Toronto slang

Toronto slang, also referred to as the "Toronto accent" for its combination of unique vocabulary and phonology, is the specific dialect of informal language used within Canadian English in the Greater Toronto Area.[1][2] It is considered a multiethnolect known as Multicultural Toronto English (MTE).[3] It's commonly associated with Millennial and Gen Z populations in ethnically diverse districts of Toronto, and is a biproduct of the city's multiculturalism.[4] It is spoken specifically within the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, Barrie, and Ottawa.[5] To a lesser extent, Toronto's distinctive slang and accent has been exported to other diverse neighbourhoods and urban Canadian cities as well, which include parts of Montréal, Calgary, and Edmonton.

History

The origin of Toronto's slang and accent can be traced back to widespread migration from the Caribbean, East Africa, and the Middle East to Canada from the 1960s to the 1990s. During this period, a significant influx of immigrants from countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, and Ethiopia predominantly settled in Toronto and other parts of the region.[6][7][8] With many of these immigrants fleeing war, conflict, and poor economic conditions, they were left with limited financial resources and, as a result, found homes in Toronto's lower-income communities.[9][10][11] These neighbourhoods rapidly transformed into vibrant melting pots, filled with a diverse array of cultures and ethnic backgrounds.[12][13] This cultural amalgamation played a crucial role in developing Toronto's urban dialect, which is rooted in Toronto's multiculturalism and draws heavy influence from Caribbean, East African, and Middle Eastern languages.[14]

The second-generation descendants of these immigrants significantly contributed to embedding Toronto's distinctive slang and accent into the city's culture. Faced with limited economic opportunities within their communities, these individuals turned to creative outlets like rap music, fashion, and athletics for both expression and livelihood. Their influence in these areas helped shape the city's popular culture, especially among the youth in the Greater Toronto Area. Consequently, their unique manner of speaking, shaped by the multiculturalism of their communities, gained widespread adoption throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.[15] This linguistic evolution not only reflects Toronto's multicultural heritage but also serves as a unifying cultural element for the city.

Vocabulary
For a list of words relating to Toronto slang, see the Multicultural Toronto English category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Here is a list of common words in Greater Toronto English:

Adjectives
  • "Bare" (very/a lot/many) [originates from Jamaican Patois][16][17]
  • "Beat" (something that looks ugly, can be used to describe an object or person) [18]
  • "Beg" (someone who is needy, can also describe something as pitiful)
  • "Blem" (describes an individual who is high or intoxicated) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
  • "Cheesed" (pissed, mad, angry)[19]
  • "Dess" (short for desperate, can also describe something as pitiful)
  • "Deezed" (describes an individual as muscular and strong)
  • "Dutty" (dirty, bad, ugly) [originates from Jamaican Patois][20]
  • "Dry" (uncool, lame, boring, uninterested)[21]
  • "Fried" (describes an individual who is high or intoxicated)
  • "Greezy" (something impressive or attractive in a fashionable use)[22][23]
  • "Likkle" (small, little) [originates from Jamaican Patois][20]
  • "Live" (used to describe something as lively or exciting, usually an approval or endorsement of an events atmosphere)
  • "Marved" (hungry, starving)[16]
  • "Merked" (ugly, unattractive)
  • "Miskeen" (pathetic, innocent or poor) [originates from Arabic]
  • "Mod" (crazy)
  • "Moshup" (something that is ruined, messed up or botched, commonly used to indicate a situation has gone away) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
  • "Neatly" (used to emphasize the quality or manner in which an action will be carried out)
  • "Next" (describes something other than what is currently discussed, often emphasizing a disregard or need for an alternative)
  • "Namebrand" (something that is important or of high quality, usually used to describe an individual)
  • "Peng" (describes a person who is attractive) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
  • "Soft" (describes something that is permissible and does not require worry)[24]
  • "Sweeterman/Sweeter-ting” (an attractive person)[24][16]
  • "Vexxed" (annoyed, upset or irritated) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
  • "Wassi" (something crazy or unusual, usually describing the actions of a person) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
  • "Waste" (describes something as undesirable or dissatisfying) [originates from Jamaican Patois]

