AAVE LINGO
He tall
meansHe's tall
Unit 3: He Tall, Dropping is / are, by the rules
Bite-size lessons for iPhone
Learn AAVE the way it's really spoken
The slang and grammar behind rap, TikTok and the group chat, in 5-minute lessons. Your teacher is Lil Coo, a pigeon in a ski mask. No cap.
Download for iPhoneFree 7-day trial
- 22units
- 240+phrases
- 8languages
- 5minutes a day
Not just slang
Real grammar, not broken English
AAVE (African American Vernacular English) is a full dialect with its own rules, studied by linguists for decades. AAVE LINGO teaches the rules, so you understand what you hear and never sound like a parody.
She be workin'
meansShe usually works
Unit 6: She Be Workin', be = done regularly
I BEEN knew
meansI've known for a long time
Unit 8: I BEEN Knew, BEEN = long ago (still true)
I done told you
meansI already told you
Unit 7: I Done Told You, done = already (with feeling)
I ain't got no money
meansI don't have any money
Unit 5: Ain't Nobody, ain't + double negatives
He don't care
meansHe doesn't care
Unit 4: He Don't Care, Verbs + ownership, AAVE style
Content draws on the AAVE linguistics of Lisa Green, John Rickford and William Labov, made with respect for Black American culture
Play it like a game
Lessons so quick you'll do one more
Hear a phrase, pick the meaning, build the sentence. Get it wrong and you lose a heart. Get it right and Lil Coo loses his mind.
5MEANING
What does it mean?
No cap
Secretly / a little (on the quiet)
No lie / for real
Sure / deal
That's a lie / lying
CHECK
12
3405UNIT 2NO CAPTruth only, no lies 🧢
START
LESSON COMPLETE
Total XP
18
18Ice12
12Time
1:35
13 DAY STREAKThe dopamine is on purpose
Everything that keeps you coming back
Streaks that burn
Learn every day and your flame keeps burning. Skip a day and Lil Coo will hear about it.
Weekly leagues
Earn XP and climb ten weekly leagues, from the Sidewalk all the way up to GOAT. Finish near the bottom and you get sent down.
Mystery sneaker boxes
Crack open sneaker boxes for Ice, the in-app currency, then spend it on drip for Lil Coo.
GOAT MODE
Beat a whole unit on the clock with only 3 strikes and your trophy turns into a diamond.
Group-chat stories
Every unit ends with a story told in a group chat, so you see the slang used for real.
Hear every phrase
Tap to hear how it sounds, then train your ear with listening drills.
The course
22 units, from "Wassup" to "Real Ones Only"
Four sections take you from your first "What's good?" to code-switching like a pro. Every phrase comes with its meaning in your language, an example, when it's safe to use, and where it came from.
ROOKIE
Hood newbie
- 1WassupGreet like people in the hood
- 2No CapTruth only, no lies 🧢
- 3He TallDropping is / are, by the rules
- 4He Don't CareVerbs + ownership, AAVE style
- 5Ain't Nobodyain't + double negatives
HOMIE
Part of the crew
- 6She Be Workin'be = done regularly
- 7I Done Told Youdone = already (with feeling)
- 8I BEEN KnewBEEN = long ago (still true)
- 9Finna DipAbout to / want to / outta here
- 10I'm Weak 💀Reacting like the hood
REAL ONE
The real deal
- 11Drip CheckDress fire, compliment right
- 12Bussin'Food + the cookout
- 13Line Me UpBarbershop lingo
- 14Get BucketsBasketball court talk
- 15Secure the BagMoney talk: rich, broke, pay up
- 16Shoot Your ShotFlirt, date, curved, ghosted
- 17WYAText like a real person
- 18You A ClownRoast, fire back, hit the brakes
OG
Veteran
- 19Say It RightLearn to hear the AAVE accent
- 20Coast to CoastCity slang across America
- 21It's GivingBallroom lingo the world borrowed
- 22Real Ones OnlyRespect, give credit, be real
Straight from the course
AAVE slang dictionary
Real meanings and real examples, so you know exactly what you're hearing in the lyrics, the comments and the group chat.
ateUse with friends
Did it perfectly, flawless
She ate that solo. No crumbs.
She sang that solo amazingly. Flawless.
'She ate' = she did amazing, and adding 'and left no crumbs' = cleaned the plate, not a crumb left, so: perfect. It's mostly used in the form ate.
bet
Sure / deal
Bet, I'll be there at eight.
Sure, I'll be there at eight.
Where it's from: From 'You bet'. It was AAVE slang for a long time before anyone called it 'Gen Z slang'.
bussin'Use with friends
Super delicious, so fire
Auntie, these greens bussin'.
Auntie, the stewed greens are so good.
Where it's from: It was an AAVE word long before TikTok got the whole world saying it.
capUse with friends
That's a lie / lying
He said he dunked? That's cap.
He said he dunked? That's a lie.
You can just say 'Cap.' or send a single 🧢. That's why comments under 'look how rich I am' videos are full of hats.
curvedUse with friends
She turned me down / I got shot down
I asked her out and she curved me.
I asked her out and got shot down
curve = turning down someone who's flirting with you (often by dodging). If it happens to you, say 'I got curved': it hurts, but it's over, so don't keep pushing.
deadassUse with friends
Seriously / no joke
Deadass, I'm never eatin' there again.
Seriously, I'm never eating there again.
Where it's from: Pure New York slang. Unit 20 takes you to meet the rest of its hometown crew.
dripUse with friends
Dressed amazing, has style
The drip is crazy today.
Dressed so fire today.
Where it's from: Blew up from Atlanta rap, like the song 'Drip Too Hard' by Lil Baby and Gunna (2018).
finna
I'm about to eat (any second now)
Hurry up, the movie finna start.
Hurry, the movie's about to start.
Where it's from: From Southern US 'fixing to' (fixin' to), said so fast it turned into finna.
fumble the bagUse with friends
Let a golden opportunity slip away
He turned down that offer? He fumbled the bag.
He turned down that offer? He let the chance slip away.
fumble = dropping the ball in American football. Works for jobs and for dating too (break up with someone really good and you fumbled the bag).
hellaUse with friends
Super / a lot (Bay Area)
This line hella long.
This line is super long.
The real deal from the Bay Area, used just like New York's mad. Now people all over the US say it, but folks from there are still proud it's theirs.
hit differentUse with friends
Feels more special than usual
Food hit different at the cookout.
Food tastes better than usual at the cookout.
Use it when the same old thing feels better than usual because of the vibe or who made it. Works for songs or moments too, like 'Sunday mornings hit different'.
hol' up
Wait, wait
Hol' up, you ate my fries?
Wait, you ate my fries?
Use it when you just found out something shocking or want someone to stop talking for a sec. The d at the end of hold drops, so you get hol'.
iced outUse with friends
Full of diamonds, sparkling all over
His chain iced out.
His chain is full of diamonds.
ice = diamonds (they sparkle like ice), and rappers love showing them off. You just need to know the meaning, no need to buy any on a payment plan 💀
ight
OK / Sure
Ight, I'll be there in five.
OK, I'll be there in five minutes.
It's alright squeezed shorter (some people write aight). In texts, just type 'ight'.
it's givingUse with friends
Has the vibe of... / Amazing
That outfit? It's giving rich auntie.
That outfit? Total rich auntie vibes.
Where it's from: From ballroom and the Black LGBTQ+ community, before it blew up on social media around 2020-2021.
let him cookUse with friends
Let him do his thing, don't interrupt
Stop yellin' at him. Let him cook.
Stop yelling at him. Let him do his thing.
Use it when someone's doing something that looks weird but might have a plan: let them try first. Works off the court for anything.
lowkey
Secretly / a little (on the quiet)
I lowkey want some pizza right now.
Right now I secretly kinda want pizza.
Use it to soften a sentence, or for a feeling you don't want to broadcast. 'keep it lowkey' = keep it quiet.
midUse with friends
Meh, nothing special
The burgers was mid.
The burgers were meh.
mid = middle, not good, not bad, but it sounds like a diss. Fine with friends, but never use it on Auntie's food if you love your life 💀
ngl
Honestly / No lie
ngl, I'm kinda hungry.
Honestly, I'm a little hungry.
Put it before a truth that's a little hard to say, or a compliment you don't wanna fully give.
no capUse with friends
No lie / for real
No cap, this the best pizza in the city.
No lie, this place has the best pizza in the city.
Where it's from: cap = a lie is old AAVE slang. It blew up worldwide through 2010s Atlanta rap.
on GodUse with friends
I swear
On God, it wasn't me.
I swear, it wasn't me.
For backing yourself up full force. In texts it's 'ong', and it's more serious than fr.
out of pocketUse with friends
Too far / out of line
Bruh, that joke was out of pocket.
Bro, that joke went way too far.
Use it when someone says or does something over the line. An outsider saying the n-word = out of pocket to the max, no excuses.
periodtUse with friends
End of story, no arguing
Auntie Pam make the best mac and cheese. Periodt.
Auntie Pam's mac and cheese is the best. End of story.
Where it's from: Comes from AAVE (some trace it back to Black gay people in the South), then blew up online around 2019.
real oneUse with friends
You're genuine / a true friend
You came to help me move? You a real one.
You came to help me move? You're a true friend.
The highest compliment in the hood = genuine, loyal, there for you when times are hard. This unit's name comes from it too.
saltyUse with friends
He's upset / bitter (usually from losing)
He still salty 'cause he lost.
