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{{Short description|Revived 1600s colloquialism}} |
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'''''Slay''''' is a [[slang]] colloquialism that possibly originated during the 1600s, but gained its current [[LGBT slang|LGBT connotation]] in the 1970s from [[ball culture]]. Originally having a meaning similar to "that joke was killer", ''slay'' has since gained a definition meaning being impressed or term of agreement. |
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== History == |
== History == |
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While the term ''slay'' is often used in the context of [[murder]] or killing, first use of the term as slang is first listed in 1593, meaning something similar to "dying of laughter."<ref>{{Cite book | |
While the term ''slay'' is often used in the context of [[murder]] or killing, first use of the term as slang is first listed in 1593, meaning something similar to "dying of laughter."<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Chapman |first1=Robert L. |title=American slang |last2=Chapman |first2=Robert L. |date=1998 |publisher=HarperPerennial |others=Barbara Ann Kipfer |isbn=978-0-06-273293-4 |edition=2nd |location=New York |pages=464}}</ref> It saw a resurgence in the [[Roaring Twenties]] under a very similar meaning.<ref>{{Cite web |last=University of Oregon |title=Slang of the 1920's |url=https://center.uoregon.edu/NCTE/uploads/2014NCTEANNUAL/HANDOUTS/KEY_1991992/Slangofthe1920s.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dalzell |first=Tom |title=Flappers 2 rappers: American youth slang |date=1996 |publisher=Merriam-Webster |isbn=978-0-87779-612-1 |location=Springfield, Mass}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=McCutcheon |first=Marc |title=The writer's guide to everyday life from prohibition through World War II |date=1995 |publisher=Writer's Digest Books |isbn=978-0-89879-697-1 |edition=1st |location=Cincinnati, Ohio}}</ref> |
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The term grew in popularity in the 1970s in spaces inhabited mainly by Black, Latino, and |
The term grew in popularity in the 1970s in spaces inhabited mainly by Black, Latino, and queer spaces as a result of [[ballroom culture]], gaining a place in [[African-American Vernacular English]]. ''Slay'' gained considerable attention after the release of ''[[Paris Is Burning (film)|Paris Is Burning]]'' which documented ballroom culture in New York City in 1990, as the term was often used in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-12 |title=We've ruined "slay" |url=https://thevarsity.ca/2023/02/12/weve-ruined-slay/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=The Varsity |language=en-US}}</ref> It is here where ''slay'' started to gain a connotation of a term of agreement and for something to be impressive.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-17 |title=Definition of SLAY |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slay |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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With its prominence in the [[LGBT |
With its prominence in the [[LGBT community]], the term has seen a growth outside of these communities since 2009 as a result of [[RuPaul's Drag Race]], where ''slay'', as other terms used mainly in the LGBT community, were thrown around between contestants.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-26 |title=The origins of "slay" |url=https://dailycal.org/2022/06/26/the-origins-of-slay/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=The Daily Californian |language=en}}</ref> The show would also use the word in a special in 2018, the [[RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular]], as well as the word's usage by [[RuPaul]] becoming an [[internet meme]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-23 |title=Hit The Slay Button |url=https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/hit-the-slay-button |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Know Your Meme}}</ref> |
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The term reached mainstream status in 2016 due to |
The term reached mainstream status in 2016 due to its use by [[Beyoncé]] in her song "[[Formation (song)|Formation]]", which was performed at the [[Super Bowl 50 halftime show]]. "Formation" contains a repeating line "'Cause I slay (slay), I slay (hey)" found between verses, as well as at the end of lyrics such as "now let's get in formation", which is followed by the response "'cause I slay".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khemani |first=Nikhil |title="Slay!" |url=https://theunisverse.com/2626/showcase/slay/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=The UNISVerse}}</ref> |
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''Slay'' has since gained significant popularity and mainstream usage on [[social media]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Esha |date=2022-09-12 |title=What does slay mean on TikTok? Internet slang explained |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/what-slay-mean-tiktok-internet-slang-explained |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en-us}}</ref> |