Interjections
  • "Ahlie" (expression to agree with something or "am I lying?") [originates from Jamaican Patois][25]
  • "Are you dumb?" (to describe someone who behaves stupidly and completely idiotically)[25]
  • "Bless up!" (expression of greeting or farewell)[26]
  • "Dun Know/dunno" (replaces "you already know," "of course," or "I know", and also used as a farewell) [originates from Jamaican Patois][27]
  • "Eediot ting" (can refer to an event or action that was stupid or embarrassing to the point of disbelief) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
  • "Fend that" (instructing someone to defend themself, or respond to confrontation)
  • "Holy!" (pronounced 'holay' and used as an expression of surprise or confusion)[28]
  • "Gwan easy" (telling someone to "take it easy", or "calm down") [originates from Jamaican Patois]
  • "Inshallah" ("If God wills it") [originates from Arabic]
  • "Jheez" (used to express surprise, excitement or support)
  • "Jokes!" ("that's jokes!", compliments something funny or hilarious)[29]
  • "Khallas" (signifies that something is finished, completed or done) [originates from Arabic]
  • "Mashallah" (used to congratulate someone) [originates from Arabic]
  • "More life" (used to wish someone good will, most commonly used to replace "happy birthday")
  • "Nize it/nize that" (to tell someone to shut up or stop talking) [27]
  • "Say less/say no more/don't say a word" (used to enthusiastically or supportively agree to a demand, request, or suggestion)
  • "Styll" (pronounced "still" and means agree to someone or the truth and is occasionally used at the last part of a statement)[30][31]
  • "Top left" (used to emphasize the truth or sincerity of a statement, similar to "I swear" or "I promise")
  • "Wagwan" (an equivalent greeting to "what's up" or "what's going on?") [originates from Jamaican Patois][32][25]
  • "Wallahi" ("I swear to God") [originates from Arabic][33]
  • "Warya" (used to address a man directly, or get his attention) [originates from Somali]
  • "What're you sayin?" ("what you up to?" used as an expression of greeting) [originates from Jamaican Patois][29]
  • "Y-pree" (used to tell someone to mind their own business) [originates from Jamaican Patois][34]

Pronouns
  • "Mans" or sometimes "man-dem" (I/me/you/people; first-person singular is the most notable usage) [originates from Jamaican Patois][35]
    • Mans in 21st-century Toronto English has gained special attention in being applied as a variety of personal pronouns, including (most notably) as a first-person singular pronoun (like I or me), a second-person singular pronoun (like you), or an indefinite pronoun (similar to people or folks). A plural-conjugated verb is required with the use of mans; for example: "Mans are ready" can mean "I am ready", "you are ready", or "we are ready". "What are mans saying?" can mean "What am I saying?", "What are you saying?", or "What are we saying?". The similar usage of man as a pronoun is common in Multicultural London English (MLE), but mans as a singular pronoun is exclusively Torontonian;[36] the two terms likely developed in parallel timeframes, but not with one dialect directly affecting the other.[37] It is likely that both usages ultimately come from man with a Jamaican Patois or other Caribbean Creole origin, though no Creole uses mans in this exact way. The process of this pronoun emerging from the original noun, man(s), has been happening in Toronto since roughly 2005 to the present.[38]
  • "My guy" (close friend or acquaintance)
  • "Them/dem-mans/man-dem" (them)
  • "Us mans" (we)
  • "You mans" (you, plural)
  • "Fam" (Friend, or more broadly anyone considered 'family' in a communal sense; can be used in place of 'we' or 'us') [originates from Jamaican Patois]

    Nouns
    • "6ix" (slang term for Toronto)[39]
    • "Abti/upti" (uncle) [originates from Somali]
    • "Akhi" (directly translates to brother, but refers to one's close friend) [originates from Arabic]
    • "Bawtymon" (a derogatory term used to refer to a homosexual individual) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
    • "Boydem/Bwoydem" (refers to government or police) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
    • "Bucktee/bean" (someone who is an addict, homeless, or acts as such) [originates from Somali]
    • "Bangout" (a large fight or brawl, usually one with an audience)
    • "Canteen" (referring to jail or prison)
    • "Chop" (to sell drugs)
    • "Chrome" (a gun or firearm)
    • "Chune" (refers to a song or music) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
    • "Cotch/on cotch" (to have something ready or prepared)
    • "Crib" (someone's place of residence)
    • "Cro/crodie" (crip version of 'bro/brodie' but usually refers to a friend, popularized among non-gang-affiliated individuals through local rap music)
    • "Cronem" (group of 'cros', crip version of 'bronem', and refers to a group of friends)
    • "Cyattie" (describes a female who is being loud and obnoxious) [originates from Jamaican Patois][40]
    • "Cut" (to exit, get away from or leave)
    • "Cuzzo" (cousin)[41]
    • "Deafazz" (giving a hard physical slap or a punch to someone)[23]
    • "Dhillo" (a derogatory term used to refer to a promiscuous woman) [originates from Somali]
    • "Dime piece" (an attractive woman)
    • "DT" (abbreviation for downtown)
    • "Dukes" (slang term for parents)[35]
    • "Duppy" (a ghost or spirit) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
    • "Ends" (area, or neighbourhood) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
    • "Fam" (short for "family" but generally used to refer to a "friend") [originates from Jamaican Patois][42][16]
    • "Gazza" (drama, gossip, conflict or theatrics)
    • "Govy" (abbreviated for someone's government name, legal name, or personal information)
    • "Gyal" (girl) [originates from Jamaican Patois][43]
    • "Gyallis" (a guy who can pick up ladies easily, or has a reputation for persuing several women at a time) [originates from Jamaican Patois][44]
    • "Gyaldem" (group of girls) [originates from Jamaican Patois][22]
    • "Habbad" (a gun or weapon) [originates from Somali]
    • "Headtop" (a persons head, but can metaphorically represent mental state) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
    • "Hoodman" (a young working-class person involved in crime and drugs, similar to the equivalent word "roadman" used in MLE)[35][45]
    • "Hooyo" (mom or mother) [originates from Somali]
    • "Jake" (a police officer)
    • "Khaniis" (a derogatory term used to refer to a homosexual individual) [originates from Somali]
    • "Mandem" (a group of males or male friends) [originates from Jamaican Patois][16]
    • "Miyute" or "myyute" (a person who is childlike, insignificant, and not taken seriously) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
    • "Mixup" (drama, gossip, conflict or theatrics) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
    • "OT" (abbreviation for out of town)
    • "Pokes" (synonymous with vagina)
    • "Shordy" (girl)
    • "Side ting" (sexual partner other than a girlfriend/wife)
    • "Snake" (an untrustworthy person)[22]
    • ”Stain” (to steal or rob)
    • "T-Dot" (abbreviation word for "Toronto")[46][23]
    • "Telly" (slang for a hotel or a hotel room)[47]
    • "Ting" (a thing but usually refers to an attractive female) [originates from Jamaican Patois][25]
    • "Two-Twos" (unexpectedly or quickly)[48]
    • "Wasteman" (a worthless, garbage, insensible idiotic person who makes bad decisions with their life, both words being used interchangeably) [originates from Jamaican Patois][19]
    • "Wasteyute" (used similarly to wasteman, but more specifically describes a childlike or naive individual) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
    • "Wifey" (girlfriend, or wife)[49]
    • "Wozzles" (oral sex)
    • "Yute" (synonymous with "youth", but used to directly address or refer to a young person) [originates from Jamaican Patois][20]

