Meaning of Ghetto

[Donna Richoux]

What does the word "ghetto" mean when used as slang? I've heard many
teens use it: "That's so ghetto," "You're ghetto," etc.

Since we have almost no teens here (that's another story, as to why
not), this isn't the best place to ask about the latest in slang (which
also can change from place to place and month to month).

But here's a trick. In Google, search for the phrase and the word
"because". For example, in this case, including the quotation marks:

"so ghetto because"

Then you will find examples of people using the phrase and going on to
explain *why*. From the clues, you can deduce the meaning of the word.

For example, in this case, I get:

i feel so ghetto because last night i used cotton to floss and
it cut my gums up

I have been having some financial problems lately,
three checks of mine bounced in the bank, I feel so
ghetto because of that. I deposited money too late

The music rocked there, but everyone
looked so ghetto (because there's no dress code)

The trend from these three is that it means something like "terrible,
awful, bad." But you should look at more examples yourself.

[Chris Kern]

What does the word "ghetto" mean when used as slang? I've heard many
teens use it: "That's so ghetto," "You're ghetto," etc.

I'm not a teen, but I very occasionally use the term (and hear it all
the time).

Sometimes it just means "bad". But often it has the connotation of
squalor, or cheapness, or something like that.

For instance, a "ghetto TV" might be one that has no remote control,
the buttons are falling off, and the picture fades in and out every so
often. Someone might describe a 14.4k internet connection as a
"ghetto internet connection" or "this connection is so ghetto".

I don't hear or use the word very often, though, so I'm not well
versed on the particulars of usage.

-Chris

[masakim]

Post by Donna Richoux

What does the word "ghetto" mean when used as slang? I've heard
many teens use it: "That's so ghetto," "You're ghetto," etc.

Since we have almost no teens here (that's another story, as to why
not), this isn't the best place to ask about the latest in slang (which
also can change from place to place and month to month).
But here's a trick. In Google, search for the phrase and the word
"so ghetto because"
Then you will find examples of people using the phrase and going on to
explain *why*. From the clues, you can deduce the meaning of the word.

But here's another trick. In Google, search for the phrase and the word
"slang". For example, in this case, including the quotation marks:

"so ghetto" slang

Then you will find:

* This table contains the most frequently reported terms/meanings collected
at Cal Poly Pomona during Spring, 2000. Some terms also have other meanings
that are not reported here. (Mouseover the number of interest to you.)

8 ghetto (adjective) Bad; of low quality; cheap; trashy; in disarray. "Those
apartments are so ghetto; I can't believe students actually live there."



Top 20 College Slang Terms--2000 at

http://www.csupomona.edu/~jasanders/slang/00top20.html



ghetto adj 1. of poor quality or poor looking. ("That shirt is so
ghetto.") 2. of superior quality, excellent; COOL. ("Man, his shit is
ghetto!") Submitted by Kayla Reilly, CA, USA, 01-12-1997. cool displeasing



The Online Slang Dictionary at

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wrader/slang/g.html


Regards,
masakim

[Jonathan Mason]

What does the word "ghetto" mean when used as slang? I've heard many
teens use it: "That's so ghetto," "You're ghetto," etc.

Oh, it's just a term used a lot by more middle class African American
to disparage the ways and mores of lower class African Americans. For
example, my wife, who is a middle class African American hairstylist,
will refer to her current appearance as "ghetto chic"!