Let's Talk About AAVE! (P-Z)

Note: Due to the length of the original article, it was separated into two sections. For a list of AAVE terminology from A to O, see Part One.

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P

■ Packing

Meaning: a word used to describe a larger than average AMAB genitalia. (ie: Damn, he's packing!")

What to use instead: Nothing. Why are we commenting on the size of other people's genitals? That's creepy and unnecessary.

■ Pop Off!

Meaning: to describe someone's accomplishment, or something going well (ie: you passed your test? Pop off!")

What to use instead: Other congratulatory terms such as "Good job!" or "Way to go!"

■ Pressed

Meaning: to be angry, upset, or offended.

What to use instead: Words like stressed, rattled, upset, bothered, or angry.

■ Period/Periodt

Meaning: to express approval, end a sentence, or emphasize an idea.

What to use instead: Nothing.

Q

■ Queen

Meaning: a term of endearment used to refer to a beautiful woman.

What to use instead: Words like beautiful and synonyms: such as stunning, exquisite, ravishing, gorgeous, or ethereal.

R

■ Rando

Meaning: A random person.

What to use instead: Stranger works fine.

■ Read [someone]

Meaning: To read someone is to point out their flaws.

What to use instead: You can replace a read with a roast. Or just don't be a dick.

■ Real

Meaning: to express the difficulty of something (ie: the struggle is real).

What to use instead: You can express difficulty or acknowledge that you relate to something.

S

■ Salty

Meaning: to be bitter or jealous.

What to use instead: Other words that mean jealous, upset, or hostile.

■ School/Schooling

Meaning: to educate or put someone in their place.

What to use instead: Instead of schooling someone, you are educating or reminding them.

■ [Throwing] Shade

Meaning: to gossip or speak negatively of someone.

What to use instead: Instead of someone throwing shade, they're disrespecting, gossiping, or insulting.

■ Shook

Meaning: to be surprised or shaken up by something.

What to use instead: Words like shocked, rattled, astonished, or similar adjectives.

■ Side eye

Meaning: to be suspicious or skeptical.

What to use instead: Instead of side eyeing someone, you could roll your eyes at them or not take them seriously.

■ Simp

Meaning: to be overly desperate toward a love interest.

What to use instead: Nothing.

■ Slay

Meaning: to look good or complete something to perfection.

What to use instead: You can tell someone they perfected or dominated something.

■ [Spilling] Tea

Meaning: to gossip.

What to use instead: Nothing.

■ Stan

Meaning: to adore or be a big fan of something or someone.

What to use instead: Say "I adore that" or "I'm obsessed with that."

■ Sus

Meaning: suspicious.

What to use instead: suspicious, or similar words.

■ Swag/Swagger

Meaning: to be cool or confident.

What to use instead: Other adjectives that describe a person's demeanour, such as confident, smooth, self-assured, or smug.

T

■ Thick | Thicc

Meaning: a curvaceous body.

What to use instead: Adjectives like curvy or voluptuous.

■ Thirst/Thirsty

Meaning: desperate, usually for attention.

What to use instead: Adjectives like desperate.

■ Thot

Meaning: an acronym used to characterize female figures.

What to use instead: Nothing.

■ Tight

Meaning: cool, neat, or interesting.

What to use instead: other synonyms of cool: such as exciting, awesome, fascinating. I'm also fond of older slang words like rad and gnarly.

■ Trash

Meaning: something really bad, or lacking in quality.

What to use instead: negative adjectives such as poor, awful, atrocious, terrible, or horrendous.

■ Tussle

Meaning: fight.

What to use instead: the word fight.

■ Tweak/Tweaking

Meaning: a verb similar to lag, used to describe a person or thing whose behaviour is abnormal.

What to use instead: Describe slow movements of electronics with words/phrases like "lagging" or "being slow". Describe someone's abnormal behaviour as eccentric, unusual, odd, or atypical.

W

■ What's Poppin'?

Meaning: What's up?

What to use instead: What's up? or How's it going?

■ Woke

Meaning: to be open-minded or alert, generally politically.

What to use instead: We can describe ourselves as politically aware, open minded, or knowledgeable.

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Sources

https://aaveglossary.carrd.co/#a-e

https://thetab.com/uk/2021/04/15/aave-words-202195

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/sydneethompson/aave-language-appropriation

https://katblaque.tumblr.com/post/122522946957/queerkents-mintflavoredroses-queerkents

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ioy3CDX_iR75DNJwvz7ftq51EXAvZ99C51HP1V_zPOY/edit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Vernacular_English#Origins

https://www.garfieldmessenger.org/6418/articles/news/a-brief-history-of-aave/