All Things Ghetto

Nah, Also, naw (nah, naw), interj.  No.  A way of showing disagreement.  “Nah, I don't want to.”  “Hell, naw.”  [Etym., 90’s youth culture]

Nasty,  Also narsty, (NAS-tee, NARS-tee) adj.,  Not tasteful, disgusting, sexually perverse.  “I heard that girl got nasty after the prom.” When used as a noun, sexual relations.  “They were doin’ the nasty.”  [Etym., Hip hop]

Nizzel (NI-zul) n.,  Friend, brother, family.  “You’re my main nizzel.”  [Etym., African American]

No Ma Mes, (No MAH mace) phrase, interjection., literally, don’t suck on me (as a mother cow might say to her calf), don’t bother me.  “Hey, man, forget about it, no ma mes.”  [Etym., Chicano/Spanish]

O

O.G. (oh gee) n., Original Gangster, a comrade of long standing, a veteran or elder.  “We had to learn our ways from the OG’s.”  [Etym., African American]

P

P. I., (pee eye) n., Personal information.  “This information is strictly P. I.”  Also., adj., “You have to promise to keep it P. I.”   [Etym., 80’s youth]

Packing, (PACK-ing)  v. pres. participle,  Carrying a weapon.  “When that security guard grabbed me, I could feel he was packing.”  [Etym., African American]

Patna, (PAT-na) n., Friend, comrade.   “Yo, patna, haven’t seen you in weeks.”  [Etym., African American, from partner.]

Peace out, (pees aut) interjection., goodbye, see you later.  “Peace out, guys.”  Also simply, Peace.  [Etym., African American]

Peeps, (peeps)  n., Friends, associates.  “I’m sticking with my peeps.”  [Etym., African American]

Perky, (PER-kee) adj.,  Possessing a thick butt with a slim figure.  “That girl’s pants make her look perky.”  [Etym., African American]

Phat, (fat) adj.,  Good, great, tight, cool, wealthy.  “The party was phat, we had so much fun.”  (Also:  Phatty used as noun or adjective; Phatty-phatty-bo-batty as adjective.)  [Etym., 17^th Century England, fat, hip hop usage from 80’s, ph- spelling from 1981]  See:  Fat.

Pinche, (PEEN-chay) adj., damned, goddamned, “I can’t get this pinche ride to start.”  [Etym., Chicano/Spanish]

Pinner, (PIN-er) n., A very small, tightly rolled, joint.  “Hey, don’t just roll a pinner.”  [Etym., drug culture]

Player, (PLAY-er)  n., Also:  Playa.  Someone who is dating two or more people at the same time.  A pimp.  “Jordan thinks he is such a player.”  [Etym., from Superfly film, Curtis Mayfield.]

Poke, (poke) v., To have sexual relations.  “Got to have something to poke on.”  Also as noun:  “I want to get my poke in.”  Demeaning.  [Etym., hip hop]

Pookie, (PU-kee) n., marijuana, bot., cannabis sativa.  “Yo, fool, where’s the pookie at?”  [Etym., drug culture]

Poontang, (POON-tang)  n., Female genitals.  “He can’t think of anything but poontang.” Also:  poonanny. [Etym., American south, 1920’s]

Pooped, (poopt)  v. past participle.  Out of breath, exhausted.  “I was pooped after the long hike.”  [Etym., 60’s youth culture]

Po-po, (poe poe) n., the police.  “Uh, oh, here comes the po-po.”  [Etym., African American]

Poppin’ a collar,  (POP-in a CAL-er) v., pres. participle.   A style of dancing in which the dancer holds his/her collar and rocks gently to the music.  “Those hood rats are always poppin’ a collar.” [Etym., Hip hop]

Props (props) n., Respect, credit that is due to one, credit for accomplishment.  “I’ve gotta give props to the teachers we had.”  [Etym., hip hop]

Punk, (punk) n., A person into the punk music scene; a coward; someone who deliberately attempts to annoy.  “I knew he’d turn out to be a punk.”  [Etym., 80’s youth]

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