The metropolis of New York is often viewed as a single entity by those who have never visited it. It’s easy to think of the town as a whole and overlook the fact that it’s actually made up of many communities, each with distinct ways of life. Perhaps one of New York city’s most famous neighborhoods, named “Brooklyn,” is a cultural icon around the world.

It is the purpose of this article to examine some of the best Brooklyn slang words and phrases used nowadays. Determine which of these you typically observe in Brooklyn. New York has its unique vocabulary, and if you’re not from the United States, you could pick up a few amazing buzzwords in this blog post, so keep reading!
How To Use Brooklyn Slang Words
- 718 (numerical) – The 718 zip code serves parts of Brooklyn and the neighboring metropolitan area. The following are the likely starting numerals for a local contact number if you have been a lifelong resident of this territory. (Eg.) Since Sam’s area code is 718, so I am pretty sure he is currently residing in Brooklyn.
- A Hunnit (adjective) – Carrying forth one’s actions in an open and truthful manner. (Eg.) Brad is totally a hunnit, especially in the case of Emma.
- Aight Bet (interjection) – This term is flexible in accordance with the speaker’s tone. Speaking it without emphasizing either positive or negative connotations usually means you’re simply trying to say “awesome” or “fine”. As an alternative meaning, it means to wager on an outcome. (Eg.) I’m not sure if I’ll be able to attend your wedding celebration. Aight bet, perhaps another time.
- Baba (noun) – Unprincipled lady, without any honor. The habitual partner of many mates in bed. In some contexts, it often also refers to a prostitute. (Eg.) Avoid that baba like the plague; she’s only out to shatter your emotions.
- BKNY (noun) – “Brooklyn New York” is an abbreviation for this initialism, i.e., “BKNY”. Only write “BKNY” if you do not really feel like typing the full phrase. (Eg.) I just heard James and Emily moved from LA to BKNY last week.
- Brick (adjective) – The weather is bone-chilling (too much cold), and this term means that literally if you must venture outdoors, do so only if you are fully clothed. (Eg.) Tomorrow is a mad brick day, so ensure to dress in heavy clothes.
- Brolic (adjective) – It’s high praise when somebody refers to you as “brolic”. The implication is that you possess physical fitness and/or strength. (Eg.) Since Andrew workout on a daily basis for many hours in the morning, we can safely say that he is a brolic.
- Bucktown (noun) – An alternate moniker for the New York City borough of Brooklyn. (Eg.) Bucktown is where Margaret spent her entire childhood.
- Buggin’ (verb) – Experiencing an extreme reaction. Being overcome by strong negative emotions such as rage, fear, or anxiety. (Eg.) Roger is now in a state of buggin’ out, so ignore him for your own safety.
- Clachet (noun) – Smooth and slick. An example of this type of individual is a woman who seems to be obviously spoiled but attempts to conceal it with elaborate nail art and a full face of makeup. (Eg.) Although I am aware of my clachet-ness, I make no apologies for it.
- Clipped (adjective) – It refers to anything that is completely done or finished. (Eg.) The wings of this celebration will soon be clipped. It’s time to leave this place.
- Cop (verb) – In no way does this pertain to legitimate law enforcement personnel. To “cop” anything is to acquire it, usually by purchasing it. (Eg.) I need to know where I would get my hands on (cop) a pair of those hiking boots.
- Cribas (noun) – Shorthand for a house or residence; commonly used in Brooklyn. (Eg.) Jenny’s new cribas is seriously cool and lit as fu*k.
- Dayroom (adjective) – There is no universally agreed-upon definition for the term “dayroom,” and its usage might imply a variety of things to various individuals. However, it is mostly a pejorative term in Brooklyn, used to describe a person who is behaving childishly or otherwise obnoxiously. (Eg.) John’s been quite a dayroom recently that I’ve stopped hanging out with him.
- Deadass (adjective) – Certainly a top contender among the most well-known slang term ever to originate in the city of Brooklyn. To be deadass means to take stuff extremely seriously. (Eg.) Just now, he made a daring leap from the fourth story. It’s incredible that he’s still breathing right now. I am not joking; I am deadass about it.
