Californians have their own vocabulary: do you know these California slang words? Learn them to speak like a local!
Here are the 10 California slang words we will learn. How many of them have you heard used by your California friends?
- Bail
- Ballin’
- (To) bum
- Clutch
- Heads
- Post up
- Sketch(y)
- Trip (out)
- Rock (something)
- Word.
10 California Slang Words You Need to Know
Bail
Definition: To leave a place.
Example: We are going to bail in about 10 minutes.
Ballin’
Definition: To be successful.
Example: My friend from high school invented an app. Now, he’s ballin’.
If you’re “ballin,” then you can go shopping on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles!
(To) bum
Definition: To take something from someone (usually without a plan to return it).
Example: Can I bum $10?
Clutch
Definition: To provide something at the perfect moment.
Example: Thank you for picking us up from the party when it was raining. That was clutch.
“He loaned me his skateboard when mine broke. That was clutch.”
Heads
Definition: People.
Example: How many heads are coming to your party?
“There were a lot of heads at the concert.”
Post up
Definition: Wait somewhere; hang out.
Example: I’ll post up here until you get back.
Sketch(y)
Definition: Something that seems dishonest or untrue.
Example: I’m not sure about this agreement with the credit card company. It seems a little sketchy.
There’s nothing “sketchy” about OC beaches!
Trip (out)
Definition: To be really confused. (This was originally to describe people on drugs; today, it’s for general confusion.)
Example: I was trippin’ out when I saw it was raining on one side of our building but sunny on the other. The weather was so strange!
Rock (something)
Definition 1: To wear something and look good in it.
Example: You’re the only person I know who can rock cowboy boots.
Definition 2: A cool person.
Example: Your brother bought you a new surfboard? He rocks!
Do you know anyone who rocks cowboy boots?
Word.
Definition: An expression meaning “I agree.”
Example:
“This sushi is so good.”
“Word.”
Hungry?