[expr.] AAVE slang => argot

[Agnès E.]

Discussion thread / Fil de discussion : click




AAVE slang - A - E

A
All Good :
(adj) In a positive state of being ; auspicious
motivé

All/Like that!
Very desirable; Very much in fashion or demand; very good
(Très à la mode)
Cool (fam.), branché (fam.), chébran (verlan)

Ay yo trip :
(interjection)
A greeting whereby you want to call attention to the subject at hand.
mate (= regarde) or téma (verlan)

B
Ball: Also Meatball; Buck
(n) One Hundred; A “ball-thirty” is $130.00 (USD)
If someone weights 150 lbs. you could say he weighs “a buck fifty” or “a ball fifty”; If someone has 100.00, you would say “he has a meatball.”
Etymology: From a wad of bills adding up to $100.00, which resembles a round ball or a meatball.
Cent: cent dollars/livres, etc.
Étymologie : d’un tas de billets qui ressemblent à une balle ou une boulette.

(Be) Down:
(adj) In accord with; “We was[sic] all down for cruisin’ in our rides.
Être d'accord pour...

Boo-yaa
(adj) Totally awesome; incredibly fine; very desirable. Ex. That was straight-up boo-yaa!
(génial/formidable)
trop bon (that’s how cool people say “très bien”)
chanmé
géant
énorme
un truc de ouf (ouf=verlan of "fou"), un truc de malade


C


D
Dip
1) (vt) To exit your immediate surrounding; depart; Go
2) –ed (adj) Be Dipped: To wear some very nice and expensive clothes, particularly, designer labels; à la mode, "Girlfriend dipped like that; got her Roca Wear, her FUBU, and her G-Wear workin’ ".
(s’en aller)
1)se casser, s’arracher, se tirer
(it means "to leave" but you can’t really add "to somewhere")
2) sapé comme un prince (saper = habiller)
classieux
chicos (the S needs to be uttered)
branché or(verlan) chébran(more general, not just for clothes)

Dis :
(vt) Short for disrespect; to decry another’s honor; to question the validity of anothers ideas or social standing
traiter (this verb should normally be followed by something :"tu m'as traité de débile" , standard French - but is also used as an intransitive verb equivalent of "insulter", vulg.)

[Don’t/Doesn’t] Play :
(vt) [S/He is] serious ; S/he is not kidding, joking or acting foolishly; “Don’t mess with her: she don’t play…”
Il/elle est sérieux(se) ; il/elle ne blague pas, ne se comporte pas bêtement ou sottement, ni ne frime ni charrie.


Down Low :
(adj) discrete ; without much fanfare or notice ; quietly; “Y’all would wanna keep it onna down-low”
discrètement ; sans fanfare ; doucement
en douce (fam.), en loucedé (verlan)

Drop Science, Drop Knowledge; Drop Skills:
(vt) Usually "Drop skills"; Demonstrate ability, wisdom, or skill. “My boy Dontel [playing basketball is] droppin’ some mad skills”
Assurer

E

 

[Agnès E.]

Discussion thread / Fil de discussion : click




AAVE slang - F - L

F
Feel/Smell
(v) eg. "I feel/smell you, dawg"
Être d’accord; se mettre d'accord

Flava :
(n) literally, “Flavor”; “tasty” or interesting things or events; enjoyment, entertainment;
2) (colloquial) that which pertains to Afro-American culture.
1) littéralement, arôme/saveur ; bonheur, amusement, plaisir
2) ce qui appartient à la culture noire américaine


Floss:
(vt) Show Off
crâner (fam.) ; faire de l’épate (pop.) ; se la péter (fam.) ; se la raconter (fam.) ; taper la frime (fam.), frimer (fam.)

