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. Dev Murphy is a wikiHow Staff Writer with experience working as a teacher, ghostwriter, copyeditor, and illustrator. She loves writing how-to articles because she loves learning new things and because she believes knowledge should be free and accessible to the world. Dev's creative writing and visual art have been featured in many venues online and in print. When she is not writing for wikiHow, she is drawing pictures, making perfume, or writing hybrid poems. Dev earned her MA in English Literature from Ohio University in 2017. She lives in Pittsburgh with her cat, Nick.
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You may have seen the word “noice” used on TikTok or heard it in a TV show—but what the heck does it mean? In this article, we’ll explore the meaning of this mysterious slang term (hint: it’s just “nice” in an Australian or English accent), uncover its origins, and offer scripting examples so you can add “noice” to your daily vocabulary. Noice!
“Noice” Meaning at a Glance
“Noice” is slang for "nice," but with an exaggerated Australian, Cockney, or Norfolk British accent. It means “awesome” and is often used as an exclamation to indicate approval or excitement. It's similar to saying “nice," just a bit more playful and familiar.
Steps
“Noice” Definition
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“Noice” is just stylized slang for “nice” with an Australian or British accent. It means “nice” or “awesome,” and it’s typically used as an exclamation at the end of a statement from someone else to indicate approval. “Noice” is an exaggerated form of “nice” and means mostly the same thing, but “noice” carries more playfulness and familiarity between the speaker and the person they're talking to than “nice” does.
- The word is commonly used in colloquial speech and online, and it’s pronounced just like it looks—it rhymes with Joyce , voice , or choice .
- It’s especially prevalent in gaming communities and may be used by anyone, but it’s more frequently linked to young adult men.
- The comparative and superlative forms of the word are noicer and noicest , respectively.
“Noice” in Popular Culture
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1"Noice" likely began as a way to stereotype British and Australian accents. It’s unclear exactly where the term “noice” as a slang word originated, but we know it’s a written representation of how you might say “nice” in an Australian, Cockney, or Norfolk British accent.
- Charles Dickens used the term “noice” to represent a character’s thick English accent in Nicholas Nickleby in 1838: “‘Ye be noice chaps.’” So, the word’s been around for quite some time—but it’s unlikely modern TikTok users grabbed it from this book.
- The term and exaggerated Australian accents in general may be associated with Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin or Australian sitcom Kath & Kim .
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2Key and Peele released a skit called Nooice in 2013. In the skit , two dance video hype men fall in love after a dispute about who owns the catchphrase “Noice.” It ended up being one of the most popular Key & Peele skits ever, and while it may not have originated the term “noice,” it likely helped propel the word into popular usage.
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3A video of author Michael Rosen using the word went viral in 2015. The 2013 video featured English children’s author Rosen reciting his poem “Hot Food,” in which he repeats variations on the line, “I only put a little bit on my fork and I blow [imitates blowing] ‘til it’s cool, just cool, then into the mouth, [imitates eating, smacks lips]: noice.”
- Unlike in the Key & Peele sketch, which used the term in the slang way we tend to use it now, Rosen said “noice” because…well, he’s English, and that’s how he says the word!
- But Rosen’s comedic delivery paired with his pronunciation of “noice” caused the video to take off a few years after it was posted, further cementing the popularity of the term.
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4Andy Samberg’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine character uses “Noice” as a slogan. In 2015, Samberg’s character Jake Peralta took on the term as his catchphrase (in addition to “Toit!”). The word is now commonly associated with the sitcom.
How to Use “Noice” in Your Daily Life
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1Say "noice" after someone says or does something you like or are excited by. It’s a great way to show you approve of what has happened or what’s been said, while also demonstrating some playfulness, confidence, and pizzazz.
- Keep in mind "noice" is generally only used in informal, friendly settings. In other words, when your boss tells you you can take off early, don't say, "Noice!"
- “I had a really great time on our date last night.”
“Noice!” - “How about pizza for dinner?”
“Noice!” - *Sees a dog*
“Noice!"
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2Post "noice" online when something is just plain awesome. When you're gaming or just chatting with friends over text or social media, "noice" is the perfect way to show you're really digging something.
- “I just got to level 14 in my game!”
“Noice, noice, noice!” - "that selfie is noice babe!"
- "Gonna play some Overwatch
if you wanna join."
"Noice, I'm in!"
- “I just got to level 14 in my game!”
Why do some British and Australian people say “noice”?
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In some varieties of Australian and British English, the long i sound is rounded. In standard British and American English, the long i vowel sound in words such as “bite,” “tight,” or “nice” is known as a diphthong (that is, two vowel sounds joined in one syllable to form a single sound) and is formed with lips unrounded. [1] X Research source
- But in some Australian and British accents (as well as New York English), the long i sound begins with lips rounded, creating a rounder oi sound, as in moist or coil , or, yes, noice .
"Noice" vs. "Niiiice"
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"Noice" and "niiiice" are often used interchangeably, but have different vibes. Many people use "noice" and "niiiice" to mean pretty much the same thing: approval or satisfaction, with a playful spin. "Niiiice" is just a little more chill and drawn out, while "noice" is more rowdy and exuberant. "Niiiice" may also be used more frequently than "noice" in a sexual or flirtatious context.
- For example: If you find out you've passed a test you studied hard for, you might let out a celebratory "Noice!" (But you could also use "Niiiice" here, to be honest.)
- But, when you see what your date is wearing on your night out, you might say, "Niiiice" to sound more suave and flirty. Saying "Noice" in this context would probably take the vibe from flirty and sexy to friendly and boisterous.
Other Fun Slang Terms
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"Noice" isn't the only lighthearted slang you can use! Take a look at these other trending phrases to stay up-to-date on the Internet's latest lingo:
- Broski : another word for "dude" or "bro"
- Skibidi
:
a nonsense slang term that could refer to something good or bad
- How well do you know Gen Z slang? Try our quiz to find out.
- You do you : "You should do whatever is best for you, no matter what others think."
- My Roman Empire : something you can't stop thinking about
- I'm cooked : "I'm in trouble."
- Ate and left no crumbs : an expression of praise or admiration
- Babygirl : a slang term of endearment for cute men—often actors and fictional characters over the age of 25—who are sensitive and reliable, but also a little naive and sweet