African-American Vernacular English Dictionary aka Ebonics Book
African-American Vernacular English, or occasionally Ebonics, is the variation of English spoken by most working- and middle-class African-Americans and Black Canadians.
A “vernacular” is a language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.
For generations, Black people’s manner of speaking has been relegated as stupid and unintelligible. Some Black people code-switch: they use General American English to communicate with others of different races and ethnicities.
Many internalize this general denigration, and consider using General American English to be “talking or sounding white.”
I am no longer interested in appealing to the ignorant, the racist, and the uninvited. We’re Black if we choose to use AAVE and we’re Black if we choose to code-switch. We midas whale choose pride: in my people, in our culture, and in our language.
What you can expect every Monday…
A word (or phrase) used in African-American English Vernacular and its definition.
Any words currently/actively used for the black market will not be added, unless they are known to popular culture. In these instances, the origin of its popular use would be noted.
Feedback from you regarding past words! (See below!)
This is not an encyclopedia. The historical and cultural impact of AAVE is something that I would love to cover in the future.
This is also not Urban Dictionary, a crowd-sourced caricature of this rich vernacular. While I welcome you to provide feedback in the form below, only suggestions made with respect and dignity will be acknowledged.
Define Yourself