California slang words and phrases have their unique flavor, drawing heavily on the influence of California’s diverse population and popular culture.
Slang words are informal language people use in a specific region or culture. These words can be anything from colorful sayings and phrases to conversational acronyms.
California Slang Words And Phrases
Slangs are informal language or words used by people in a particular region or social group.
Slang terms can include everyday expressions and phrases and more obscure references to historical events, pop culture, and even obscure sports terminology.
For example, California slang often has roots in surf and skate culture and can be heard throughout California.
In California, slang is everywhere and part of the local culture.
California slang words often express different feelings and emotions or emphasize a sentence. They can be humorous or serious, depending on the context.
California slang can also differentiate people from different backgrounds, such as age, race, gender, and class.
California slang is usually not considered proper English language usage but rather an informal way to communicate with people from California.
36 Famous California Slang Words And Phrases
California has always been a melting pot of culture, and its slang reflects this.
California Slang words have roots in music, sports, and entertainment, making California an important hub throughout history.
From surfing to hip-hop to Hollywood films, California slang words and phrases have steadily evolved since the 1940s.
As a result, the California slang we know today is a mashup of different decades and trends.
California natives take pride in incorporating regional slang into their language.
California slang words and phrases vary greatly depending on the region of the state you are in.
From NorCal to SoCal, Californians have unique colloquialisms they use all the time. Here is a list of some common California slang words and phrases:
1. Chill:
That is used as a way to relax and take it easy. It can also be used in California slang as a gentle reminder not to get too heated about something.
In California, people often say “chill” instead of “calm down.”
2. Hella:
In California, this term is used to emphasize the intensity of something. It can be used to emphasize a positive or negative outcome.
For example, someone might say, “I’m hella excited for the weekend,” or “That test was hella hard.” It is an intensifier similar to “very” or “really.”
Also, It is a very common California slang word and can be used in many contexts.
3. Hang Out:
In California, instead of saying, “let’s go out” or “let’s meet up“, people often say, “let’s hang out.”
It suggests an informal and relaxing atmosphere without formal plans. For instance, you might ask a friend, “do you want to hang out this weekend?”
4. Cali:
This California slang term is short for California and can refer to the state or anything related to California.
For example, someone might say, “Let’s have a Cali-style barbecue” or “I’m going back to Cali next week.”
5. Rad:
This California slang term is short for radical and describes something cool or awesome.
So, for example, someone might say, “That new restaurant is so rad!”
6. Spill The Tea:
This California slang phrase means giving the juicy gossip or all the details.
The phrase is often used light-heartedly, usually with friends and family.
Instead, it’s typically used to request information, such as “spill the tea on what happened at that party last night!”
7. Bougie:
This California slang term is short for bourgeois and is used to describe something or someone that is high-class, luxurious, or pretentious.
For example, someone might say, “That restaurant is so bougie” or “She’s so bougie with her fancy clothes.”
8. Salty:
This California slang word is used to describe someone who is in a bad mood, annoyed or angry.
It can also be an adjective to describe something that’s not awesome or pleasant.
For instance, if your friend has a strained relationship with their boss at work, you might say, “that’s pretty salty!”
Or to someone who is generally bitter, “Why you gotta be so salty?“
9. Fire:
This California slang term is used to describe something excellent or impressive.
For example, someone might say, “That food was fire,” or “Her outfit looks fire.” It can be used as an adjective.
10. Gnarly:
This California slang term is used to describe something challenging.
For example, someone might say, “That math problem was gnarly” or “That hike was gnarly.”
It can also describe a dangerous situation or out of control.
11. Basic:
This California slang word describes someone needing more knowledge or sophistication.
However, it can also be used to describe something mundane or unoriginal.
For instance, if your friend wears the same outfit every weekend, you might jokingly say, “that’s pretty basic!”
12. Flex:
This California slang term describes when someone boasts or shows off.
For example, someone might say, “He was flexing on everyone with his new car.” This term originated from the phrase “flexing one’s muscles.”
13. Vibin:
This California slang term describes when someone is feeling something at a particular moment.
For example, someone might say, “I’m just vibin’ with the music,” or “We were all vibin’ at that party.”
14. Turnt:
This California slang means to be wild and excited, usually when partying or having a good time.
For example, someone might say, “The party was so turnt last night,” or “We got so turnt at that concert.”
15. Yolo:
This California slang term stands for “you only live once” and encourages people to take risks or do something daring.
For example, someone might say, “Let’s just do it, YOLO!” or “She’s yoloing on that roller coaster.“
16. Fo Sho:
This California slang phrase is short for “for sure” and is used to express agreement or certainty.