Flow
1) (vt.) To engage in poetic discourse, usually in a rhyming style.
2) (vt.) Be a certain way; to be in a certain state of mind: ex. “You know I ain’t [don’t] flow like that!”
1) ça pulse
2) (avoir un certain air/manière d’être)

FO-FO:
(n) A forum; a place where people gather to exchange ideas, thoughts, and insights
forum

G
Get Ghost :
(v) leave town ; make one’s self scarce;
quitter la ville, quitter un endroit, se faire rare

Good lookin’ (out), Pimpin’ /Dawg/Girl!
(interjection)
An expression of gratitude for an act of kindness
merci d'y avoir jeté un oeil, mec (fam.)
c'est cool, je te remercie (fam.)
Merci du coup de main, mec ! (fam.)
T'es un vrai pote, mec ! (pop.)
T'as été cool sur ce coup-là, mon pote (fam.)
T'as assuré grave, mec (vulg.)

Grizzy: slang for “grind”, or “the grind”: A job; Work; What you do for a living or a hustle
turbin (fam.), taf/taff (fam.), gagne-pain (pop.), arnaque (arg.)

H
Heffa :
(n) corruption of « Heifer », literally, a young cow; A pejorative term for a disagreeable, undesirable woman; used as an insult.
Littéralement : une jeune vache, une génisse ; greluche (arg.), garce (pop.), salope (vulg.), peau de vache (pop.), radasse (vulg.)

Homie :
1) (n) Somone with whom you have a close relationship; typically someone who you live in close proximity to, or someone you work with; also someone you have respect and admiration for.
Ami(e)
1) pote (pop.), copain (fam.)

I
Ill :
1) -in(vt) Acting in a socially inappropriate manner. “You be [are] illin’”
2) (adj) Not right; dumb; also used in a positive sense: “She is so good lookin; she is ill!”
1) déconner (vulg.), être relou (verlan)
2) d'enfer (positif, fam.)

in my fillins (feelings)
(adv) feeling bad or sad or disappointed about something.
"Dawwwg (mec), I wuz [was] in my fillins [feelings] on'nat [on that]!")
se sentir triste/déçu (désappointé) à propos de quelque chose


In the House:
(adverbial phrase) Here (or there); present and accounted for.
dans la place


J
JI:
(adv) An intensifier, used to stress the importance or intensity of something; Very; to a great degree; Ex." It be JI cold up in heah, dawg..."
grave

Jo’nt (Joint):
1)(n) A work, or undertaking; more generally, something. “Dis’ jo’nt be oan and poppin’!”
2) A marijuana cigarette
1) un travail ; une tâche entreprise ; ou, plus simplement, quelque chose.
2) un joint ; une cigarette de marijuana/cannabis

Jumping Off :
1) (v) Taking place ; going on ; occurring ; “Ain’t nuttin much jumpin’ off up in heah…’cept mebbee da snow, an’ I like me some snow…”
se passer, arriver, se produire
2) Jump Off: (n) someone with whom you are having an illicit relationship
Amant, maîtresse

K
Kickin’ it off da Bo-Bo: To say “wussup” (what’s up?/ to a homie(friend); shooting the shit
pour engager une conversation ; ça gaze ? (pop.), ça pulse ? (fam.), ça farte ? (fam.)


L

 

[Agnès E.]

Discussion thread / Fil de discussion : click




AAVE slang - M - S

M


N


O
On Point :
(adj) Correct ; To the point ; astute
juste ; correcte ; astucieux
Pile-poil (pop.)

P
Phat :
1) (adj) Physically attractive; having a bodacious body; curvy; an acronym for PHysically ATtractive, or Pretty, Hot, And Tempting.
2) High quality, extraordinary; “We wuz bumpin some phat beats!”
1) Attirant (regular word); pimpant (a bit obsolete)
(nouns) une bombe, une bombe atomique, un canon
(adj) canon
2)( De la haute qualité; extraordinaire)


Poppin’ Collars: Trying to appear to be very desirable/popular, even though this is probably not the case
Essayer d’être populaire/à la mode alors que ce n’est pas le cas

Poppin’ Tags: buying a lot of new clothes and showing them off
acheter beaucoup de vêtements et faire de l’esbrouffe ; frimer (fam.), crâner (fam.)

