The east coast encompasses a large variety of states. It also has a completely different feel from the states on the west coast, which has led to it developing its own cornucopia of slang words.
In this post, we’ll be discussing, defining, and listing east coast slang words. We’ll also provide you examples of each one in a sentence, so you know how to use them properly.
East Coast Slang Words (in Alphabetical Order)
Ain’t Bout That
Meaning:
- (Expression): You say this when you don’t want to do something, or you disagree with something.
- Example:
- Person 1: “Do you want to go out with me tonight?”
- Person 2: “Sorry, but I ain’t bout that. I want to stay home tonight.”

Ass
Meaning:
- (Adjective): No, this isn’t just a word that means butt. Many east coast states use the word ass to emphasize another adjective in a sentence.
- Example: “Get your dirty ass away from me and go take a shower or something.”

Ayuh
Meaning:
- (Interjection): This one comes from the northern state of Maine. Up in Maine, you may hear people saying “ayuh” instead of “yes.”
- Example:
- Person 1: “Did you enjoy the meal?”
- Person 2: “Ayuh, I did. It was delicious.”

Related Article: Slang Words for Yes
Bang a ‘uey/Hang a 'uey
Meaning:
- (Expression): You might hear this term as you get closer to Boston. It just means you’re making a u-turn so you can go back the way you came when you’re driving.
- Example: “Oops, you just missed the turn. Better bang a ‘uey.”

Barrel
Meaning:
- (Noun): Barrel is another slang term that comes from Massachusetts. This is what someone from Boston might call a garbage bin.
- Example: “Pick up your trash and put it in the barrel.”

Beat
Meaning:
- (Adjective): A way to describe something that’s finished.
- Example: “This party is beat, bro. Let’s go somewhere else.”

Boge
Meaning:
- (Noun): An east coast slang word that means cigarette.
- Example: “Can you spare a boge for me?”

Read Also: Slang Words for Cigarettes
Brick
Meaning:
- (Adjective): This popular slang word is especially well-known for its use in NY slang. However, you may hear it all over the east coast, and it means cold.
- Example: “Don’t stay outside for too long – it’s brick today.”

Bub
Meaning:
- (Noun): Bub is more Maine slang. It’s basically the Maine equivalent of “dude.” You can use it as a kind of friendly term to refer to just about any guy.
- Example: “How’s it going, bub?”

Bubbler
Meaning:
- (Noun): A bubbler is what you might call a water fountain in New England states. However, this is also a slang word for water fountain in Wisconsin.
- Example: “If you get thirsty, take a drink at the bubbler.”

Busted
Meaning:
- (Adjective): Anything that is low in quality or broken-down.
- Example: “I’m not going out with that busted-looking girl.”

Cellar
Meaning:
- (Noun): Cellar is what many people on the east coast call an underground level in a house. Not all houses have this, however.
- Example: “Will you run down to the cellar and grab me some preserves?”

Chout
Meaning:
- (Interjection): Another popular Maine slang term. It combines the words “watch” and “out,” and is basically just a shorter, snappier version of saying, “watch out.”
- Example: “Chout, there’s a car coming down the road.”

Clicker
Meaning:
- (Noun): Boston slang for a remote control.
- Example: “Jack always loses the clicker.”

Creemee
Meaning:
- (Noun): This is a slang term from Vermont that means soft-serve ice cream.
- Example: “Let’s get some creemees after the movie.”

Deadass
Meaning:
- (Adjective): Slang word that originates from New York. It means one is being serious about something or that something really happened.
- Example: “I deadass quit my job today. I’m done.”

Dumb
Meaning:
- (Adjective): An emphasizing word that means “very” or “really.”
- Example: “Dang, it’s dumb brick outside. I’m going to try to stay inside today.”

Elastic
Meaning:
- (Noun): What New Englanders call rubber bands and hairties.
- Example: “She used an elastic to tie back her hair.”

Extra
Meaning:
- (Adjective): Popular east coast slang that is used to describe when something is excessive or over-the-top.
- Example: “My boyfriend is so extra. He won’t even take the garbage out without getting all dressed up.”

Fam
Meaning:
- (Noun): East coast slang you can use to describe your closest group of friends.
- Example: “Here’s a picture of me with my fam.”

Read Also: Slang Words for Friends
Frappe
Meaning:
- (Noun): No, this isn’t an iced coffee drink you can get at Starbucks. In New England states, the word frappe is often used to describe a milkshake.
- Example: “That diner makes the best frappes.”

Grinder
Meaning:
- (Noun): In Boston, “grinder” is the word you’ll use to describe a sub sandwich.
- Example: “They provided free grinders at the meeting.”

Hoagie
Meaning:
- (Noun): This means the same thing as grinder. This slang is more specific to Pennsylvania, though.