For example, someone might say, “I’ll be there fo sho” or “I’m gonna do it, fo sho!“
17. Fresno Slide:
This California slang phrase is used to describe a situation in which someone tries to avoid an uncomfortable conversation by quickly and smoothly changing the subject.
For example, someone might say, “He did a Fresno slide when I asked about his ex,” or “I think she just did a Fresno slide to avoid answering that question.”
18. The Show:
This California slang phrase is used to refer to Los Angeles and the surrounding area, especially Hollywood and California’s entertainment industry.
For example, someone might say, “I’m heading to the show next week,” or “He lives in the show now.”
19. Janky:
This California slang word describes something of low quality, cheap, or unreliable.
So, for example, someone might say, “This computer is so janky it barely works,” or “That car looks janky; I wouldn’t trust it.”
20. Flow:
This California slang term is typically used to describe someone’s clothing style.
For example, someone might say, “He always has the best flow,” or “Look at that flow; he looks so fresh.”
21. Dogdrop:
This California slang term is used to describe someone who is friends with everyone, regardless of their social status or background.
For example, someone might say, “He’s such a dogdrop; he’ll talk to anyone,” or “She always makes sure to dogdrop everyone she meets.”
22. Heater:
This California slang term is used to describe someone or something amazing, incredible, or extremely cool.
For example, someone might say, “That new car is a heater,” or “She looks so good tonight—she’s a real heater!”
23. Bail:
This California slang term is used to describe someone leaving a social gathering or event.
For example, someone might say, “Time to bail this party” or “We’re gonna bail early tonight.“
24. No Cap:
This California slang term is used to indicate that someone is being honest and serious.
For example, someone might say, “No cap, I’m telling the truth,” or “I said it, no cap.”
25. Hundo P:
This California slang term is used to describe something 100% accurate and true.
For example, someone might say, “That’s hundo p” or “Totally hundo p.” This term originated from the phrase “100 percent.”
26. Swervin’:
This California slang term indicates that someone has quickly changed direction or gone off the beaten path.
For example, someone might say, “He swerved hard into the next lane” or “She’s swervin’ on her journey.”
27. Lit:
This California slang term is used to describe something exciting and enjoyable.
For example, someone might say, “This party is lit!” or “I had a lit weekend.” It can also be used to describe someone who is attractive.
28. Right On:
This California slang term is used to express agreement, similar to “yes” or “cool.”
For example, someone might say, “Right on! I’ll be there.” It is often used in a casual setting and can be used to show enthusiasm or approval.
29. Surf Language:
This California slang term refers to the language of surfing.
It includes words and phrases like “gnarly,” “barrel,” and “shredding.”
Surf language is often used by those who live close to the California coastline or are familiar with the surfing culture.
30. Totally:
This California slang term is an intensifier and often expresses agreement or enthusiasm.
For example, you might say, “That movie was totally awesome!” It’s similar to the use of “hella” but with a different connotation.
31. Chillax:
This California slang term combines the words “chill” and “relax.”
It’s used to convey the idea of calming down and taking things easy.
For example, if someone feels stressed or overwhelmed, you might say, “Chillax! Everything will be okay.“
32. Surfers:
This California slang term has multiple meanings. On the one hand, it can be used to refer to those who partake in surfing.
On the other hand, it can also be used as a generic term for California natives — regardless of whether or not they surf.
For example, you might say, “He’s from California — he’s a surfer.“
33. Bomb:
This California slang term is used to describe something excellent or top-notch.
For example, you might say, “That new movie was bomb!” It can also be used generally in place of the word “awesome,” as in “That party was bomb!”
34. Hot Box:
This California slang term means to fill a room with marijuana smoke.
The term’s origin comes from the boxes used by growers to dry out weed before the sale.
Hot boxing is an activity where people get together in a room and fill it up with marijuana smoke by smoking joints, blunts, or bongs.
35. Dime Piece:
This California slang term is used to describe someone incredibly attractive, usually a woman.
The origin of the term comes from the dime being worth 10 cents, which is an incomparable value for something beautiful or rare.
It’s often used in a playful manner and not to be taken seriously.
36. Fo’ Shizzle:
This California slang phrase emphasizes or adds energy to whatever it accompanies.
It’s usually used in a fun and casual setting, such as with friends.
The phrase is an abbreviation for “for sure” and is often used in place of other California slang words and phrases like “hella” or “totally.
Final Thoughts:
California has its own lingo, from “janky” (something that is messed up or broken) to “hella” (really).
California slang words and phrases are an ever-changing part of California culture that continues to evolve with the times.
Whether you’re a California native or just visiting, understanding California slang can help you fit in and understand the locals!
Learning California slang words and phrases will also make California trips more enjoyable. So have fun exploring this unique and colorful part of California culture!
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