query
There’s no place in the world quite like the 6ix. We’ve got our own culture, our own distinct swagger, and basically our own language. If you aren’t from the GTA or haven’t visited in a while, chances are this list of 2019 Toronto slang phrases won’t make sense to you. However, if you’re a homegrown Torontonian or even an expat, you’ve probably added a few of these “tings” to your vocabulary.
1. “HOOOOLY”
As in “holy you’re doing too much” or as the kids use to say, “chill out man.” Pay special attention to the extra o’s on that word because if you’re not drawing it out, you’re not saying it right.
2. “Cuzo”
Despite its obvious similarities to the word “cousin,” this phrase is more general. It’s a term of affection like “bro” or “my dude.”
3. “Fam”
This phrase is so Toronto that within months of moving here, you’ll find yourself saying it. It’s another term of endearment. It’s short for “family” — used in a sentence, “Hey fam good to see you, it’s been a minute!”
4. “Waste”
I’ll save you the semantics on this one. If someone calls you “waste” it’s a bad thing.
5. “Yute”
Somewhere along the way in Toronto’s history, the word “youth” became “yute.” That’s all it means. It means you’re young, nothing wrong with that. As long as you’re not a “waste yute.”
6. “Ting”
Thing. It means thing. If you’re starting to notice a pattern of abbreviations, you’re not the only one.
7. “Reach”
As in, “reach my place if you want to hang out.” If you’re a Torontonian, you don’t say, “I’ll call you,” you say, “I’ll reach you.” Why? I don’t know, I don’t make the rules here.
8. “Nize It”
If someone in Toronto starts telling you to “nize” or nize it,” it means they are telling you to be quiet or shut up altogether.
9. “Run That”
If you want someone to give you something in the 6ix, chances are you can probably just tell that person to “run that” to you, and they’ll know what you mean.
10. “A Lie”
This one usually comes in the form of a question, usually to ask whether or not the person agrees with your statement. As in, “You’re coming to the bar with us later, a lie?”
11. “Wagwan”
This hilarious greeting is actually an abbreviation of “what’s going on?”
12. “Slime”
If someone says, “you’re slime” or that “you’re doing slimy stuff” It means you can’t be trusted, and people don’t feel safe around you.
13. “Breeze”
Beat it. Scram, or in Torontonian, “Breeze, fam.”
14. “In Da”
If someone in the GTA is going somewhere or doing something that you would like to part of you, say, “I am in da that life.”
15. “Yute”
yu-tuh The word “youth” has evolved to “yute.” Refers to a singular young person. (Who’s that yute?)
16. “Wallahi”
wall-ah-hee It means “I swear” — and/or “I promise”. “Wallahi, I didn’t touch your things.”
17. “Ahlie”
ah-lie Can be used as a question, meaning “am I lying?” Or as a statement of disbelief, meaning “that has to be a lie!” (“I look nice, ahlie? Or “Ahlie! She didn’t say that!”)
18. “Dun Know”
dun-no A term used to say, “of course.”
19. “Bucktee”
It’s actually a derogatory slang term meaning homeless person but often used interchangeably with “crackhead.” Sadly, very popular in the 6ix (sad because we know better than to name call).
20. “Man Dem”
man-dem Used to refer to a group of males. (I’m chilling with the man dem today.)
21. “Dotish/Dotishness”
If you’re wearing battyriders (short shorts and sometimes even a mini skirt), your butt cheeks are hanging out. Often worn during summer, at fetes or whenever you feel like.
22. “Battyrider”
If you’re wearing battyriders (short shorts and sometimes even a mini skirt), your butt cheeks are hanging out. Often worn during summer, at fetes or whenever you feel like.
23. “Lime”
lime It’s not the fruit and it’s not the alkaline powder you mix into — to lime is the art of doing nothing — with limers. A lime is a get together with friends, family, coworkers or strangers at either your house, their house, the beach, by the river or on a street corner. Sometimes at work. (Look, Trinidadians can lime anywhere at any time — it’s a gift.) It’s usually accompanied by food, drink and ol’ talk (picong). The best limes just happen: your friends or family show up (usually without an invite because, Trinidadians) and you lime.
24. “Cyattie”
A word used to describe a girl who is an attention whore or loud and obnoxious.
25. “Beaut or Rocket”
Used to describe a girl who is attractive/hot/beautiful.
Example: All hockey players need to stop commenting on her Instagram that she’s such a rocket.
26. “Wheeling”
The act of flirting or pursuing someone; attempting to pick up some rocket.
Example: Are Mike and Jessica dating? Nah, he’s just wheeling her.
27. “The 6 or The 6ix”
Another way of saying Toronto. After all, this article is about the different slang used in the 6ix!
28. “Sav”
Someone whose a savage; doesn’t care about consequences and lives for the thrill.
29. “Two-Four”
This Toronto slang word is used to refer to a case of 24 beers.
30. “Timmies”
This popular Toronto lingo is short for none other than Tim Hortons.
Use: Some call it Tim Hortons, but most know it simply as Timmies — the beloved Canadian coffee and doughnut chain that the locals adore. (Psst. when at Timmies, don’t forget to try their delectable Timbits and thank us later!)
31. “Tru”
Used to affirm a statement. The more “u’s” used, the greater the emphasis. Don’t be annoying and add 15 “u’s.”
32. “Toque”
Meaning: A winter cap that has a cutesy pom pom on the top.
Use: Pronounced as ‘too-uk’ or simply tuke, this term finds its origins in Arabic and Medieval French and every other person in Toronto can be seen donning this cap during the winters.
33. “Canuck”
Meaning: Canuck is a term used to refer to a Canadian.
Use: It is commonly used in sporting parlance. It is also a part of sporting team names like the Vancouver Canucks.
34. “Pop”
Meaning: Carbonated beverages — sodas or colas are collectively called Pops in Toronto. Use: “Let’s down a couple of pops while the game is on.”
35. “Klick”
Meaning: Short for the metric unit of measurement kilometers. Use: Klick is a quintessentially Canadian term usually used to measure the distance traveled — especially if one uses a car to get around the city.
36. “Kerfuffle”
Meaning: Kerfuffle is what you call a commotion or an argument caused due to a difference of opinion.
Use: A post-game, friendly banter between fans of different teams is a perfect example of a kerfuffle.
37. “Are u dumb”
Meaning: This slang is a casual reference to mean that someone is behaving in a stupid manner.
Use: This term is popularly used when you think the other person is speaking stupidly or doing something that is childish or frivolous. It is a sarcastic, rhetoric remark, often used to exclaim at the idiocy of close friends with whom you share a cordial and casual relationship.
38. “Tdot”
Meaning: Tdot is a slang used to describe an individual from Toronto, Canada.
Use: It’s pronounced either tie-dott or tuh-dutt. You are most likely to hear this from the older (pre-millennial) locals living in Toronto. Think of it as an older version of 6ix.
39. Bare
Meaning: A measure for something, mostly a lot of it. Use: The Toronto term ‘Bare’ is used to describe an abundance of something.
40. Trono
Meaning: Trana is a variation of ‘Toronto’.
Use: A true Torontonian would never pronounce the first ‘O’ and the last ‘T’ in ‘Toronto’! If one does, it’s clear as day that they are not from around these parts.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings