# Baller? I don't even know her. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 4, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032 "2011-12-04T15:44:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/1 "2011-12-04T15:44:08Z")
I heard this slang word for the first time the other day from my grandson about a gift I gave him. The exact words were: “That’s what I’m talkin’ about. Baller.” I’m assuming this is the equivalent of ‘cool’, but I guess I’m finally an old coot (Completely Out Of Touch ). ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/2 "2011-12-04T16:38:45Z")
You got it, more or less. It translates to “you’re the best.” So it would be: “That’s what I’m talkin’ about. [Guy who is the best].” ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/3 "2011-12-04T16:44:49Z")
A baller is someone who is living large or has scored some cash. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/4 "2011-12-05T18:53:00Z")
The term originated as street slang for a good ball player (usually basketball) who made it big. It eventually came to be associated with success and the ostentatious displays of wealth that followed. Both the acts of performing well and displaying the rewards of success–i.e., living the luxurious life–are referred to as ballin’. Coming from your grandson, it just meant “cool” and was targeted at the gift, not you–i.e., this gift is baller. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/5 "2011-12-05T19:05:22Z")
in my opinion, you’re only an old coot when you refuse to be interested in new slang and modern vernacular. The very fact that you came online and asked others what it meant means that you are still young at heart. Now put baller to good use! Next time your grandson does something nice for you call him a baller. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/6 "2011-12-05T19:06:37Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/InGtiEXQyF0/maxresdefault.jpg "Lil' Troy - Wanna Be A Baller") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InGtiEXQyF0) By modern rap video standards, being a baller must not pay very well. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/7 "2011-12-05T19:45:25Z")
Baller: n. 1. One who possesses characteristics similar to a professional basketball player. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/8 "2011-12-05T21:06:14Z")
I always figured the term meant a person rich enough to do 8-balls of coke on a regular basis. Same meaning, different origin. I don’t have a cite, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/9 "2011-12-05T21:12:31Z")
I’ve heard it a few times said like that- I’m pretty sure he’s not referring to you as the “baller”, but the situation. Sort of like “killer” ie, Wow, this is just what I wanted- KILLer! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/10 "2011-12-05T21:19:23Z")
Whatever happened to “bonnie wad”? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/11 "2011-12-05T21:22:29Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InGtiEXQyF0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InGtiEXQyF0) > > By modern rap video standards, being a baller must not pay very well. Which is a quote from this 1997 hit: > [@](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNTBb1u6UGg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNTBb1u6UGg) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/12 "2011-12-05T22:56:05Z")
Well, I refer to his younger brother as a ‘bawler’, but it’s not because he’s baller. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/13 "2011-12-05T22:57:35Z")
[I wish I was a little bit taller.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyf0YwUJcqk) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baller-i-dont-even-know-her/605032/14 "2011-12-05T23:33:33Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > [I wish I was a little bit taller.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyf0YwUJcqk) Thank you! That’s the song I was trying so hard to think of when I dug up Puff Daddy.