some other british dialects to mean one's parents" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "dukes" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing.
“Please help [improve this article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/The_Dukes_of_Hazzard "Special:EditPage/The Dukes of Hazzard") by [adding citations to reliable sources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners "Help:Referencing for beginners").”
“Coltrane"), and Rosco's pet basset hound Flash in a duel for the prize money which the Dukes hope to use to keep the family farm from being foreclosed by Boss Hogg.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dukes_(TV_series)#cite_note-3) Actually, Boss Hogg wants the money and the land for himself so he, Rosco, and Flash plans various schemes to keep the Dukes from winning with comical results.”
“As rulers, dukes are ranked below [emperors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor "Emperor"), [kings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King "King"), [grand princes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_prince "Grand prince"), [grand dukes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_duke "Grand duke"), and above sovereign princes.”
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(MTE, slang) One's parents.
“I'm not picky. I'll take it either way but I do like Dukes.”
“one dukes po'boy thanks to great president that will be $20 because of tariffs and gas i don't make the rules i just work here”
“Bill and his crop top and daisy dukes”
“When ma dukes was your best friend and you can no longer celebrate her on a day that was essentially made for her …. It sucks . We used to go crazy every Mother’s Day”
“What if, every year, on this date, we throw buckets and buckets of Hellmans and Dukes into the ocean? Like a Boston Tea Party, but with mayonnaise. We could call it Sinko de Mayo.”
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