Shawty

Shawty (noun / US Hip-Hop Slang)

(Also heard as: Shorty, Shawtys)

Definition:

A girlfriend, a girl you fancy or a young woman, usually said in a friendly or flirty way. In some songs it is also just a pal, or a person you are close to.

Where It Comes From:

It is the Southern US pronunciation of “shorty”, a hip-hop term for a younger woman or someone you are seeing. In the 2000s, Southern rap and R&B put “shawty” into countless chart hits, which carried it around the world and into UK playlists and playground banter.

How People Actually Use It:

Most often heard in songs and American-style chat, and sometimes used as a joke in the UK, usually in a deliberately over-the-top accent. Tone matters, because to some people it sounds charming and to others it sounds patronising, so it is best used with people who know you.

Examples in the Wild:

• “Who’s that shawty he’s been texting all week?”

  Meaning: Who is the girl he has been chatting to recently?

• “Shawty’s got moves, look at her on the dance floor.”

  Meaning: That girl is a brilliant dancer and everyone is watching.

• “Hey shawty, can you pass the ketchup?”

  Meaning: A jokey, over-the-top way of getting a friend’s attention.

Similar Slang:

Shorty, Bae, Fit, Leng, Peng, Chicks

🛍 Shop on eBay › (affiliate)