Toronto slang

Multicultural Toronto English
Toronto slang / Toronto accent
Native to	Canada
Region	Greater Toronto Area
Ethnicity	Various (see Ethnic groups in Toronto)
Language family	Indo-European Germanic West Germanic North Sea Germanic Anglo-Frisian Anglic North American English Canadian English Multicultural Toronto English
Early forms	Old English Middle English Early Modern English
Writing system	Latin (English alphabet)
Sources	Jamaican Patois, Arabic, Canadian English and Somali
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–

Multicultural Toronto English (MTE) is a multi-ethnic dialect of Canadian English used in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), particularly among young non-White (non-Anglo) working-class speakers. ^{[1] [2] [3]} First studied in linguistics research of the late 2010s and early 2020s, ^{[4] [5] [6]} the dialect is popularly recognized by its phonology and lexicon, commonly known as the Toronto accent and Toronto slang, respectively. It is a byproduct of the city's multiculturalism, generally associated with Millennial and Gen Z populations in ethnically diverse districts of Toronto. ^[7] It is also spoken outside of the GTA, in cities such as Hamilton, Barrie, and Ottawa. ^{[8] [9]}

History

External videos
1980s use of MTE
Home Feeling Struggle For A Community

External videos
1990s use of MTE
Cold Front Record Release Party - Much Music Rap City
Maestro Fresh Wes interview
Make Some Noise (1994)
Ghetto Concept Interview
Pelham Park Bloods 1
Pelham Park Bloods 2
Regent Park Focus on CBC

Linguists trace the origin of Toronto's slang and accent to Jamaican and Somali immigration to Toronto from the 1960s to the 1990s, positing that Toronto's multiethnolect formed as both immigrant groups coalesced into Black Canadian communities. ^{[10] [11] [12]} Dialect linguists Laura Baxter and Jacqueline Peters put forward ethnic enclaves such as the Jane and Finch neighborhood as centers of Black English usage in Toronto; they further argue that the number of loanwords from Jamaican Patois in the dialect demonstrates the linguistic "founder effect" of older and more populous Jamaican communities in these neighborhoods influencing newer Black immigrants. ^[13] The development of Toronto slang in Regent Park has been attributed by local journalists to cultural exchange between Jamaican, Somali, Guyanese, and Trinidadian immigrant communities. ^[14]

Derek Denis, a linguist in the University of Toronto, posits that Somali has an outsized influence on MTE compared to other immigrant languages given the small proportion of Somali speakers in Toronto. He contends that Somali loanwords in MTE originated in Somali immigrant neighborhoods in Rexdale, and diffused outward into broader Black communities in Toronto, including Jamaican communities. ^[10] Linguists attribute the development of MTE to societal factors that isolated Black Canadians in Toronto from normative Canadian English, such as the division of Toronto into ethnic enclaves and barriers to socioeconomic mobility for Black Canadians. ^{[13] [10]}

External videos
2000s use of MTE
Eglinton West 2008 Documentary
Firewar
How Can I Be Down
Beenie Man at Jane and Finch
Inside Access: Sticky Green
Lost in the Struggle - CBC Docuseries
POINT BLANK - Behind the Scenes
Point Blank in Regent Park - CityTV Docuseries
YBK TV - NORTHSIDE JANE & FINCH
EMPz 4 Life 2006 Documentary
Toronto Murder Epidemic Documentary

The second-generation descendants of these immigrants significantly contributed to embedding Toronto's distinctive slang and accent into the city's culture. ^[15] Faced with limited economic opportunities within their communities, children of the initial immigrant influx turned to creative outlets such as rap music, fashion, and athletics for both expression and livelihood. ^[16] Their influence in these areas helped shape the city's popular culture, especially among the youth in the Greater Toronto Area. ^[17] Consequently, their unique manner of speaking, shaped by the aforementioned multiculturalism of their communities, gained widespread adoption throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, given their status as local tastemakers. ^[18] Towards the end of the 1990s, native Toronto rapper Kardinal Offishall released his Billboard-charting single "BaKardi Slang"; it showcased a variety of the city's slang throughout the lyrics and signaled the dialect was already significantly developed by this time. ^[4]

2006 marked the first mention of Toronto's slang or accent in any formal or academic research. ^[19] The rise of blogging in during this time period played a pivotal role in documenting the use and development of MTE. One notable example is Jane-Finch.com, a community-driven archive dedicated to the Jane and Finch area that captured key examples of MTE's use throughout the decade. ^[20] Furthermore, documentaries produced by local broadcasters such as CityTV and CBC served to spotlight the dialect's presence in the city. ^{[21] [22]} This linguistic evolution during this period not only reflected Toronto's multicultural heritage but also served as a unifying cultural element for the city.

External videos
2010s use of MTE
Sh*t Toronto People Say
6IX RISING Documentary
Toronto Dictionary Pt 1
Toronto Dictionary Pt 2
T-Dot Goon Scrap 2
Noisey Meets Smoke Dawg
BizzLoc Interview
K Money Interview
WhyG Interview

The late 2000s and much of the 2010s marked a pivotal era of growth for MTE, significantly driven by the third-generation descendants of the original immigration wave. The brewing Toronto music scene, deeply rooted in the artistic expressions of Toronto's lower-income and culturally diverse working-class communities, began receiving nationwide attention. ^{[23] [24]} The emergence of YouTube and streaming services revolutionized the music industry by dramatically reducing the barriers to music distribution, thus enabling local artists to reach vast audiences beyond the traditional mediums of CDs and mixtapes. ^[25] Neighbourhoods such as Regent Park, Jane and Finch, Lawrence Heights, Chester Le, Alexandra Park, and Rexdale became hotbeds of cultural growth, producing Rap and R&B artists like Smoke Dawg, Robin Banks, Top5, Pengz, K Money, and Moula1st, to name a few. ^{[26] [27] [28] [29]} These artists had significant influence among the youth of the Greater Toronto Area; the use of MTE in their lyrics, a reflection of the dialect spoken within their communities, spread contagiously as they began to amass millions of views and followers in the hundreds of thousands. ^{[30] [31] [32]} Consequently, the dialect once confined to their lower-income communities began breaking ethnic and socioeconomic barriers, making its way into suburbs and highschools, transforming Toronto's linguistic landscape. ^{[33] [34]} The impact of this cultural and linguistic shift was further magnified by the advent of social media. Platforms such as 6ixBuzz and Waveroom put a spotlight on the culture brewing in these communities through short-form, easily digestible content, attracting millions of followers. This significantly contributed to the widespread adoption and normalization of MTE seen today. ^{[35] [36]}

Phonology

As in Standard Canadian English, this dialect features rhoticity, the Low Back Merger Shift, and GOOSE fronting (led by women speakers). Canadian raising also still exists, though possibly less so than among Standard Canadian speakers.

The distinct accent features of Multicultural Toronto English include the TRAP vowel before a nasal consonant being unraised or only slightly raised and the GOAT vowel being monophthongal, both of which are "distinctly non-normative" in 21st-century Standard Canadian English; these are led by men in the Toronto area. ^[37] Th-stopping is a variable feature, likely adopted from Jamaican Patois, for instance with such words as youth, thing, and them colloquially spelled as yute, ting, and dem. ^[38]

Vocabulary

Here is a list of common vocabulary in Multicultural Toronto English:

Adjectives

• "A guy" (used to describe someone who is particularly dangerous or successful, similar to calling someone a "big shot"; not to be confused with "the guy" as both are distinct in their usage)
• "Amped/Gassed" (to be energetic or excited about something)
• "Babyfood" (used to describe something as easy)
• "Bare" (very/a lot/many) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^{[39] [40]}
• "Beat" (something that looks ugly, can be used to describe an object or person) ^[41]
• "Beg" (someone trying to get attention in a pitiful way, similar to being “extra”) [Often used in a playful manner]
• "Bent" (describes an individual who is upset)
• "Blem" (describes an individual who is high or intoxicated) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[42]
• "Cheesed" (pissed, mad, angry) ^[43]
• "Certi" (something or someone that is important or of high quality; short for "certified")
• "Dess" (short for desperate, can also describe something as pitiful)
• "Deezed" (describes an individual as muscular and strong)
• "Dutty" (dirty, bad, ugly) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[44]
• "Dry" (uncool, lame, boring, uninteresting) ^[45]
• "Fried" (describes an individual who is high or intoxicated)
• "Greezy" (something impressive or attractive in a fashionable use) ^{[46] [47]}
• "Likkle" (small, little) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[44]
• "Live" (used to describe something as lively or exciting, usually an approval or endorsement of an events atmosphere)
• "Marved" (hungry, starving) ^[39]
• "Merked" (ugly, unattractive) ^[48]
• "Miskeen" (pathetic, or poor - frequently used referring to someone who is "civilian" and "innocent," not involved in any crime) [originates from Arabic]
• "Mod" (crazy, originates from Jamaican Patois) ^[49]
• "Moshup" (something that is ruined, messed up or botched, commonly used to indicate a situation has gone away) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Neatly" (used to emphasize the quality or manner in which an action will be carried out)
• "Next" (describes something other than what is currently discussed, often emphasizing a disregard or need for an alternative)
• "Namebrand" (something that is important or of high quality, usually used to describe an individual)
• "Peng" (describes a person who is attractive) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[50]
• "Proper" (describes something as legitimate or done right)
• "Quick times" (for something to be done quickly)
• "Soft" (describes something that is permissible and does not require worry) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[51]
• "Sick" (used to describe someone who is particularly dangerous or gangster)
• "Sweeterman/Sweeter-ting” (an attractive person) ^{[51] [39]}
• "Vexxed" (annoyed, upset or irritated) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Wossy" (something crazy or unusual, usually describing the actions of a person) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Waste" (describes something as undesirable or dissatisfying) [originates from Jamaican Patois]

