28+ ATL Slang Terms & the Meanings Behind Them

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Get up-to-date on all the latest slang from Atlanta, Georgia
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Atlanta is a Southern city with a vibrant Black culture, considered by many to be the capital of Southern hip-hop. Atlanta slang is also pretty vibrant and dynamic, with fresh terms replacing old ones before they get too stale. Whether you're looking to visit the ATL and want to sound like a local or just want to better understand your favorite rap artist, you've come to the right place. Read on to learn the slang words ATLiens are using and what they mean.

Top Atlanta Lingo

  • OTP/ITP: inside or outside the perimeter; inner-city Atlanta
  • Lit: something that's extremely cool or awesome
  • Dat way: filler phrase similar to "right" or "you feel me"
  • Twin: your ride-or-die, your bestie
  • Trimm: short for "tripping," can be good or bad
Section 1 of 3:

Slang Terms for Places in Atlanta

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  1. 1
    ITP (Inside the Perimeter) A native Atlantan will typically tell you that you only live in Atlanta if you live inside the boundary created by Interstate 285, which rims the city. Referred to locally as the Perimeter, locals will make major decisions based on whether something is ITP. [1]
    • In a sentence : "You should look for something ITP, that commute is killing you!"
  2. 2
    OTP (Outside the Perimeter) The suburbs of Atlanta tend to each have their own character and reputation, attracting different types of people at different stages of life. OTP towns and cities are more spread out and car-dependent, with extensive residential neighborhoods. [2]
    • In a sentence : "I like the Braves, but I ain't goin' OTP to watch a game."
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  3. 3
    Spaghetti Junction Interstates 85 and 285 intersect along with quite a few other major and minor roads in a pile of overpasses and ramps that bend and curve over and around each other. From overhead, it looks like a bowl of noodles—and locals call it like they see it. [3]
    • In a sentence : "Sorry I'm late—I got cut off in Spaghetti Junction and missed my exit."
  4. 4
    A-town/The A Atlanta has gone through a lot of nicknames in the past 50 or so years, with A-town or The A seeming to replace ATL as the slang of choice (although people still use ATL). If you're going to stick to the official name of the city, though, at least drop the last t and pronounce it Atlannuh like a true local.
    • In a sentence : "Whenever I go out of town I always wear my gear to represent A-town."
    • One nickname you definitely don't want to use is Hotlanta . Nobody knows for sure where this nickname originated, but it's always been hated by locals. [4]
    • Related: People also use 404 to talk about Atlanta ( 404 was the original area code for the city). [5]
  5. 5
    Underground In the heat of a Georgia summer, walking around in the cool underground is certainly an attractive option—and that's where Underground Atlanta (just Underground to locals) comes into play. This charming part of Atlanta history used to be a tourist attraction and shopping mall. As of 2025, the underground space hosts museums, art galleries, and events. [6]
    • In a sentence : "Did you see that Banksy exhibit in the Underground?"
  6. 6
    The Hooch When it starts getting hot in the summer, you'll hear locals talk about shooting the hooch , which doesn't mean they're planning on getting drunk on moonshine—rather, they're talking about going rafting down the Chattahoochee River. It's the closest waterway to the Atlanta metro and a popular spot to cool down.
    • In a sentence : "I heard they took the rain out of the forecast so we're going to shoot the hooch this weekend."
  7. 7
    Get to Gettin' If you're not from Atlanta specifically or the South generally, this one is a bit hard to understand. You've got the verb "to get," which in the South can also be used to mean "to leave" (as in "go on, get"). Southerners also use the verb "to get" as a sort of preparatory word you can slip in when you're almost, but not quite, ready to do something. Put all of that together, and the result is get to gettin' , which roughly means "start to make our exit or take our leave."
    • In a sentence: "Is it already 11:30? We better get to gettin' if we're gonna be there by noon."
  8. 8
    Waho This is just a local shortening of the Southern staple Waffle House. The Waho is an important part of Atlanta culture, especially among those who are out late at night and early in the morning.
    • In a sentence: "There ain't anything open at this hour, we might as well just go to Waho."
  9. 9
    Buckhead Betty Buckhead is a wealthy ITP suburb of Atlanta and a Buckhead Betty is a wealthy, typically white woman. They may have kids but they definitely don't work. They spend a lot of time shopping, lunching, or at spas and country clubs. [7]
    • In a sentence: "That Buckhead Betty asked to see my manager when I told her we wouldn't seat her party 5 minutes before closing."
  10. 10
    The Varsity When you hear Atlantans talk about The Varsity, they're not referring to a high school sports team but a fast food restaurant—one of the largest and oldest of its kind. An Atlanta establishment for more than 90 years, they've now opened several locations, although the original downtown location is still the most popular. If you go, get a chili dog and onion rings—it's what they're most known for. [8]
    • In a sentence: "Don't talk about chili dogs if you've never been to The Varsity."
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Section 2 of 3:

Atlanta Hip Hop Slang

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  1. 1
    Lit One of the most common Atlanta slang words (and probably the most exported as well), something that's lit is something that's really awesome. Probably derived from the fact that awesome events used to be called hot , and a fire is hot, and a fire must be lit . [9]
    • In a sentence: "Did you see the bands playing at the block party next weekend? It's gonna be lit!"
  2. 2
    Fye This word is just fire without the final r sound. It might just be the Atlanta accent or it might be intentional. Either way, this is the word of choice for Atlantans who want to talk about how something is really cool or amazing. Just remember: a fye is always lit .
    • In a sentence : "Yo, I'm checking out that BBQ tomorrow for real, it's gonna be fye!"
  3. 3
    Dat way Literally a stylized version of "that way," this phrase is used to mean that you agree with someone. You can also use it for emphasis after you say something, similar to how you might say "right" or "you feel me." At the same time, it's kind of a filler phrase that doesn't really have a specific meaning, so don't be surprised if you hear it in a lot of different contexts. [10]
    • In a sentence : "I wanna go to the meetup, dat way, but I gotta wash my car first."
  4. 4
    Finesse When you finesse something, it means you were smooth. The word implies that you played someone, but in a totally mutual way. You got a deal, they know you got a deal, and they were happy to give you a deal. If you finesse a lot, people probably talk about how charming you are, too.
    • In a sentence : "How'd you finesse backstage passes? This show's been sold out for months!"
  5. 5
    Juug You can think of juug as the dark side of finesse —if finesse is charming someone into freely giving you something, juug is the same but without bothering to charm them first. It's basically taking or snatching, but it implies that you're in the right to do so. You can also use it for people, if you're trying to get someone out of a tough situation. [11]
    • In a sentence: "Like my new hoodie? Somebody left it on the bus and I juuged it."
  6. 6
    Shawty The spelling reflects the Southern pronunciation of the word shorty . When you hear this in Atlanta, it's typically a young man talking about a young woman. More generally, you might hear friends calling each other shawty . It's a term of endearment. [12]
    • In a sentence : "Hey shawty, you wanna come over to my place tonight?"
  7. 7
    Skrrt This word comically mimics the sound of tires screeching on pavement, and it's meant to compliment someone's physical appearance. It's as if the person was driving, saw this person, and had to screech to a stop so they could look at them longer or maybe even talk to them. You'll often hear someone skrrt more than once—and the number of skrrts might indicate how attractive they think the person is.
    • In a sentence : "Skrrt skrrt! You see that shawty over there?"
  8. 8
    Trap A trap is a place (usually an abandoned house) where people sell illegal drugs, as well as a type of hip-hop music. Along the way, the word came to take on a sort of metaphorical meaning as well, referring broadly to the act of hustling, or doing something you don't particularly want to do just to get some money. [13]
    • In a sentence : "They finally tore down that trap at the end of the road. I'm so glad we don't have to worry about that anymore."
  9. 9
    Bando This word is short for "abandoned," as in an abandoned home or building. In Atlanta, a bando is typically also a trap house . But the word bando can also be used just to refer to abandoned buildings generally. [14]