''Slay'' has since gained significant popularity and mainstream usage on [[social media]], in both an ironic and unironic context.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Esha |date=2022-09-12 |title=What does slay mean on TikTok? Internet slang explained |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/what-slay-mean-tiktok-internet-slang-explained |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en-us}}</ref> As a result, it has sparked discussion on whether this expanded usage of the term past [[African-American Vernacular English]] speakers constitutes [[Cultural appropriation|appropriation]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chery |first=Samantha |date=August 17, 2022 |title=Black English is being misidentified as Gen Z lingo, speakers say |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/08/17/black-english-misidentified-internet-slang/}}</ref> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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{{Wiktionary|slay}} |
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{{Portal|LGBTQ |
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}} |
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}}[[LGBT slang]] |
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* [[Yas (slang)]] |
* [[Yas (slang)]] |
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* [[Vogue (dance)]] |
* [[Vogue (dance)]] |
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{{-}} |
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{{reflist}} |
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<references /> |
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{{Ball culture}} |
{{Ball culture}} |
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[[Category:2010s slang]] |
[[Category:2010s slang]] |
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[[Category:Ball culture]] |
[[Category:Ball culture]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:LGBTQ slang]] |
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[[Category:RuPaul's Drag Race]] |
[[Category:RuPaul's Drag Race]] |
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Latest revision as of 00:23, 15 November 2024
Slay is a slang colloquialism that possibly originated during the 1600s, but gained its current LGBT connotation in the 1970s from ball culture. Originally having a meaning similar to "that joke was killer", slay has since gained a definition meaning being impressed or term of agreement.
History
[edit]While the term slay is often used in the context of murder or killing, first use of the term as slang is first listed in 1593, meaning something similar to "dying of laughter."[1] It saw a resurgence in the Roaring Twenties under a very similar meaning.[2][3][4]
The term grew in popularity in the 1970s in spaces inhabited mainly by Black, Latino, and queer spaces as a result of ballroom culture, gaining a place in African-American Vernacular English. Slay gained considerable attention after the release of Paris Is Burning which documented ballroom culture in New York City in 1990, as the term was often used in the film.[5] It is here where slay started to gain a connotation of a term of agreement and for something to be impressive.[6]
With its prominence in the LGBT community, the term has seen a growth outside of these communities since 2009 as a result of RuPaul's Drag Race, where slay, as other terms used mainly in the LGBT community, were thrown around between contestants.[7] The show would also use the word in a special in 2018, the RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular, as well as the word's usage by RuPaul becoming an internet meme.[8]
The term reached mainstream status in 2016 due to its use by Beyoncé in her song "Formation", which was performed at the Super Bowl 50 halftime show. "Formation" contains a repeating line "'Cause I slay (slay), I slay (hey)" found between verses, as well as at the end of lyrics such as "now let's get in formation", which is followed by the response "'cause I slay".[9]
Slay has since gained significant popularity and mainstream usage on social media, in both an ironic and unironic context.[10] As a result, it has sparked discussion on whether this expanded usage of the term past African-American Vernacular English speakers constitutes appropriation.[11]
See also
[edit]
Look up slay in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
References
[edit]- ^ Chapman, Robert L.; Chapman, Robert L. (1998). American slang. Barbara Ann Kipfer (2nd ed.). New York: HarperPerennial. p. 464. ISBN 978-0-06-273293-4.
- ^ University of Oregon. "Slang of the 1920's" (PDF).
- ^ Dalzell, Tom (1996). Flappers 2 rappers: American youth slang. Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster. ISBN 978-0-87779-612-1.
- ^ McCutcheon, Marc (1995). The writer's guide to everyday life from prohibition through World War II (1st ed.). Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books. ISBN 978-0-89879-697-1.
- ^ "We've ruined "slay"". The Varsity. 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ "Definition of SLAY". www.merriam-webster.com. 2023-08-17. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ "The origins of "slay"". The Daily Californian. 2022-06-26. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ "Hit The Slay Button". Know Your Meme. 2021-11-23. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ Khemani, Nikhil. ""Slay!"". The UNISVerse. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ Singh, Esha (2022-09-12). "What does slay mean on TikTok? Internet slang explained". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ Chery, Samantha (August 17, 2022). "Black English is being misidentified as Gen Z lingo, speakers say". The Washington Post.