Props:
(noun) short for "propers" or "proper respect". A term used to show appreciation or respect for what someone has done, said, etc.
respect


Q



R
Ride; Wheels; chariot; whip, hooptie:
(n) a car ; one’s personal means of transportation; A “hooptie” is an old, broken down car.
Une « hooptie » est une vielle voiture déglinguée.
caisse; chignole; chiotte; tire

Rockin’
(vt.) To wear proudly; ex. "I was rocking my brand new Nikes".
afficher
se la péter avec



S
Scrill/Ink/Paper/Cheddar(or cheese);Benjamins:
1) (n) money; material wealth e.g. "Got to make my chedda betta"; "Its all about the ink." "No need to support her, she makes her own cheese."
2) "Benjamin" comes from the $100.00 (USD) bill, which has a picture of Benjamin Franklin on it.
Pèze (arg.), monnaie (fam.), flouze (pop.), fric (fam.), pognon (pop.), thune/thunes (pop.), ronds (fam.), blé (pop.), avoine (pop.), foin (pop.) oseille (pop.)

Shorty :
1) (n) A young person under 18.
2)(n)A close friend.
3) (n) A girlfriend, used typically as a term of affection.
3) (n) A small alcoholic beverage, typically beer.
4) (n) A paramour, typically of a strictly sexual nature (pejorative).
1) enfant môme (pop.), gosse (pop.), mioche (pop.), morpion (arg.), morveux (pop.)...
2) copine/petite amie greluche (pop.), gonzesse (arg.), meuf (verlan)
3) une petit bouteille de bière une binouze, une p'tite bière (we don't have the exact quantitative equivalent!) un godet (= a drink)
4) pétasse, chaudasse

Slumped: Dead; murdered
Mort ; cané (arg.) ; assassiné ; buté (arg.), descendu (arg.), refroidi (arg.)

Straight(up)
(adv)
1) In fact; for certain
2) [Truly] Desirable; having, without a doubt, good qualities
Vraiment
trop (used as "très")
grave (used as "beaucoup")

 

[Agnès E.]

Discussion thread / Fil de discussion : click




AAVE slang - T - Z

T
Tite (tight)
(adj)
Desirable; possessing exceptionally good qualities
à donf
C’est d’la balle
C’est le top du top
C’est balaise de chez balaise
C’est d’la bombe de balle
C’est trop d’la balle
Trop bon
chanmé (de méchant)
grave

Th[r]ow Down :
(vt) Prepare a sumptuous, tasty feast; prepare an elaborate meal/party ; “When ma girl ha’ da fam ovah fo’ dinna da ova night, she tho’w down!”
Préparer un délicieux festin ; organiser une réception avec minutie.
Mettre les petits plats dans les grands (pop.)

Trill:
(adj) short for "Keeping it real"; authentic; real
e.g. "Ma boi XZibit is trill...ya heard?!"
authentique, véritable

True that (“tru dat”)
(interjection) “I concur”; An expression of agreement.
D’accord ; c’est vrai !


U
Up in Here
(adverbial phrase): In this location or vicinity.
e.g. "Lots of love going 'round up in here..."
ici ; dans cet endroit

V


W
Wack
1) (adj) Derivation of the word “weak”; Uncool; dumb; being totally inappropriate
2) (adj) Nonsense/Stupid/B.S.
1) givré, fêlé, grave
2) n'importe naouak(sort of verlan for "n'importe quoi")

Wifey:
(n) Close female friend ; sometimes involving a sexual relationship ;
une amie intime ; de temps en temps avec un relation ou rapport sexuelle.


XYZ
You Go, Girl/Boy !
(interjection)
Expression of approval
Féminine : Vas-y, poulette/ma cocotte/ma vieille/ma grosse/chérie
Masculin :vas-y mon coco/mon vieux/mon gros/chéri/mon gars/mon pote



Various forms of addressing the male of the species

Son, Young, Dawg, Du’[de], pimpin’, fam, homie/homes , (my) boi(y), my nigga (only used by Afro-Americans to other Afro-Americans, otherwise this would be an insult);
(n) an appellation of the male of the species, with varying degrees of familiarity
Mon gars (pop.), petit (fam.), mon coco (démodé), mon vieux (fam.), mon pote (pop.), mec (pop.)