Speak like an American: Must-Know Slang Words and Phrases in New York

Many immigrants or English learners want their native speakers to speak. New Yorkers speak their own slang, and if you want to communicate with them on an equal footing, you will have to memorize a few local slang words and phrases. Website Girlwiththepassport published a list of the most useful ones.

Grill (g - verb) - gazing at someone for a long period of time or asking someone questions in an accusatory manner. Example: “Yo, her father would not stop grilling me when I showed up for our date.” "Hey, her dad didn't stop looking at me when I showed up on our date."

Whack (adj.) - New York slang for something terrible or just very bad. Example: "Dude, that show last night was SO whack." "Dude, the show was SO cool last night."

Lit (adj.) Is one of the many New York slang words for something surprising, unexpected, popular, or just super cool. Example: “Did you go to that party last night because that sh * t was lit.” "You went to the party last night because it was just super cool."

Kid / Son (n.) Is a word used to describe a close friend. Basically, this is the east coast version of the word homie. Note: “Yo, what up son? I missed you bro. ” - "Hey, how are you, buddy?"

Beef (noun) - To sharpen a tooth on someone, to be offended. Note: “How long are you gonna have beef with everyone?” - "How long will you hold your grudge against everyone?"

Real Talk - is used to grab the attention of someone you are talking to and let them know that you are about to say a serious and important thing and that you are speaking frankly. Also used to emphasize that something REALLY happened. Note: “Real talk? That is a very bad idea and will totally backfire ”-“ Seriously? This is a very bad idea and will backfire. "

Bridge and Tunnel (adj.) Is one of those New York slang words that needs a little clarification. The word originally originated as a form of derogatory New York slang - in reference to clear class differences - for a less well-off person who lived in the outer districts of New York and who had to use a bridge or tunnel (hence the phrase) to get to Manhattan. Over time, it has become a derogatory slang word for a person who is very culturally ignorant and has a very ethnocentric view of the world in general. Note: "Ugh, Williamsburg is now overrun by Bridge and Tunnel type of people on the weekend."

Basic (adj.) - This word is used to describe someone who is only interested in trendy and popular things and believes in stereotypes. It is often used in the phrase “basic b * itch” “primitive bitch”. Note: “God, she is so basic. All she wants to do is drink pumpkin spice lattes, wear Ugg Boots, and take selfies. ” “God, she's so primitive. All she wants is to drink pumpkin latte, wear ugg boots and take selfies. "

Boujie (adj.) - Derived from the French word "bourgeois", this phrase is used to describe someone (or something) who does something to appear richer. Note: “I feel boujie AF when I order mac and cheese with Emmenthaler swiss cheese in it.” "I feel like a show-off rich when I order macaroni and cheese with the addition of Swiss Emmental cheese."

Bodega (n.)- a small local convenience store or non-chain grocery store. There you can buy essential goods such as milk, eggs, spirits, etc. Note: "I'm gonna head to the bodega around the corner and pick us up a couple of sodas." "I'll go to the store around the corner and buy us a couple of drinks."

Yooz (n.) - the plural form of the word "you", which is often used in conjunction with the word guys ("guys"). Note: “Yooz going to the party tomorrow night?” "Are you going to a party tomorrow night?"

Regular Coffee - if you ask for “regular coffee” in New York, it means you want a coffee with milk and sugar. Note: “I don't want a black coffee. Get me a regular coffee instead ”-“ I don't want black coffee. Bring me regular coffee instead. ”

Waiting ON line (word) Is a common New York slang cutter that means you are queuing or waiting in line. Note; "Ugh, I've been waiting on line for over an hour" - "Ugh, I've been waiting in line for over an hour."

Cop (also: cop) - buy, get or steal something. Note: “Yo, I'm about to cop a drink. You want one? ” “Hey, I'm going to buy a drink. Do you want?"

Thirsty (adj.)- Someone who acts as if he is already desperate. Usually used to refer to dating situations. Note: “Why you acting so thirsty? Get off those dating apps and just chill ”-“ Why are you being so desperate? Ditch those dating apps and just chill out. "

Thirstbucket (adj.) - Someone who REALLY is in despair and shows it all. Usually such people are desperate for love. Note: "You'll never get laid if you keep acting like such a thirstbucket." "You will never have sex if you act like anxious."