Interjections

• "Abaay, Abaay" (an expression of surprise, similar to "oh my god") [originates from Somali]
• "Ahlie" (expression to agree with something or "am I lying?") [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[52]
• "Are you dumb?" (to describe someone who behaves stupidly and completely idiotically) ^[52]
• "B" (short for "bro") [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Bless up!" (expression of greeting or farewell) ^[53] [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Dun Know/dunno" (replaces "you already know," "of course," or "I know", and also used as a farewell) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[54]
• "Eediat ting" (can refer to an event or action that was stupid or embarrassing to the point of disbelief) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Fend that" (instructing someone to defend themselves, or respond to confrontation)
• "Fiyah/Fire" (used to refer to a homosexual individual or action) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Haye, haye" (an adlib that directly translates to "okay, okay" or "alright, alright") [originates from Somali]
• "Holy!" (pronounced 'holay' and used as an expression of surprise) ^[55]
• "Say honest?/say word?" (used to rhetorically emphasize honesty, truth or sincerity, similar to "You serious?" or "Really?")
• "Soobax" (directly translates to "come outside" or "lets go") [originates from Somali]
• "Swrong" (short for "what's wrong", typically used in phrases like "swrong with him?")
• "Gwan easy" (telling someone to "take it easy", or "calm down") [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Inshallah" ("If God wills it") [originates from Arabic]
• "Jheez" (used to express surprise, excitement or support)
• "Jokes!" ("that's jokes!", compliments something funny or hilarious) ^[56]
• "Khallas" (signifies that something is finished, completed or done) [originates from Arabic]
• "Mashallah" (used to congratulate someone) [originates from Arabic]
• "Nyeah eh" ("yeah eh?" or "oh really?", used in a hostile tone)
• "More life" (used to wish someone good will, most commonly used to replace "happy birthday") [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Nize it/nize that" (to tell someone to shut up or stop talking) ^[54]
• "Say less/say no more/don't say a word" (used to enthusiastically or supportively agree to a demand, request, or suggestion)
• "Seen/Zeen" (A way of saying “got it” or “understood”) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[57]
• "Top left" (used to emphasize the truth or sincerity of a statement, similar to "I swear" or "I promise")
• "Wagwan" (an equivalent greeting to "what's up" or "what's going on?") [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^{[58] [52]}
• "Wallahi" ("I swear to God") [originates from Arabic] ^[59]
• "Warya" (used to address a man directly, or get his attention) [originates from Somali]
• "What're you sayin?" ("what you up to?" used as an expression of greeting) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[56]
• "Y-pree" (used to tell someone to mind their own business or asking them what they're up to) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[60]

Pronouns

• "Mans" or sometimes "man-dem" (I/me/you/people; first-person singular is the most notable usage) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[34]
  • Mans in 21st-century Toronto English has gained special attention in being applied as a variety of personal pronouns, including (most notably) as a first-person singular pronoun (like I or me), a second-person singular pronoun (like you), or an indefinite pronoun (similar to people or folks). A plural-conjugated verb is required with the use of mans; for example: "Mans are ready" can mean "I am ready", "you are ready", or "we are ready". "What are mans saying?" can mean "What am I saying?", "What are you saying?", or "What are we saying?". The similar usage of man as a pronoun is common in Multicultural London English (MLE), but mans as a singular pronoun is exclusively Torontonian; ^[61] the two terms likely developed in parallel timeframes, but not with one dialect directly affecting the other. ^[62] It is likely that both usages ultimately come from man with a Jamaican Patois or other Caribbean Creole origin, though no Creole uses mans in this exact way. The process of this pronoun emerging from the original noun, man(s), has been happening in Toronto since roughly 2005 to the present. ^[63]
• "Them/dem-mans/man-dem" (them)
• "Us mans" (we)
• "You mans" (you, plural)
• "Fam" (Friend, or more broadly anyone considered 'family' in a communal sense; can be used in place of 'we' or 'us') [originates from Jamaican Patois]