    Verbs
    • "Ball up" (smoking marijuana)
    • "Bagged" (having acquired a significant other or sexual partner)
    • "Buss" (to give/to send, to break, or to ejaculate)
    • "Duppied" (to turn to a ghost, usually referring to someone passing away or having been killed) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
    • "Fawad" (to come or to go somewhere) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
    • "Fend" (to defend against)
    • "Kawal" (to scam, synonymous with finesse) [originates from Somali][50][51]
    • "Latched" (to be arrested or detained by law enforcement)
    • "Link" (to meet up)[52]
    • "Lowe" (to ignore, forget or not bother with) [originates from Jamaican Patois][17]
    • "Moving" (describes someones behaviour, actions, or attitude)
    • "Pree" (to see, look or pay close attention to) [originates from Jamaican Patois][35]
    • "Rate" (to express approval or appreciation for something or someone)
    • "Reach/fly" (synonyms for "come by" or "attend", used similarly to "fawad")[16]
    • "Send" (to hand over or pass an object)
    • "Scoop" (to get a ride somewhere, get picked up)[28]
    • "Scrap" (to fight)[24]
    • "Slime" (to play, or act like a player, using others for sexual pleasure)
    • "Toke" (the action of smoking, often referring to marijuana)
    • "Yellowtape" (indicate that something is completed, finished, or closed off)

    Intensifiers
    • "-azz" (a suffix used to amplify or emphasize the meaning of other words or slang)
      • I heard his new track, its a hardazz.
    • "-dem" (a pluralizing element that can emphasize the size of a group or relationships between members of said group)
      • Tell the rest of the dawgsdem to come through.
    • "one-two" (a pluralizing element that emphasizes quantity of an action, object, task, etc)
      • I already tried to call him one-two times, it goes straight to voicemail.

    Controversy

    The article on VICE, dated October 21, 2019, by Sharine Taylor, featured a CityNews article, "New Toronto slang growing in popularity," and has sparked controversy within the community, which stated that it failed to represent Toronto slang.[53] Following up, she stated the problem is the slang is not at all "new," as the title had implied, and belong not to Toronto but to Black communities within Toronto, which were notably absent, as mentioned previously, from the coverage.[54]

    On May 17, 2016, Max Weinstein wrote an XXL article explaining the Twitter controversy surrounding Drake's usage of Jamaican Patois because of his failure to acknowledge Toronto slang and its origin.[55] Another writer, Sajae Elder, wrote a similar article on BuzzFeed News.[56]

    • From 2016 to 2019, Toronto-based comedy group 4YE released a multi-part series based on Toronto in the early 2000s featuring "Tyco" and "Judge Tyco," caricatures of the stereotypical Toronto man.[57]
    • In 2017, Drake was featured in a Toronto-based comedy show called (T-Dot Goon Scrap DVD 2), where he spoke using many Toronto slang terms.[58]
    • In a Vanity Fair YouTube video, Shawn Mendes, a popular Canadian singer and songwriter, was featured, teaching about Canadian slang (primarily Toronto slang vocabulary).[59]

    See also
    Look up Multicultural Toronto English or Greater Toronto English in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

    References
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