    • In a sentence : "It's sad how this neighborhood's gone downhill—just look at all these bandos everywhere."
  10. 10
    Yeen When Southerners speak more quickly, like they tend to do in larger cities, they start to lose some of the consonants and words get blended together. A word like yeen is sometimes the result—officially, it stands in for "you don't." It's sort of the counterpart of ion , which stands in for "I don't." Atlantans tend to soften or eliminate hard vowels, so this is also particular to that part of Georgia.
    • In a sentence: "You think they're going to win the championship this year? Shh, yeen e'en know."
  11. 11
    12 The number 12 is nearly universally understood in the city of Atlanta to mean cops , although no one seems to know where it comes from. Generally speaking, it's a word that developed so that you could shout a warning to comrades about the presence of police. But people also use it when they're referring to the police in any context. [15]
    • In a sentence : "That party was pretty lit until 12 rolled up."
  12. 12
    No cap Saying "no cap" to mean "truth" or "no lie" spread throughout the United States thanks to Generation Z, but Atlantans claim it and have been saying it for decades. You'll hear cap all by itself too, and it usually means true –not a thing you wear on your head. [16]
    • In a sentence: "You really got tickets to the game, no cap?"
  13. 13
    Slime This word is loosely related to the Young Thug trial, which ended up being the longest trial in Georgia history. Young Thug's record label is officially known as Young Stoner Life (YSL), but allegedly really stands for Young Slime Life. [17] A slime in this context refers to someone who's your ride-or-die, your homie. Your slime is your family.
    • In a sentence : "Oh, I've known him a long time—we're slime."
  14. 14
    Slaps This one is pretty straightforward and easy to pick up. If something slaps , that means it's great, awesome, excellent, or really cool. This versatile word can be used to describe everything from music to pizza, so it's really going to come in handy.
    • In a sentence : "Bro, have you heard their new album yet? It really slaps!"
  15. 15
    Twin When you say someone is your twin , you're not saying that you look alike. Rather, this means that you consider the person to be your best friend or very much like you. The twinness comes from your vibe, not your appearance. You can also refer to your pet as your twin.
    • In a sentence : "Where've you been, twin, I need to rant about the latest team drama."
  16. 16
    Munyun It seems like there's a new slang word for money every few weeks, and in Atlanta munyun has become the word of choice. This one is fine to use in any context, although people might not understand what you mean in more bougie settings.
    • In a sentence : "You can't have any funyun without munyun."
  17. 17
    Trim This is a shortening of the word tripping that only makes sense if you're really familiar with the Atlanta accent. It can mean something good or bad depending on the tone and the context, but generally, it's something you would say in reaction to something. [18]
    • In a sentence: "Man, you trim! That suit looks amazing on you!"
  18. 18
    Patna nem This phrase is a sort of phonetic spelling that imitates the way someone from Atlanta would say "partner and them." In the case of a greeting, Atlantans will often use this phrase to ask after the wellbeing of your family.
    • In a sentence: "Ain't seen y'all lately—how's your patna nem?"
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Section 3 of 3:

Digging into Atlanta Culture

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  1. 1
    Listen to Atlanta rappers and hip-hop artists. Rappers and hip hop artists have been spreading Atlanta slang around the world for decades. These songs provide context for all of these slang terms and help immerse you in Atlanta culture. [19]
    • Old Atlanta: Jermaine Dupri, TLC, Toni Braxton, Usher
    • Dirty South: Ludacris, Lil Wayne, OutKast, Goodie Mob, Arrested Development
    • Crunk: Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz, Dem Franchise Boyz, Pastor Troy, Ying Yang Twins
    • Trap: 2Chainz, Future, Gucci Mane, T.I., Jeezy
    • New Atlanta: Migos, Lil Yachty, Playboi Carti, Young Thug
  2. 2
    Watch documentaries, series, and other content about Atlanta. There are plenty of professionally produced films, TV shows, and videos that will show you a lot about life in the A. Even fictional stories can give you some insight into what it's like to live in this vibrant Southern city.
    • Atlanta-native Donald Glover's award-winning show Atlanta has been praised for how well it shows the reality of living in the city. [20]
    • The Vice Media documentary series Noisey did a 10-episode series on the Atlanta hip-hop scene.
  3. 3
    Follow Atlanta natives on social media. If you're not able to get to Atlanta, checking out pics and vids from people who live there might be the next best thing. Comment and engage, and you might end up starting a conversation that leads to a real friendship. At the very least, you'll get more familiar with Atlanta slang and hip-hop culture.
    • Searching for hashtags with Atlanta slang or Atlanta rappers will help you find more relevant content to explore.
  4. 4
    Go to Atlanta and check out spots with cultural significance. If you want to start at the heart of Atlanta's hip-hop scene, look no further than Edgewood Avenue. It's a narrow road near Little Five Points, another hopping cultural mecca. Going to some of these clubs and record shops can help you gain a new appreciation for how Atlanta slang develops and spreads. [21]
    • Check out the Sweet Auburn Historic District . It's the neighborhood where Martin Luther King, Jr. grew up and also includes a lot of really interesting historical spots.
    • You might also check out the Trap Music Museum in downtown Atlanta.
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      Warnings

      • Many words and phrases in Atlanta slang are actually words from African American Vernacular English (AAVE). [22] Be sensitive of their origins and avoid any cultural appropriation or perceived racial stereotyping. [23]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.knowatlanta.com/feature-stories-on-atlanta/itp-vs-otp
      2. ↑ https://www.knowatlanta.com/feature-stories-on-atlanta/itp-vs-otp
      3. ↑ https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/counties-cities-neighborhoods/atlanta/spaghetti-junction_001/
      4. ↑ https://www.atlantamagazine.com/list/you-asked-we-answered-34-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-atlanta/where-did-hotlanta-come-from-and-why-does-it-refuse-to-die/
      5. ↑ https://isss.emory.edu/images/get_involved/Culture-and-Conversation-Slang-and-Idioms.pdf
      6. ↑ https://www.atlantadowntown.com/go/underground-atlanta2
      7. ↑ https://www.macon.com/entertainment/article276843986.html
      8. ↑ https://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/exhibitions/the-varsity/
      9. ↑ https://neonmusic.co.uk/the-power-of-language-in-pop-culture
      1. ↑ https://neonmusic.co.uk/the-power-of-language-in-pop-culture
      2. ↑ https://www.complex.com/music/a/alex-russell/what-does-juug-mean
      3. ↑ https://www.farooqkperogi.com/2017/02/black-american-vernacular-english.html
      4. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2023/08/10/1193297765/the-birth-of-trap-music-and-the-rise-of-southern-hip-hop
      5. ↑ https://neonmusic.co.uk/the-power-of-language-in-pop-culture
      6. ↑ https://theintercept.com/2020/06/17/atlanta-protests-rayshard-brooks-police/
      7. ↑ https://neonmusic.co.uk/the-power-of-language-in-pop-culture
      8. ↑ https://pitchfork.com/news/young-thug-pleads-guilty-in-ysl-case/
      9. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@coldhearts/video/7288091724918820127?lang=en
      10. ↑ https://discoveratlanta.com/things-to-do/arts-culture/atlantas-black-music-roots-blues-hip-hop-trap-and-beyond/
      11. ↑ https://southernreviewofbooks.com/2022/09/07/atlanta-donald-glover-review/
      12. ↑ https://sites.gsu.edu/mlamar2/2016/04/11/atlantas-built-environment-is-creating-new-cultures-throughout-the-city-bed-rough-draft/
      13. ↑ https://www.atlantamagazine.com/southern/atlanta-accent/
      14. ↑ https://stanford.edu/class/linguist150/readings/EberhardtFreeman2015.pdf

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