Nouns

• "6ix" (Toronto, in reference to its six districts and both its area codes containing the number "6") ^[64]
• "Abti/upti" (uncle) [originates from Somali]
• "Akhi" (directly translates to brother, but refers to one's close friend) [originates from Arabic]
• "Batty man" (a derogatory term used to refer to a homosexual individual) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Beak" (a mouth, usually in reference to someone's loose lip)
• "Bid" (a gun, originates from the word "biir" which roughly translates to "steel") [originates from Somali]
• "Bin" (jail or Prison)
• "Bill" (a hundred dollars)
• "Boydem/Bwoydem" (refers to government or police) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Bone/Bones" (a dollar/dollars)
• "Bucktee/bean" (someone who is an addict, homeless, or acts as such) [originates from Somali] ^[65]
• "Bangout" (a large fight or brawl, usually one with an audience)
• "Canteen" (referring to jail or prison)
• "Chrome" (a gun or firearm)
• "Chune" (refers to a song or music) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Cotch/on cotch" (to have something ready or prepared)
• "Crib" (someone's place of residence) ^[66]
• "Cro/crodie" (crip version of 'bro/brodie' but usually refers to a friend, popularized among non-gang-affiliated individuals through local rap music) ^[67]
• "Cronem" (group of "cros", crip version of "bronem", and refers to a group of friends)
• "Cyattie" (describes a female who is being loud and obnoxious) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[68]
• "Cut" (to exit, get away from or leave) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Cuzzo" (cousin) ^[69]
• "Deafazz" (giving a hard physical slap or a punch to someone) ^[47]
• "Dhillo" (a derogatory term used to refer to a promiscuous woman) [originates from Somali]
• "Dime piece" (an attractive woman)
• "DT" (abbreviation for downtown)
• "Dukes" (parents) ^[34]
• "Duppy" (a ghost or spirit) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Ends" (area, or neighbourhood) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[70]
• "Fam" (short for "family" but generally used to refer to a "friend") [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^{[71] [39]}
• "Fenty" (short for fentanyl)
• "Fuckery" (bullshit) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Gazza" (drama, gossip, conflict or theatrics) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Gerbert" (A baby, with comparable connotation to the American slang "lil bro")
• "Govy" (abbreviated for someone's government name, legal name, or personal information)
• "Goof" (A foolish person, with a much stronger negative connotation than the dictionary definition)
• "Grains" (bullets)
• "Gyal" (girl) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[72]
• "Gyallis" (a guy who can pick up ladies easily, or has a reputation for pursuing several women at a time) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[73]
• "Gyaldem" (group of girls) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[46]
• "Habbad/Haabid" (a gun or weapon) [originates from Somali]
• "Headtop" (a person's head, but can metaphorically represent mental state) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Hoodman" (a young working-class person involved in crime and drugs, similar to the equivalent word "roadman" used in MLE) ^{[34] [74]}
• "Hooyo" (mom or mother) [originates from Somali]
• "Housey" (to be on house arrest)
• "Jake" (a police officer)
• "Jam" (a party or a function)
• "Khaniis" (a derogatory term used to refer to a homosexual individual) [originates from Somali]
• "Loud" (marijuana)
• "Mandem" (a group of males or male friends) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[39]
• "Mission" (a challenging or tedious journey, typically involving a large distance)
• "Miyute" or "myyute" (a person who is childlike, insignificant, and not taken seriously) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Mixup" (drama, gossip, conflict or theatrics) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "OT" (abbreviation for out of town)
• "Pokes" (synonymous with vagina)
• "Pollies" (slang for "politics", used in reference to street politics)
• "Range" (Used to reference a specific wing in jail or Prison)
• "Shorty" (girl)
• "Side ting" (sexual partner other than a girlfriend/wife)^{[ citation needed ] [75]}
• "Snake" (an untrustworthy person) ^[46]
• "T-Dot" (abbreviation word for "Toronto") ^{[76] [47]}
• "Telly" (a hotel or a hotel room) ^[77]
• "Ting" (a thing but usually refers to an attractive female) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[52]
• "Unto" (originates from the word "cunto" which roughly translates to "food" which is slang for drugs) [originates from Somali]
• "Wasteman" (a worthless, garbage, insensible idiotic person who makes bad decisions with their life, both words being used interchangeably) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[43]
• "Wasteyute" (used similarly to wasteman, but more specifically describes a childlike or naive individual) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[38]
• "Wifey" (girlfriend, or wife) ^[78]
• "Wozzles" (oral sex)
• "Yute" (synonymous with "youth", but used to directly address or refer to a young person) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[44]