Mad (adj.) - This word is mainly used to replace "very", "extremely" or "a lot" and is used to emphasize something. This is similar to the word "wicked" in Boston and "hella" in Northern California. Note: "Man, this pizza is mad good." "Dude, this pizza is insanely good."

Frontin '(vb) - a verb meaning an attempt to make it appear that you are better than you really are. Used when someone is trying to impress or shock someone. Note: “Stop frontin '! We all know that Rolex of yours isn't real ”-“ Stop showing off! We know your Rolex is fake. "

Guap / Cheese / Cake (n.) - New York slang words for money. Note: "Don't forget to count all that guap before you leave" - ​​"Do not forget to count your money before leaving."

Dead-ass (adj.) - To describe all the seriousness. It can also mean “I swear to God” in certain situations. Note: "Deadass kid, she just keyed my car" - "I swear to God, she just scratched my car."

Whip (n.) - Really nice car, bright sports car. Note: "Damn, that is one awesome whip right there." "Damn, this is a cool car."

Tight (adj.) - Something really cool or really well put together. Sometimes it means that you are very upset. Note: “That party was tight.” Or, “He's still mad tight about what you said to him last week.” "This party was cool." Or "He's still upset about what you told him last week."

Gully (adj.) - Something from the street or gutter, something disgusting. Note: "Yeah, that place was gully." "Yes, this place was disgusting."

Ratchet (adj.) - Usually refers to an unkempt woman or someone who does not take care of themselves and has a dirty appearance. Can also be used to describe a hideous place. Note: “She thinks she's so cool but she's just straight up ratchet. "She thinks she's so cool, but she just looks awful."

Brick (adj.) - This slang word in New York means “very cold” and is commonly used to refer to the weather. Note: "The weather is mad brick, you're gonna need a jacket." - "The weather is unrealistically cold, you need a jacket."

The City (n.) Is a very common word. Everyone uses it to refer to the city of New York or Manhattan. Note: "I'm so excited to go into the city tonight." "I'm so glad to go to town tonight."

Schmear (n.) –New York gastronomic slang used for small amounts of cheese, seasoning, and the like. Note: "I said a schmear of cream cheese, not the entire container." "I said a little cream cheese, not the whole container."

Pie (n.) –Although the word is used to describe dessert baked goods in many parts of the country, pie in New York usually refers to a whole pizza. Note: “Damn. I'm so hungry I could eat an entire pie. ” - "Heck. I'm so hungry I can eat a whole pizza. "

Schvitz (y./n.) - This word comes from Yiddish and is used to mean profuse sweating. In some cases, you can also use it as a noun when talking about a place (like a sauna or steam room) that makes you sweat. Note: "It's so hot out here I'm schvitzing all over the place." Or, "Come on, let's go for a schvitz." "It's so hot in here that I'm sweating." Or "Let's go sweat."

Stoop (n.) - The steps are right in front of someone's apartment. Note: “On warm summer nights I likei to sit out on the stoop” - “On warm summer evenings I like to sit on the steps in front of the door”.

Schtup (m.) - Another Yiddish word on this list of New York slang, which means "to have sex." Note that this word is only used to refer to two people having sex together, not one person when it comes to their sex life in general. Note: “They're so loud! I think they're schtupping! " “They are so noisy! I think they are having sex! ”

Dumb (adj.) - this word can be used to emphasize something, and can be used to replace “very / really”. Note: "That party was dumb good last night." "Yesterday's party was really cool."

Spaz (y./n.)- a hyperactive person, fidget. It can also mean that you are very angry with someone and throw a tantrum. Note: “She totally spazzed out at me after I stayed out too late.” Or, “OMG, she cannot sit still. She is such a spaz. ” "She threw a tantrum at me after I stayed up late." Or “God, she can't sit still. She's so fidgety. "

Take it There (noun) - the phrase can mean a physical fight or a verbal skirmish. Note: "If you don't stop right now I'm gonna take it there." “If you don’t stop right now, I’ll show you.”

Buggin (m.)- to freak out, worry a lot, go crazy, behave like crazy, create a problem. Note: “I forgot about the test today and now I'm buggin 'out” - “I forgot about the test today and now I'm going crazy.”

Ice (n / a) - Expensive jewelry, usually made of diamonds. It can also be used as a verb meaning to kill someone. Note: "She's dripping in Ice." Or, "He's about to get iced if he doesn't shut his mouth." - "She's all in bruises." Or "He's about to be killed if he doesn't close his mouth."

