Over 800 languages are spoken in NYC, and one of those isn’t tied to any specific region or culture, except, well, New York.
New Yorkers definitely have their own way of speaking, with phrases and words that are more than likely not understood by visitors or in other cities.
We asked our followers to name NYC slang terms that no one else understands…and here are the answers!
First, there were a lot about how NYers relay time & distance….
1. “Running late, subway issues” = You left 45 mins late but there were also actual subway issues.
2. It’s a short walk (read: it is not a short walk).
3. I will be there in 5 (45 minutes to 3 hours late).
4. It’s down the block or up the road…this means IT’S FAR AWAY
5. The difference between “you mad far” and “you mad deep.”
6. It’s not far, it’s “right there” (just 35 blocks away).
And how we order:
7. “Gimme just a schmear.”
8. Called a pizza place once asked for “a pie.” Person I was with was terrified. Said “but you didn’t say pizza pie what if they think you mean apple?”
9. “A regular coffee.” (AKA milk, 2 sugars)
10. Going to the corner store for a “hero.”
11. “Chop cheese.”
12. “I gotta go food shopping” (everyone else in the country says grocery shopping).
13. “Let me get a corner square extra cheese.”
In conversation:
14. “How you do’n” = I don’t f*^king care how you doing
15. “Yo that’s my son.”
16. “Fuckisyoutalkinbout” is one word.
On transportation:
17. “It’s showtime ladies and gentlemen”
18. “Gonna bust a U-eee (youie) real quick.” [U-turn]
19. “Can I get a swipe?”
General vocabulary:
20. “I’m going to the city”…meaning Manhattan, even if you live in Brooklyn.
21. If you leave outside of the 5 boroughs: you live upstate!
22. You know, the rent is too damn high.
23. “It’s mad brick outside.”
24. “B and T” = Bridge and Tunnel.
25. Instead of standing in line, NYers stand “on line.”
26. “Blocks” not streets, “stoop” not steps.
27. “Not for nothing.”
28. “I’m deadass.”
29. “AIGHT, SO BOOM.”
30. “It’s a wrap.”
31-42. Bruh (stop playing) bruhhh (are you serious?) bro (watch yourself) gimme my 3 feet (get away from me) dumb (exaggerate “dumb brick out”) whip (nice car) guap (money) trippin (being extra) beef (difference of opinion) you good (are you ok?) Don’t worry about it? (Stop.) You’re cool. (Do we have a problem?)
43. “Only in NY…” means you just saw some crazy ish rolling down the street
What’s in your NYer lexicon? Add it in a comment here!