Verbs

• "Ball up" (smoking marijuana) ^[79]
• "Bagged" (having acquired a significant other or sexual partner)
• "Buss" (to give/to send, to break) ^[80]
• "Chop" (to sell drugs)
• "Crunched/crushed" (to beat up or attack)
• "Cut" (to leave)
• "Duppied" (to turn to a ghost, usually referring to someone passing away or having been killed) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Fawad" (to come or to go somewhere) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
• "Fend" (to defend against)
• "Flip" (to kill someone, usually to claim bounty or reward; derived from flipping)
• "Flied/Flyed" (someone being killed, in reference to funeral release doves)
• "Greased" (to describe having sexual intercourse, used similarly to "Pine")
• "Gurksed/murked" (to beat up or attack)
• "Jam" (to rob or steal from someone)
• "Kawal" (to scam, synonymous with finesse) [originates from Somali] ^{[81] [82]}
• "Keep Six" (to be on the lookout or to watch your back; derived from the layout of a clock)
• "Latched" (to be arrested or detained by law enforcement)
• "Link" (to meet up) ^{[83] [48]}
• "Lowe" (to allow, ignore, forget or not bother with) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[40]
• "Moving" (describes someones behaviour, actions, or attitude)
• "Nyam" (to eat) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[84]
• "Pree" (to see, look or pay close attention to) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^[34]
• "Pine" (to have sexual intercourse)
• "Rate" (to express approval or appreciation for something or someone)
• "Run" (to give something or to hand an item over, with "run me my..." being the common usage)
• "Reach/fly" (synonyms for "come by" or "attend", used similarly to "fawad") ^[39]
• "Rinse" (to rob or steal from someone)
• "Send" (to hand over or pass an object)
• "Scoop" (to get a ride somewhere, get picked up) ^[55]
• "Scrap" (to fight) ^[51]
• "Slime" (to play, or act like a player, using others for sexual pleasure)
• "Stain" (to rob or steal from someone) ^[85]
• "Toke/tump" (the action of smoking, often referring to marijuana)
• "Wop" (to sell or deal drugs)
• "Yellowtape" (indicates that something or someone is completed or finished, in reference to crime scene tape)

Intensifiers

• "-azz" (a suffix used to amplify or emphasize the meaning of a word)
  • I heard his new track, its a hardazz.
• "-dem" (a pluralizing element that can emphasize the size of a group or relationships between members of said group) [originates from Jamaican Patois]
  • Tell the rest of the dawgsdem to come through.
• "one-two" (a pluralizing element that emphasizes quantity of an action, object, task, etc)
  • I already tried to call him one-two times, it goes straight to voicemail.

Discourse markers

• "More times" (“usually; more often than not,” used as a sentence adverb to preface generalizations) [originates from Jamaican Patois] ^{[86] [87]}
  • I like Eaton, but more times I'm at Yorkdale.
• "Styll" (pronounced “still”; means “I agree / that’s true,” typically at the end of a statement) ^{[88] [89]}
  • Nah, I'm done for the night, styll.
• "Two-twos" (used to preface a statement presented as true, often surprisingly so) ^[90]

Social perception

Stigma surrounds the usage of MTE, typically contrasting it to the prestige dialect of Standard Canadian English; MTE is cast as an inferior form of English exclusively spoken by residents of Toronto with low intelligence or poor education. Linguists Derek Denis and Vidhya Elango recorded local arguments that posited MTE as "inauthentic" compared to its Somali and Jamaican Patois origins, and linked the stigma around MTE to racial ideologies in North America, ^[91] which attach linguistic features associated with Black masculinity to racial stereotypes of personality and social status. ^[92]

There have been controversies regarding the development of MTE. Addressing the similarities between MTE and Multicultural London English, Canadian linguists have rejected the theory that MTE is descended from MLE, positing instead that shared immigration patterns are responsible. They argue that the historical presence of the Jamaican diaspora serves as a common point of origin for the pronominal use of "mans" and other linguistic features found in both MLE and MTE. ^{[1] [11]} Furthermore, social commentators have identified public attitudes that attribute the origin of MTE to celebrities such as Drake or PartyNextDoor. ^[93] Bee Quammie, a Global News Radio host, criticized this perception, writing that Toronto's vernacular "was well represented by hip-hop artists like Michie Mee, Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, Dream Warriors, and many others" before Drake. ^[94]