Wylin Out '/ Wildin' (g.) - Get mad or overreact to something and don't really care about the consequences. Note: "Man, he was wylin out last night." "Dude, he was out of his mind last night."

Crusty (adj.) “Someone or something that is ugly, cheap, torn, rude, or unclean. Note: "That crusty ass guy in the club is all over me." "I couldn't stand next to that dirty-ass kid in the club."

Snuff (m.) - Means to kill someone or to punch. Note: "I'm about to snuff his lights out." - "I'm going to hit him now"

B (n.) - An expression of affection for a close friend or someone you care about. Note: "I love you B!" - "I love you baby!"

Help (v.) Is another Yiddish word for a difficult journey from one place to another, implying being in a state of exhaustion. Usually used when you are frustrated with a long city trip. Note: "Ugh, I have to schlep all the way from Manhattan to Coney Island." "Uh, I have to make my way from Manhattan to Coney Island."

Sus (adj.) - describes someone who is acting suspiciously. Mostly a person who cannot be trusted. Note: “That guy is mad sus. I don't trust him at all. " “This guy is murky. I don’t trust him at all ”

Boss / Sis (n) - Used to refer to a man (boss) or a woman (sister) in general. Note: "Yo boss, you ready to go out?" Or, “Sis, what's taking you so long?” - "Yo boss are you ready to go out?" Or "Sis, where have you disappeared?"

Ace (adj.) - Used to describe something or someone really cool. Note: "Yo, that move was ace." "Hey, that was cool."

Bacon Egg and Cheese (n.) Is a traditional New York City breakfast sandwich, which, you guessed it, consists of bacon, egg and cheese. It is usually abbreviated to one word as "BEC". Note: “I always start my mornings. with a bacon-egg-and-cheese. ” “I always start the morning. with bacon, egg and cheese. "

Dime Piece (adj.) - Used to describe a really attractive woman. Note: "She's a total dime piece." - "She's a real beauty."

Forget About It (phrase) –Usually pronounced as one word (for-ged-a-bout-it) and means you don't need to worry about it. It can also mean agreement or disbelief that something IS good.

Note: "No way your pizza is better than mine - forget about it." "Your pizza is by no means better than mine - forget about it."

Good Looks (word-of-mouth) - this is gratitude to the person after he did you a favor. Note: You'd say, “good looks” after someone holds the door open for you. “You should say thank you after someone holds the door for you.

Grimey (adj.) - Someone who behaves suspiciously, or someone you cannot trust. Note: "Don't trust her, she's mad grimey." "Don't believe her, she's very cloudy."

Gucci (adj.) - Used when someone wants to say that he is doing well. Note: "No worries, I'm Gucci." “Don't worry, I'm fine.”

Holla (m.) - Talk to someone. Note: “Holla at me later”. - "Let's pamper later."

Hooptie (n.) - A very old decrepit car. Note: “I hate driiving around in this hooptie. It's always breaking down. ” “I hate driving this wreck. It breaks down all the time. "

Hollywood (adj.) - describes someone who is too busy or too good to hang out with you. They behave in a “new way” and better than the people they grew up with in the same area. Note: “She's actin 'mad Hollywood and won't hang out with us anymore.” "She's acting like crazy Hollywood and won't hang out with us anymore."

Jacking (m.) - One of the many New York slang words used when it is said that something is true, but in fact it is not. Can also be used to mean stealing something or attacking someone (in other words, spur someone on). Note: "He really jacked me up." Or, “Stop jacking. You know I didn't hook up with her. " "He really robbed me." Or “Stop pouring. You know I haven't met her. "

Jones (m.) Is an old New York slang word meaning you crave something really bad. Note: "I'm jonesing for a cigarette right now." - "I really need a cigarette now"

Kicks (n) - Shoes. Note: "How do you like my kicks?" - "How do you like my sneakers?"

SoHo (n.) - refers to the New York area south of Houston Street. Note: "Yeah, I just moved to SoHo." - “Yes, I just moved to SoHo”

Timbs (n.) - used to describe a pair of Timberland shoes, which is a type of work boot that is often worn by men. Some will say that you are not a real local until you purchase a pair of Timbs. Note: “Better get my Timbs since it's hella brick outside.” "I better get my Timbs, because it's damn cold outside."

What's Good? (word-of-mouth) - Can be used instead of "How are you?" Example: "What's good son?"