AAVE
African American Vernacular English expressions
hyphy
Aggressive Bay Area hip-hop and the wild, uninhibited behavior tied to it—where the music's energy demands you abandon all restraint.
bet
A compressed affirmation where delivery determines meaning—enthusiastic for genuine agreement, flat for skeptical doubt.
fam
An informal term for someone in your close circle—chosen family rather than blood, carrying warmth and trust.
its giving
A way to name the energy or vibe something is projecting, using an intentionally incomplete sentence that creates knowing shorthand.
bussin
An exclamation of genuine delight when food exceeds expectations — involuntary praise that announces satisfaction too intense for regular compliments.
no cap
An emphatic declaration of complete honesty, used to signal that what you're saying contains no exaggeration or lies.
finna
Signals immediate future action — something is about to happen right now, not later, compressing urgency and intention into two syllables.
on my mama
An oath invoking maternal respect to guarantee truthfulness — lying would dishonor the one relationship sacred enough to swear upon.
slay
An exclamation celebrating exceptional style, confidence, or performance—recognition that someone completely dominated a moment.
the town
Oakland's self-identifier asserting urban legitimacy separate from San Francisco — a nickname that transforms geographic proximity into cultural independence.
fiti
A Kenyan affirmation that everything's satisfactory — the person, the situation, the moment — flexible enough to work as greeting, response, or compliment.