Though technically its own dialect from standard or British English, American English has many dialects of its own, too. One such dialect is African American Vernacular English, or AAVE, and you probably hear it every day. Depending on where you live and what generation you are, you may even use it every day—even if you’re not African American.
But where did AAVE begin, and is it different enough from American English to be considered its own language? Learn all about the meaning of AAVE, how it’s different from other forms of English, and the many AAVE examples that are already in your conversational speech.
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What is AAVE?
AAVE (pronounced in three ways: av, rhyming with “have,” ah-vey, or spelled out A-A-V-E) is a form of American English that originated in and is primarily spoken by the Black community. Also known as Black English Vernacular (BEV), AAVE has a unique vocabulary, grammar, and phonics system that separates it from Standard American English (SAE) and other American English dialects.
Although AAVE is a modern term, it describes a way of speaking that has developed in the Black community over the last several centuries in the US. Historical sources for modern AAVE include West and Central African languages (such as Mandinka, Yoruba, Hausa, and Gola) and Southern American regional dialects dating back to interactions between enslaved African people and white Southern settlers.
Is AAVE a dialect or a language?
While some may consider AAVE a language, it’s closer to being a dialect of American English. Many linguists consider AAVE to be an English semi-creole (a language mixed from several other languages), similar to other creoles like Cajun French.
AAVE vs. Ebonics
An earlier term for African American Vernacular English was Ebonics, a portmanteau of the words “Ebony” and “Phonics.” Coined in 1973 by social psychologist Dr. Robert Williams, the concept was meant to define and destigmatize the speech patterns of the Black community.
Ebonics has been a controversial movement in linguistics, particularly in the 1990s, as academics argued whether it would be considered a separate language from English or considered a dialect of the Black community. The term AAVE grew to be more popular online in 2020, and today it is a more common way to refer to Black speech sounds and phonics patterns, as well as specific AAVE words and phrases.
AAVE phonics and grammar basics
So how is AAVE different from Standard American English? Several attributes of AAVE phonics and grammar set it apart from other English dialects or forms. Some defining features of AAVE include:
- leaving the letter “g” off “-ing” words
- talkin’ instead of “talking”
- using “be” instead of “is” or “are”
- “I be workin’ late tonight.” instead of “I am working late tonight.”
- removing linking verbs altogether
- “She my boss.” instead of “She is my boss.”
- using prepositions in questions
- “Where you at?” instead of “Where are you?”
- leaving the letter “s” off present-tense verbs
- “He play all day.” instead of “He plays all day.”
- double negatives with the word ain’t
- “We ain’t got no money for that.” instead of “We don’t have any money for that.”
- saying an ending “-th” sound as “-f”
- “My toof hurts.” instead of “My tooth hurts.”
- pronouncing “ask” as aks
- Aks that guy if he knows the time.
Examples of AAVE words and phrases
AAVE words aren’t just popular in the Black community. In fact, it’s become so common in everyday speech that many American slang words have roots in AAVE, long before teenagers in other ethnic groups began adding them to group texts and social media posts. Some date back to the early 20th-century jazz era, while others have become more popular in recent years.
| AAVE Word | English Meaning | Example Sentence |
| ain’t | isn’t or aren’t | You ain’t invited to my house. |
| bestie | best friend | I’ll sit next to my bestie. |
| bet | sounds good | We going out tonight? Bet. |
| bogus | fake or fraud | That guy’s story is bogus. |
| bougie (boujee) | overly fancy (bourgeoisie) | Her new car is so bougie! |
| bro (brother) | friend or buddy | Bro, you’re never gonna believe this. |
| catch hands | start a fight | Step back or catch these hands. |
| fam | friends and loved ones | Hey fam, what’s up? |
| finna | fixing to (about to) | I’m finna ask her out. |
| hella | very | That movie is hella funny. |
| hip | trendy, up to date | Are you hip to the news? |
| lit | very fun | I heard that party was lit! |
| no cap | I’m not lying | No cap, Ray told me he was movin’ away. |
| periodt | the final word | LA is better than NYC, periodt. |
| rizz | charisma, attractiveness | That dude has serious rizz. |
| salty | irritated or bitter | I’m still salty about what Mia said. |
| trippin’ | acting bizarre or exaggerating | Are you trippin’? Don’t text me so late! |
| what’s good | how are you (what’s up) | Hey bro, what’s good? |
| yo | hey (or an exclamation) | Yo, how you doing? |
While many of these words seem like they began in American English, many actually have West African origins and first appeared in AAVE. For example, the word bogus may have roots in the Hausa word boko-boko, meaning “deceit.” And the slang word hip, meaning “well informed,” also has AAVE roots, likely from Wolof hipi.
Many AAVE words continue to evolve, just like words in any other lexicon (list of words). When comparing the spellings of bougie vs. boujee, for example, the boujee spelling had a large surge in 2016—the same year that artist Migos released the song “Bad and Boujee.”
AAVE examples in media and literature
AAVE is commonplace in musical genres developed by Black artists, including hip hop, R&B, and rap. Like jazz and blues before them, these types of music are products of the Black experience in America, and their lyrics use AAVE to reflect the voices of the Black community. Prominent Black artists who sing or rap in AAVE include B.B. King, Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Tupac Shakur, Kendrick Lamar, and Lizzo.
Because AAVE is more commonly spoken than written, most of its identifiable traits are what you can hear rather than read. However, books featuring Black characters, such as Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, often use AAVE in both dialogue and narration.
AAVE is also a popular way to communicate online or via texting, which has led to more standardized usage and spelling in the 21st century.
Language can represent identity, culture, and experience
Once you understand AAVE’s meaning, both in history and in modern usage, you can appreciate AAVE examples that you hear in everyday life. More than slang, more than regional dialect, AAVE represents the identity of the Black community forged over centuries in America, based on a range of experiences.
But AAVE isn’t the only linguistic representation of culture and experience throughout history. Learn more about how Rosetta Stone works to discover more about the historical context of languages—and to explore learning a new language yourself.
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