I Feel You
Meaning:
- (Expression): East coast expression that means you understand where someone is coming from or relate to them.
- Example:
- Person 1: “I hate being single on Valentine’s day every year.”
- Person 2: “I feel you.”

Jawn
Meaning:
- (Noun): This is a very generalized slang word used in Philly to describe any object, person, or place. It’s kind of like saying “thing” when you can’t remember what something is called.
- Example: “Will you grab me that jawn over there?”

Jimmies
Meaning:
- (Noun): What many people in New England call sprinkles on desserts.
- Example: “The cupcakes were covered in colorful jimmies.”

Johnny
Meaning:
- (Noun): Slang term for a hospital gown.
- Example: “She was embarrassed to be seen in her Johnny.”

Mad
Meaning:
- (Adjective): See Dumb.
Mint
Meaning:
- (Adjective): When something is new or in great shape.
- Example: “His new car is mint.”

Musty
Meaning:
- (Adjective): Anything that’s dirty or gross.
- Example: “He’s dumb musty.”

Nasty
Meaning:
- (Adjective): This sounds like a bad thing, but it’s actually good. It means you’re really good at something.
- Example: “He says that he’s nasty in the kitchen, but I know his cooking is actually musty.”

OD
Meaning:
- (Verb): OD means “overdoing.” It means someone is being extra or excessive about something.
- Example: “Don’t OD on your homework. Take a break.”

Packie
Meaning:
- (Noun): Slang for a simple liquor store. Nothing fancy.
- Example: “I’m going to make a quick run to the packie and grab us some beers.”

Pie
Meaning:
- (Noun): Common east coast slang for pizza.
- Example: “That pie was mad tasty!”

Ponch
Meaning:
- (Noun): A small beer belly. It’s typically used to describe when a woman has a bit of a beer belly.
- Example: “She has a bit of a ponch, but she’s still cute.”

Put Someone on Blast
Meaning:
- (Expression): You can technically put anything on blast – it doesn’t have to be a person. When you put someone or something on blast, you are publicly calling them out and criticizing them. This phrase is also popular in California slang.
- Example: “He put his ex on blast after she cheated on him.”

Ratchet
Meaning:
- (Noun): A low-class and trashy woman.
- Example: “My cousin is a total ratchet.”

Sauced
Meaning:
- (Adjective): When someone is drunk.
- Example: “My uncle always gets mad sauced at family get-togethers.”

Slippin’
Meaning:
- (Verb): When you’re not focusing or paying enough attention to something.
- Example: “You shouldn’t drive when you’re slippin.’”

Spuckie
Meaning:
- (Noun): If you’re in Boston, you may occasionally hear this term instead of “sub” or “grinder.”
- Example: “He ate a spuckie for lunch.”

Supper
Meaning:
- (Noun): This is what some New Englanders call dinner.
- Example: “Make sure you’re home in time for supper.”

Tag Sale
Meaning:
- (Noun): Another way of saying rummage sale or garage sale.
- Example: “Let’s hit up some tag sales this weekend and see what we can find.”

Thot
Meaning:
- (Noun): These days, thot is much more widespread than just the east coast, but you’ll hear it a lot there, too. A thot is a promiscuous woman.
- Example: “Don’t let yourself fall for that thot.”

Tonic
Meaning:
- (Noun): You might hear older people in New England using this one. Tonic refers to just about any carbonated beverage, including seltzer water and soda.
- Example: “At the end of the day, I like to sit back with a cold glass of tonic.”

True
Meaning:
- (Interjection): A word you say to show that you agree with something.
- Example:
- Person 1: “All the bars here are musty.”
- Person 2: “Trueeeeeee.”

Upta Camp
Meaning:
- (Expression): Going to any campground or place where you can admire the nature. This is another common Maine expression.
- Example: “We’re going upta camp on my vacation.”

What’s Poppin’?
Meaning:
- (Expression): An older slang expression that basically just means, “what’s up?” You can also use it to ask how someone is doing.
- Example:
- Person 1: “What’s poppin,’ bro?”
- Person 2: “Nothing much. How about you?”

Wicked
Meaning:
- (Adjective): A word that’s often used to emphasize something. See Dumb or Mad.

Wuks
Meaning:
- (Noun): A somewhat derogatory term for alternative hippie-type people.
- Example: “That wuk keeps saying he’s going to build a solar-powered farmstead and live off the grid.”

You Mad?
Meaning:
- (Expression): This is kind of a taunting phrase. If someone is ticking you off or you’ve said something to upset them, you might say this to poke fun at them.
- Example:
- Person 1: “Stop looking at my girlfriend like that!”
- Person 2: “You mad?”

Wrap Up
When you say, “east coast,” you’re actually referring to a variety of states. As such, east coast slang is comprehensive, diverse, and expressive. There are tons of words and phrases that have developed over the years.
If you live on the east coast, listen for these terms. If you’re just visiting, now you’ll know what some of the locals are saying.
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