Cultural commentators have put forward the decontextualized usage of MTE as an example of cultural appropriation by non-Black residents of Toronto, comparing the appropriation of MTE to the commodification of African-American Vernacular English in hip-hop. ^[93] In response to Lilly Singh's video on MTE in Vanity Fair and an article on MTE in The Globe and Mail , groups on Twitter criticized how MTE was described in mass media, stating that the coverage dissociated the dialect from its Black origins. ^[95] Linguist Ryan Persadie, in a critical analysis of Drake's identification with MTE, states that Drake's non-attributive usage of MTE in his music uproots the language from its Caribbean origins. ^[96] Bee Quammie defends Drake's linguistic strategy, positing that Drake uses MTE to embody and represent his local culture on a highly visible public platform. ^[94]

In popular culture

• From 2016 to 2019, Toronto-based comedy group 4YE in collaboration with Bell Media released a multi-part series featuring "Tyco" and "Judge Tyco," caricatures of the stereotypical Toronto man, set in the early 2000s. ^[97]
• In 2017, Drake was featured in a Toronto-based comedy skit "T-Dot Goon Scrap DVD 2" produced by 4YE, in which he satirizes Toronto's slang and accent. ^[98]
• In a Vanity Fair YouTube video, Shawn Mendes, a popular Canadian singer and songwriter, was featured teaching the audience Canadian slang (primarily featuring Toronto slang vocabulary). ^[99]
• In 2024, during his viral rap feud with Toronto-based rapper Drake, Kendrick Lamar parodied MTE on his diss track Euphoria. ^[100]
• In 2024, Drake released a satirical parody-remix of Hey There Delilah titled "Wah Gwan Delilah" alongside local comedian Snowd4y; the song pokes fun at MTE and Toronto culture.

See also

• Canadian English
• Greater Toronto Area
• Toronto
• Multicultural London English
• Multiethnolect
• Singlish
• Sociolect

