The Best NYC Slang: 40 Common Sayings And Meanings

New York City is a mix of many cultures, and this has shaped its unique way of talking. We’re diving into ‘The Best NYC Slang: 40 Common Sayings And Meanings’ to help you understand the local sayings in daily life here. This guide is great if you’re visiting and want to fit in or live here and want to connect more with the culture. The slang might sound simple, but it’s full of history and meaning that’s worth knowing. Let’s get started and see what these expressions are all about.

40 Slang Words From New York

Slang Word	Meaning	Example
Bodega	Small convenience store, often found on street corners	“I’m heading to the bodega to grab some snacks.”
Brick	Extremely cold weather	“It’s brick outside, so bundle up!”
Mad	Used to emphasize something, like “very”	“This pizza is mad good.”
Word	Agreement or acknowledgement	“We’re meeting at 8? Word.”
Deadass	Seriously or truly	“Deadass, I’m not joking about this.”
Facts	Used to express strong agreement	“He’s the best player, facts!”
Tight	Upset or angry	“I’m tight because I missed the train.”
Grill	To stare down or look at someone intensely	“Why you grilling me?”
Cop	To buy or acquire something	“I’m about to cop those new sneakers.”
Lit	Exciting or excellent	“The party last night was lit.”
Wild	Used to emphasize a situation or emotion	“That game was wild close.”
Dub	A loss or something that’s not worth it	“That’s a dub, I’m not going.”
Son	A term of address, usually among friends	“What’s up, son?”
Scheming	Plotting or planning something	“He’s scheming on how to get out of work.”
OD (Overdoing)	Doing too much	“You’re OD’ing with all these questions.”
Thirsty	Desperate, often for attention	“He’s acting mad thirsty in the comments.”
Beast	Someone who is exceptionally good at something	“He’s a beast on the court.”
Frontin’	Pretending or lying	“Stop frontin’, you know you care.”
Wack	Bad or low quality	“That movie was wack.”
Buggin’	Acting crazy or irrational	“You’re buggin’ if you think that’s true.”
Wavy	Cool, stylish, or impressive	“Those new kicks are wavy.”
Shorty	A girl or young woman	“Shorty was looking good last night.”
Guap	A large amount of money	“He made mad guap from that deal.”
Spaz	To lose control or overreact	“He’s about to spaz out on them.”
Herb	Someone who is easily manipulated or not street-smart	“Don’t be a herb, stand up for yourself.”
Bougie	Acting higher class or fancy	“She’s acting mad bougie now.”
Bugged out	Extremely crazy or surprising	“That situation was bugged out.”
Kicks	Sneakers or shoes	“Those kicks are fresh.”
Snuff	To hit someone, usually in the face	“He got snuffed for talking trash.”
Knucklehead	A foolish person	“Stop being a knucklehead and do your work.”
Whip	A car	“That’s a nice whip you got there.”
Dough	Money	“I need to make some more dough.”
Flex	To show off	“He’s always flexing on social media.”
Scrilla	Another term for money	“I’m trying to stack some scrilla.”
Plug	A connection to get something, usually exclusive	“He’s the plug for all the new sneakers.”
No cap	No lie or for real	“I’m telling the truth, no cap.”
Brolic	Muscular or strong	“He’s been hitting the gym, he’s looking brolic.”
Jiggy	Stylish or attractive	“You’re looking jiggy tonight.”
Chop	Ugly or unattractive	“That haircut is chop.”