He's still upset because he lost.
salty (like the taste) = bitter, usually someone who lost and can't let it go. pressed is more about being heated or caring too much.
say lessUse with friends
No need to say more, I'm in
Say less, I'm on my way.
Say no more, I'm on my way.
It's not telling you that you talk too much. It means: got it, I'm definitely in, no need to explain more.
secure the bagUse with friends
Land a big chunk of money
She signed the contract. Secured the bag!
She signed the contract. She got the big money!
Use it when someone closes a deal, signs a big contract or gets a well-paid job. Athletes love saying it when they land a huge contract.
sheesh
Wow, amazing (drag it out)
Sheesh, look at that car!
Wow, look at that car!
Dragged out, 'sheeeesh' = super impressed. A short, tired sheesh = ugh, so over it (dad-generation style).
situationship
An unclear relationship
It's a situationship. We ain't official.
It's a confusing thing. We're not a couple yet.
situation + relationship = more than friends but not a couple, no official label. It's newer internet slang, not straight from AAVE.
slay
Amazing / did awesome
You slayed that presentation, sis.
Sis, your presentation was amazing.
slay literally means to kill, but here = doing so well every rival drops dead. You can use it to praise a look or a performance.
spill the tea
Tell me everything (I'm being nosy)
Girl, spill the tea. What happened?
Girl, tell me everything. What happened?
Where it's from: Believed to come from Black drag culture, where it was first written 'T', short for truth.
trippin'Use with friends
You're overthinking / you got it wrong
You trippin', I never said that.
You got it wrong, I never said that.
Nothing to do with taking a trip or tripping over something. 'Don't trip' = don't overthink it / don't worry, so you can use it to calm a friend down too.
tryna
I'm trying to fix it
Shh, I'm tryna sleep.
Shh, I'm trying to sleep.
tryna = trying to, said as one word. In this mode it simply means trying.
I'm weak
Laughing so hard I'm out of energy
Bruh, look at his face. I'm weak.
Look at his face. Laughing so hard I'm out of energy.
Where it's from: AAVE slang that's huge in chats and on Black Twitter.
wyd
What are you doing?
wyd? I'm bored.
What are you doing? I'm bored.
Short for 'what you doin''. Use it to start a chat instead of hi, no reason needed.
Respect first
Learn it with respect
AAVE is the language of a culture and a people. Before the first lesson, Lil Coo makes you promise three things.
1
AAVE is a real dialect with real rules, not broken English. Learn it with respect.
2
Never say the N-word, even if it's in every verse of the song. Unit 22 explains why.
3
Use it to understand and talk with real people, not to mock anyone's accent
Credit where it's due: the notes on every phrase tell you where it came from.
ICED OUT
Your first lesson is free. Then try everything for 7 days.
Start a free 7-day trial of ICED OUT to unlock the whole course. Cancel in your App Store settings at least 24 hours before the trial ends and you won't be charged. Prices are shown in the App Store in your own currency.
The whole course, 22 unitsSlang, grammar, stories, all unlocked- Ice x2Every lesson and unit story
- Free streak repairOnce a month if a streak breaks
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Yearly, monthly and family plans (up to 6 people with Family Sharing).
Download for iPhoneQuestions, answered
What is AAVE?
AAVE stands for African American Vernacular English, also called African American English or Black English. It's a dialect of English with its own grammar, sounds and vocabulary, spoken by many Black Americans. A lot of the slang the world uses online, from "no cap" to "it's giving", comes from AAVE and Black culture.
Is AAVE just slang?
No. Slang is part of it, but AAVE also has consistent grammar rules, like habitual "be" (She be workin' = she usually works) and stressed BEEN (I BEEN knew = I've known for a long time). AAVE LINGO teaches both.
Who is AAVE LINGO for?
Anyone who wants to understand rap lyrics, shows, TikTok comments and American friends, with everything explained in their own language: English, Thai, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Vietnamese or Indonesian.
Does the app teach the N-word?
No. The app never teaches it or asks you to say it. Unit 22 explains its history and why it isn't yours to say, even when it's in every song.
How much does it cost?
The download and your first lesson are free. To keep going, start a 7-day free trial of ICED OUT, with yearly, monthly and family plans. Prices are shown in the App Store in your currency, and you can cancel any time.
What happens if I cancel during the trial?
You won't be charged, and the course locks when the trial ends. If notifications are on, Lil Coo reminds you 2 days before the trial ends.
How long is a lesson?
About 5 minutes. You pick a daily goal when you start, from a chill 5 minutes to 20 minutes or more.
Which devices does it work on?
iPhone and iPad.
How do you keep the content accurate?
Every phrase comes with its standard-English meaning, an example, a note on when it's safe to use, and where it came from. Phrases are marked casual or careful, so you know when to hold back.
