shawty

ˈʃɔːti

2 definitions

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#1·1h ago

AAVE slang with roots in Southern hip-hop that originally meant a short person or a young woman, but evolved into an affectionate term for a girlfriend, a cute girl, or just someone you're feeling. In its pronoun use, 'shawty' can stand in for 'she' or 'her' in a lyrical or casual context. The term exploded through 2000s trap and R&B, appearing in countless hits — most famously Plies, T-Pain, and Lil Wayne tracks. It's one of the most recognizable pieces of hip-hop vocabulary to cross into mainstream pop culture.

Shawty had the whole crowd going when she stepped on the dance floor — nobody could take their eyes off her.

Origin: AAVE variant of 'shorty' (a young or short person), popularized in Southern hip-hop — particularly Atlanta rap — during the late 1990s and early 2000s; became mainstream through radio hits in the mid-2000s. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.

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