40 NYC Sayings and Their Meanings

NYC Saying	Meaning
The City That Never Sleeps	Refers to NYC’s 24/7 lifestyle with round-the-clock activity.
Fuhgeddaboudit	Used to dismiss something as unimportant or impossible.
Schlep	A long, tiresome journey, usually on foot or carrying something heavy.
The Big Apple	A nickname for NYC, symbolizing its importance and grandeur.
Yo!	A greeting, often used to get someone’s attention.
On Line	Refers to standing in line, as opposed to “in line.”
Deadass	Used to emphasize sincerity or seriousness, meaning “seriously.”
Bridge and Tunnel	Refers to people who commute from outside NYC (e.g., New Jersey, Long Island).
Bodega	A small convenience store, often found on street corners.
Gimme a slice	A request for a slice of pizza, usually understood to be a plain cheese slice.
Brick	Used to describe something very cold, like the weather.
Hustle	To work hard or move quickly, often associated with NYC’s fast-paced lifestyle.
Knish	A popular NYC street food made of dough filled with potato, meat, or cheese.
Yo, I’m walking here!	A phrase expressing frustration when someone blocks your path.
Noo Yawk	The exaggerated pronunciation of “New York” in the local accent.
Take the train	Refers to using the subway to get around the city.
Uptown	Refers to the northern part of Manhattan, above 59th Street.
Downtown	Refers to the southern part of Manhattan, below 14th Street.
The L	Refers to taking a loss or experiencing defeat.
The Met	Refers to The Metropolitan Museum of Art or the New York Mets baseball team.
Bagel with a schmear	A bagel with a spread, typically cream cheese.
Mad	Used as an intensifier, meaning “very” or “a lot.”
Cabbie	A taxi driver, common in NYC.
Jaywalking	Crossing the street illegally, often outside of crosswalks.
The Village	Refers to Greenwich Village, a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.
The Boogie Down	A nickname for the Bronx, emphasizing its vibrant culture.
Lox and a schmear	Smoked salmon with cream cheese, usually served on a bagel.
Swipe your MetroCard	Refers to paying for a subway or bus ride.
Five Boroughs	Refers to the five areas that make up NYC: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island.
New Yawk Minute	A very short amount of time, emphasizing the fast pace of NYC.
Rat Race	Refers to the competitive and hectic nature of working in NYC.
Slice Joint	A pizza place that sells pizza by the slice.
Times Square Tourist	Refers to someone who looks lost or out of place in NYC, often due to gawking.
In the Heights	Refers to Washington Heights, a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan.
Hell’s Kitchen	A neighborhood on the west side of Midtown Manhattan.
Riding the Subway	Common term for taking NYC’s underground train system.
Taxi!	A common shout to hail a cab.
BK	A shorthand for Brooklyn.
The Garment District	An area in Midtown Manhattan known for clothing manufacturers and shops.
The Bowery	A street and neighborhood in Lower Manhattan known for its history and culture.

Using NYC Slang Correctly

Understanding Context

To really grasp NYC slang, it’s crucial to know when and where to use certain terms. For example, ‘dead,’ which means something is really funny, should be reserved for casual chats, not serious ones.

Then there’s ‘bodega,’ a term for small local stores specific to New York, not any regular shop. And if you’re in the Bronx and hear ‘OD,’ it means something is over the top. The city’s unique culture shapes each word. Getting this right helps you blend in and deepens your appreciation of New York’s diverse vibe. So, when you use these words correctly, you’re not just speaking, you’re connecting.

Avoiding Miscommunication

Learning the local slang in NYC can help you avoid miscommunications and connect better with people. For example, the word ‘dead’ can mean something funny or severe, depending on the situation. Using this correctly can clear up confusion in conversations.

Also, when someone asks ‘you good?’ they usually check if you’re okay, not questioning your abilities. Misunderstanding these phrases can lead to mix-ups. It’s also important to note that what’s expected in one borough, like the Bronx, might not be in another, like Manhattan. Getting to know these local phrases improves your communication and deepens your experience of the city.

Conclusion

Getting to know New York City slang makes your experience in the city much more colorful. As we’ve seen, when you get the hang of the local lingo, you connect better with the city’s lively spirit and improve your daily conversations.

Whether chatting in a busy corner store or talking with people from different parts of the city, NYC slang is vital to what makes the city unique. Learning these phrases does more than just expand your vocabulary; it makes you a part of the city’s ongoing story. Whether you’re navigating the streets, meeting new people, or just soaking up the local culture, knowing the slang makes your time in the city feel more genuine and engaging.