References

1. Denis, Derek (5 October 2016). "A note on mans in Toronto". Toronto Working Papers in Linguistics. 37. doi: 10.33137/twpl.v37i0.26973 . ISSN   1718-3510. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
2. Elango, Vidhya; Denis, Derek. "Variable BAN-laxing in Multicultural Toronto English" (PDF). (CLA) Canadian Linguistic Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
3. Denis, Derek; Elango, Vidhya; Kamal, Nur Sakinah Nor; Prashar, Srishti; Velasco, Maria (March 2023). "Exploring the Vowel Space of Multicultural Toronto English". Journal of English Linguistics. 51 (1): 30–65. doi: 10.1177/00754242221145164 . ISSN   0075-4242. S2CID   256723777.
4. Lomboy, Abigail (8 September 2016). "It's a Toronto Ting". Glossi Mag. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
5. Raza, Ali (17 July 2023). "Linguistics professor uncovering Toronto's unique style of English". Phys.org. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
6. Denis, Derek (5 October 2016). "A note on mans in Toronto". Toronto Working Papers in Linguistics. 37. doi: 10.33137/twpl.v37i0.26973 . ISSN   1718-3510. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
7. Dhopade, Prajakta (15 October 2019). "Jagmeet Singh's secret weapon: The way he talks". Macleans. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
8. "21 Ottawa Slang Words You've Definitely Heard At Least Once". Narcity. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
9. Brown, Nikita (5 January 2018). "The Ultimate Guide to Brampton Slang". Bramptonist. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
10. Denis, Derek (4 March 2021). "Raptors Vs. Bucktees: the Somali influence on Toronto Slang*". Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. 42 (6): 565–578. doi:10.1080/01434632.2021.1895181. ISSN   0143-4632.
11. "The past, present, and future of Canadian English: What our accent tells us about being Canadian". The Pigeon. 17 July 2020. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
12. "Grad Research: The Origin of Toronto Slang". Current Grad Students. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
13. Baxter, Laura; Peters, Jacqueline (August 2014). Black English in Toronto”: A New Dialect?. International Conference on Methods in Dialectology. University of Western Ontario. p. 201. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
14. "Slang in the 6ix". Community Media Portal. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
15. "U of T linguistics prof researches Torontonians' unique speaking style". University of Toronto. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
16. Barker, Andrew (10 May 2018). "Canadian Music Week: How Toronto Became Hip-Hop's Multicultural Nerve Center". Variety. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
17. Pastuk, Slava (11 June 2013). "The Comprehensive Guide to Toronto Rap". Vice. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
18. "Kardinal Offishall | Exclaim!".
19. Leacock, Malaika Ayanna (2006). Identity construction of Black Canadian youth in multicultural settings (Thesis thesis).
20. "Jane-Finch.com - Official Website - Community Broadcasting and Multimedia Library - Toronto, Ontario, Canada". www.jane-finch.com. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
21. "Ed the Sock tours Regent Park with Point Blank". HipHopCanada. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
22. Weinstein, Tamar., & Fowler, Jennifer. (2006). Lost in the struggle. CBC Educational Sales.
23. Druckman, Howard (1 February 2021). "The Decade in Canadian Hip-Hop, 2010-2020". SOCAN Words and Music. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
24. Reporter, Betsy Powell Courts (27 March 2021). "How Chicago's 'drill' music scene set a template for Toronto's underground rap stars — and their feuds". Toronto Star. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
25. Wilson, Josh. "The Age Of Digital; Music Executive Reacts To The Impact Of Digitalization In The Music Industry". Forbes. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
26. Pastuk, Slava (11 June 2013). "The Comprehensive Guide to Toronto Rap". Vice. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
27. Noisey Staff; Staff, Noisey Canada (20 November 2017). "Watch '6IX RISING,' Our Definitive Look at Toronto's Rap Scene". Vice. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
28. "Essential Mandem Documentary 'The Real Toronto' Returns to Big Up the City's Rap Scene". Vice.com. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
29. Abdigir, Ebyan (1 February 2016). "Haye, Haye: A Look Inside Toronto's Somali Rap Scene". Vice. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
30. "Mo G x Smoke Dawg x Waveroom - Still". YouTube . 27 July 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
31. Pengz x TwoTwo - Griselda Blanco (Official Video) (Prod. By JP Soundz), 17 August 2017, retrieved 19 March 2024
32. "K Money - Come Outside (Official Video)". YouTube . 22 September 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
33. Kamau, Ian (12 August 2015). "An Insider's Look In: Examining the Real Value of Toronto's Rap Scene". Vice. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
34. Wilkinson, Raven-Paige (2019). Cultural Exchange and the Transformation of Jamaican Patois in the Greater Toronto Area (PDF) (MA thesis). Carleton University. doi: 10.22215/etd/2019-13863 . Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
35. Weekes, Jabbari (11 July 2018). "The Rise of 6ixBuzz TV From Wasteman Memes to Toronto's Hip-Hop Centre". Vice. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
36. Farrar, Elizabeth (2019). "Rethinking drinking: an exploration of the discourses surrounding binge-drinking among firstyear university students that live in residence" (PDF). University of Waterloo.
37. Denis, Derek; Elango, Vidhya; Kamal, Nur Sakinah Nor; Prashar, Srishti; Velasco, Maria (March 2023). "Exploring the Vowel Space of Multicultural Toronto English". Journal of English Linguistics. 51 (1): 30–65. doi: 10.1177/00754242221145164 . ISSN   0075-4242. S2CID   256723777.
38. Bigelow, Lauren; Timothy Gadanidis; Lisa Schlegl; Pocholo Umbal, and Derek Denis. 2020. "Whyare wasteyutes a ting?" University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics 26(2): Article 3.
39. "A brief guide to Turrono slang". The Varsity. 24 October 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
40. "The Ultimate Guide To Toronto Slang For Everyday Situations". Narcity. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
41. "25 Toronto Slang Words You've Definitely Heard At Least Once". Narcity. 21 September 2017. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
