# Hip-Hop slang Q

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hip-hop-slang-q/230315>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 21, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hip-hop-slang-q/230315 "2004-02-21T03:16:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hip-hop-slang-q/230315/1 "2004-02-21T03:16:15Z")

</div>

So, who exactly _is_ this “Shorty” to whom all these male rappers refer?

And what’s up with addressing a young lady with whom you wish to have intimate relations as “Mommy”? 😕

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hip-hop-slang-q/230315/2 "2004-02-21T07:41:17Z")

</div>

Shorty means woman. I’m not sure if it means anything more though (i.e. if she’s attractive, single, and so on). And, _I think_, mommy might be the equivalent of the hispanic _mamacita_; I don’t find it any more odd than “who’s your daddy?”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hip-hop-slang-q/230315/3 "2004-02-21T08:31:26Z")

</div>

“Shorty” is a term of affection for a woman or girlfriend, sort of like “boo” or “baby.” “Mommy” is about the same as “Mama,” just slanged up a bit more. 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hip-hop-slang-q/230315/4 "2004-02-21T08:36:36Z")

</div>

**Starving Artists’** definition of _shorty_ is correct (it’s a term of endearment), and **Aesiron** ’s definition of _mami_ (note the spelling) is correct.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hip-hop-slang-q/230315/5 "2004-02-21T09:14:41Z")

</div>

> [@kung fu lola](#):
>
> [and **Aesiron** ’s definition of _mami_ (note the spelling) is correct.

Obviously, I didn’t know that. 😕

Thanks for the clarification.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hip-hop-slang-q/230315/6 "2004-02-21T17:49:52Z")

</div>

Thanks y’all. I had just noticed “shorty” appearing in so many hip-hop songs on the radio lately that I had to find the definition.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hip-hop-slang-q/230315/7 "2004-02-21T18:41:14Z")

</div>

No probs. Full Disclosure: I’m not really some cooly-wooly flygirl though. I’m just a little white chick who worked in a Jeans store for a year, which meant I got very cozy with “urban culture”.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hip-hop-slang-q/230315/8 "2004-02-21T18:41:12Z")

</div>

No probs. Full Disclosure: I’m not really some cooly-wooly flygirl though. I’m just a little white chick who worked in a Jeans store for a year, which meant I got very cozy with “urban culture”.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hip-hop-slang-q/230315/9 "2004-02-21T22:00:21Z")

</div>

I’m probably whiter than you are and got my (limited) knowledge through unintentional osmosis.

Thanks for the correction, by the way.