13 Slang Words Every New Yorker Should Know - Time Out

Go to the contentGo to the footerNo thanksSubscribe

🙌Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best of New York straight to your inbox

We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities. Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city.

Enter email addressDéjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

No thanks

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best of New York for free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy New York without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Enter email address

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

No thanks

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

News13 slang words every New Yorker should knowWritten by Carla SosenkoFriday July 31 2015ShareCopy LinkFacebookTwitterPinterestEmailWhatsApp

Advertising

Wanna talk like a New Yorker? Then you gotta know the lingo, wise guy.

flying rat (n.): A pigeon.

hun (n.): hundred. As in, “I’m going to a party up on a hun’sixteenth street.” New Yorkers are busy. We don’t have time for entire words.

pie (n.): In the rest of the country, this may be mean apple, pecan or cherry. Here, pie means just one thing: pizza. Glorious, glorious pizza.

schlep, oy, schvitz, etc. (var.): If it’s Yiddish, we say it. Your religion, ethnicity or state of origin doesn’t matter—all New Yorkers are a little bit Jewish. (Similarly: agita, muzzarell, prosciutt, etc., because all New Yorkers are also a little bit Italian.)

Yooz (pronoun): A plural form of you. Sometimes takes the form: “yooz guys.”

Schmear (n.): A lot of cream cheese. As in, “Can I getta a bagel with schmear?”

northwest corner, southeast corner, etc. (n.): Manhattan’s nearly perfect grid system means that, when meeting friends, we get very specific. There’s no “I’ll come get you on the corner of 14th and Broadway,” because guess what? There are four corners there. Besides, who has time to wait on the wrong corner like a trifling fool?

bodega(n.): This is where you buy your coffee in the morning. And your egg-and-cheese when you’re hungover. And also your munchies at 4am. And toilet paper and soap when you run out. Okay, this is where you do all of your shopping.

bridge-and-tunnel (adj.): A seemingly benign grouping of nouns (“Oh, look, there’s a bridge, and hey, there’s a tunnel”), this is a scathing commentary on anyone obviously in the city from Long Island or New Jersey.

Triborough Bridge, Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, etc. (n.): Proud New Yorkers refuse to refer to renamed landmarks by their new names. The Triborough will never be the RKF (no disrespect, Bobby). The Hugh L. Carey Tunnel? We say nay. The Ed Koch Bridge? We’ve already got two choices—the 59th Street and the Queensboro—and we like them just fine, thanks. Extra points if you still call the FDR the “East River Drive” and Kennedy Airport “Idlewild.”You, my friend, are a retro rock star.

The city (n.): Manhattan. For example, you go into the “the city” on the weekend to pick up towel rods from Bed, Bath and Beyond.

On line (adj.): in line. As in, “I waited on line for seven hours to get these tickets. It was totally worth it.”

Fuhgedaboudit (exclam.): A speed-up pronunciation of “Forget about it.” Meant to mean “No way!” or “Definitely!”

Do you want more great stories about things to do, where to eat, what to watch, and where to party? Obviously you do, follow Time Out New York on Facebook for the good stuff.

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Sign up to our newsletter to enjoy New York without spending a thing (as well as options when you're feeling flush).Enter email addressDéjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

🙌Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

Popular on Time Out

[image]

[title]

Popular on Time Out

[image]

[category]

[title]

Latest newsMore news

[image]

[category]

[title]

Discover Time Out original video

 

AdvertisingBack to TopClose

Get us in your inbox

Email addressDéjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

instagramtiktokfacebooktwitteryoutube

About us

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Our awards
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Copyright agent
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies

Contact us

• Get Listed
• Claim your listing
• Local Marketing Solutions
• Advertising
• Time Out Market

Time Out products

• Time Out Worldwide
• Guidebook
• Movies
• Music Lists
• Restaurants
• Neighborhood Guides

Site map© 2026 Time Out England Limited and affiliated companies owned by Time Out Group Plc. All rights reserved. Time Out is a registered trademark of Time Out Digital Limited.