# What's a "Hollaback Girl"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 13, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-hollaback-girl/303760 "2005-05-13T22:42:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-hollaback-girl/303760/1 "2005-05-13T22:42:37Z")
I typically spend three mornings a week in the gym before work. We’ve got TVs up, and it seems that at least three times a morning is the new Gwen Stafani song “Hollaback Girl”. :: clears throat :: Please, excuse me for a moment . . . OMIGAWDGWENSTAFANIHASANEWSONG!! ITISSOOOOOOGREATWENEEDTOPLAYITFIFTEENTIMESANHOUR!!! ITISSUCHAROXXORSONG!! WEALLLOVEGWENSTAFANIIIIII!!! :: cough, ahem :: :rolleyes: But, I gotta ask, is “Hollaback Girl” some sort of slang for something? Does it refer to something in particular? Furthermore, is there such a thing as a “Hollaback _Guy_”? Tripler I’m always trying to expand my vocabulary. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-hollaback-girl/303760/2 "2005-05-13T22:47:07Z")
From the context, I _think_ it’s like a (looks around, notes we’re in **CS** ) “eff”-buddy or similar. I can’t make sense of the possible syntax surrounding this, but this may be the ultimate goal. of course, I could just be totally off-base. Bleah. I feel dirty from even _reading_ the word. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-hollaback-girl/303760/3 "2005-05-13T22:48:37Z")
[Urban Dictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hollaback+girl&r=f) seems to agree with additional provisions. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-hollaback-girl/303760/4 "2005-05-13T22:49:09Z")
Here are some definitions from the Urban Dictionary, ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime: > **[Urban Dictionary: Hollaback Girl](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Hollaback%20Girl)** > > In order to fully understand what a "hollaback girl" is, one must first understand what it means to "hollaback." When one hollas back, one responds to a verbal insult with their own reciprocal verbal insult. This in itself is not necessarily a... ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-hollaback-girl/303760/5 "2005-05-13T23:18:38Z")
It’s a [cheerleader, of course.](http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/05/35/music-stacy.php) And Gwen is the Head Cheerleader who leads the yells: _Head Cheerleader Gwen_ (hollering): Gimme a “T!” _Subordinate “Hollaback” Regular Cheerleader Girls_ (hollering back): “T!” _HCG_: Gimme an “E!” _S"H"RCGs_: “E!” _HCG_: Gimme an “A!” _S"H"RCGs_: “A!” _HCG_: Gimme an “M!” _S"H"RCGs_: “M!” etc. See, she _isn’t_ a hollaback girl. Now imagine me nodding sagely, like a Kids in the Hall Helen standing in the field, while I tell you this, and you’ll get the picture. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-hollaback-girl/303760/6 "2005-05-13T23:41:39Z")
Wow. . . I stand. . . . . . mystified. I thank you guys for the clarification on what a “hollaback girl” is in urban-speak, but I read **kaylasdad99** s cite, and man, am I hella-confused. Tripler A holler-back guy. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-hollaback-girl/303760/7 "2005-05-14T03:43:54Z")
I’m still trying to figure out why Gwen Spells “Bananas” in the middle of the song. I heard this, and was like “This isn’t even Weird AL!!!” ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-hollaback-girl/303760/8 "2005-05-14T06:08:51Z")
Ha! #2 in **Big Bad Voodoo Lou’s** link cracked me up! ---
**Author:** ![La\_Llorona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@La\_Llorona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/La_Llorona)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-hollaback-girl/303760/9 "2005-05-14T06:16:18Z")
I was wondering this too…dreadful song, btw. I thought it meant a cheerleader because of the school themes–I believe there’s a lyric about bleachers, principals, and (to rhyme!) student teachers, and she does spell out “bananas” in a cheerleader-esque fashion. Oh, and it does talk about pom-poms, and references Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust”, which is a fairly common cheerleading song. (Google if you want the lyrics, of course…I’m afraid to link 'em here.) I’d be completely prepared to believe the sexual meaning, though, too. Maybe it’s both? That woman…oy. Don’t get me started on her desecration of my beloved “Fiddler”… ;j