- Drid (adjective) – To feel strong resentment or anger toward somebody. (Eg.) Because Arnold caught me being intimate with his buddy the night before, he has been fuming since then.
- Dub (noun) – A person or object you would rather avoid at all costs. To put it simply, it’s dull, inconvenient, or unappealing. (Eg.) I know I’m acting like a baby for not wanting to be connected to Jessica. But that girl is a dub.
- Eats (noun) – A term used to describe foodstuff in a broad sense. (Eg.) What David really craves is some eats. He seems to be in dire need of food.
- Facts (interjection) – When someone utters this word, it indicates that what he or she just stated is genuine and factual. (Eg.) On my way to the Old Trafford stadium yesterday evening, I spotted Cristiano Ronaldo. This is a cold, hard fact, man.
- Feening (verb) – Whenever you’re going out of your way to impress someone. Attempting to accomplish anything more difficult than it seems impossible. (Eg.) Stop what you’re doing and take a breather. You are currently experiencing a state of feening.
- Finesse (verb) – The art of getting what one wants by deceiving others. (Eg.) After some deft maneuvering, I was able to finesse my way to the nightclub yesterday.
- Good Looks (interjection) – This is what you tell a kind person when they surprise you with a gift. Besides, it is equivalent to the expression of gratitude. (Eg.) You can thank me later. I picked up some chicken, eggs, and cheddar at the local store. Good looks! You’ve got things spot on! I was actually starving.
- Grimey (adjective) – One definition of grimey is “worse than mud,” which is an alternative method of describing it. This term is used for a person who is dirty, is probably unreliable, or has betrayed you in a certain way. (Eg.) Johnson is a grimey. Therefore, I’ve stopped communicating with him.
- Guap (noun) – It’s true that if you have guap, you have cash. A slang term for money in the neighborhood of Brooklyn. (Eg.) And if you do possess guap, Emily is all set for some physical intimacy with you.
- Gucci (adjective) – Having one’s style compared to Gucci is a high compliment. Its general meaning is “good,” and it might be used as an affirmation that one is doing fine. (Eg.) You’re looking at a Gucci hamburger here, young man.
- Hollywood (adjective) – This is a common way to characterize an individual who is renowned or well-known yet doesn’t have time to keep in touch with his old pals. (Eg.) A less Hollywood attitude would be appreciated by my best friend. As of recently, I haven’t received any word from him.
- I’m Dead (interjection) – As a Brooklynite, you would use this expression to convey the idea that you were so amused that you were on the verge of passing out from laughter. (Eg.) Check out the GIF my sibling forwarded over Friday evening! I’m dead when I first saw it!
- Jatty (noun) – A huge and alluring ass. This idiom is commonly used to describe a lady with a desirable posterior. (Eg.) Holy crap, look at her hot jatty! I’m sorry, but I can’t rein on my hard cock.
- Link (verb) – Get together with a person. (Eg.) Please share your contact number if you’d like to link with me further.
- Moving Funny (verb) – When a person’s actions raise red flags. (Eg.) I hadn’t seen Olivia in a while, but she was moving funny when I did. Can anyone perhaps go watch upon her?
- OD or Odee (verb) – While the term “OD” can refer to a drug overdose, it is most commonly used to indicate excessive action. (Eg.) It’s OD for our lecturer to give us assignments on the initial day of the session.
- Peep This (interjection) – To persuade a person to pay attention and observe stuff, you might use this phrase. (Eg.) Peep This: I will win over the affections of that sweet honey (babe) in a couple of moments.
- Ratchet (noun) – An impoverished lady. (Eg.) Ratchets are not worthy of your attention. Don’t ever expect to discover affection in their company.
- Spliff (noun) – As in, a blunt. Rolling up some weed, there. (Eg.) Paul spun a spliff deliberately today inside the lecture room, and the professor didn’t notice.
Final Words
If you’re from Brooklyn, or if you’ve ever spent any time there, you know that the borough has its own unique way of speaking. While some words and phrases might be specific to certain neighborhoods, there are plenty of general Brooklyn slang terms that everyone knows. In this article, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best Brooklyn slang words and how to use them. So whether you’re a native New Yorker or just visiting the city, make sure to drop some of these terms into your conversation and show off your Brooklyn pride.
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