42. "blem | Patois Definition on Jamaican Patwah". Jamaican Patwah. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
43. "A brief guide to Turrono slang". The Varsity. 24 October 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
44. "Caribbean Expressions Used by Torontonians". VIBE 105. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
45. Ramcharran, Kristina (21 September 2017). "25 Toronto Slang Words You've Definitely Heard At Least Once". Narcity Toronto. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
46. "The Ultimate Guide To Toronto Slang For Everyday Situations". Narcity. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
47. Singh, Vivek (7 August 2021). "30 Best Toronto Slangs You Need To Talk Like A Torontonian | RoverAtlas". roveratlas.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
48. Basa, Eul. "The Ultimate Guide To Toronto Slang For Everyday Situations - Narcity". www.narcity.com. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
49. Dizzle, Dame (2 July 2018). "Toronto, Ontario Artist J-Soul "Mod Ting" Music Video". DJIceberg.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
50. "peng | Patois Definition on Jamaican Patwah". Jamaican Patwah. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
51. "40 Things You'll Hear A Scarborough Person Say". Narcity. 14 December 2015. Archived from the original on 31 July 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
52. "The Toronto Slang You Didn't Think You Needed". 6ixBuzz. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2022.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
53. "'Dip,' 'Merked,'Swag' — Is This What Teens Are Saying These Days?". HuffPost. 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
54. "6 Torontonian Slang Words From The Jamaican Vocabulary And What They Really Mean". Narcity. 12 August 2015. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
55. "14 Toronto Slang Phrases You'll Only Understand If You're Fluent In Torontonian". Narcity. 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
56. Trip, Culture (5 March 2016). "Canadian Slang Words You Need to Know". Culture Trip. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
57. "seen | Patois Definition on Jamaican Patwah". Jamaican Patwah. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
58. "40 Things You'll Hear A Scarborough Person Say". Narcity. 14 December 2015. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
59. "Do You Know Toronto Slang? | University of Toronto Magazine". University of Toronto Magazine. 2 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
60. "[OFFICIAL] Toronto Slang Catalog". Kanye to The. 24 October 2018. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
61. Derek, Denis (2016). "A note on mans in Toronto" (PDF). (TWPL) Toronto Working Papers in Linguistics. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
62. Derek, 2016, p. 8.
63. Derek, 2016, p. 4.
64. Torontoist (12 April 2016). "Wait, How Are You Supposed to Spell the 6ix, the Six, or the 6?". Torontoist. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
65. Bilingual Dictionary for ESL Beginners English/Arabic. NSW Department of Education and Training. 2001. ISBN   0731077539.
66. "CRIB Definition & Usage Examples". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
67. "Bizz Loc premieres new video for "I'm Bacc Crodie"". HipHopCanada. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
68. leahsoboroff (14 August 2017). "20 Toronto Slang Words You Need To Know". Society19. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
69. "14 Toronto Slang Phrases You'll Only Understand If You're Fluent In Torontonian". Narcity. 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
70. Staff Reporter (10 August 2018). "Learn the Jamaican Patois Word - ends". Jamaicans.com. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
71. Salazar, Antoinette (13 December 2021). "How do you speak Toronto slang?". About Canada. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
72. "Caribbean Expressions Used by Torontonians". VIBE 105. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
73. "15 Slang Words Spoken In Toronto That Are Used In Dating And Relationships". Narcity. 28 September 2016. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
74. "Last Call for Racism takes aim at Lavelle and Toronto's nightlife industry". www.blogto.com. 27 June 2020. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
75. The Canadian Press (25 July 2019). "Toronto-born Youtube star Lilly Singh to make late-night U.S. talk debut Sept. 16". CBC News.
76. "T-DOT - Toronto (slang for Toronto, ON, Canada) | AcronymFinder". www.acronymfinder.com. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
77. "What does "Telly" mean? | DailyRapFacts". dailyrapfacts.com. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
78. "This new Toronto slang generator is the ideal quarantine time waster". www.blogto.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
79. "Toronto slang and accent picked apart after viral TikTok on city's weed etiquette (VIDEOS) | News". dailyhive.com. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
80. "buss | Patois Definition on Jamaican Patwah". Jamaican Patwah. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
81. "Kawal". Genius. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
82. Abdigir, Ebyan (1 February 2016). "Haye, Haye: A Look Inside Toronto's Somali Rap Scene". Vice. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
83. "The Ultimate Guide To Toronto Slang For Everyday Situations". Narcity. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
84. "Nyam | Patois Definition on Jamaican Patwah". Jamaican Patwah. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
85. "What Does "Stain" And "Hit A Stain" Mean? | DailyRapFacts". dailyrapfacts.com. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
86. "More time". Jamaican Patwah. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
87. "Toronto Slang: The Ultimate Guide For Everyday Situations". Narcity. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
88. "'Dip,' 'Merked,'Swag' — Is This What Teens Are Saying These Days?". HuffPost. 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
89. "The Ultimate Guide To Toronto Slang For Everyday Situations". Narcity. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
90. leahsoboroff (14 August 2017). "20 Toronto Slang Words You Need To Know". Society19. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
91. Denis, Derek; Elango, Vidhya (24 September 2024). "'If ur from Toronto you'll understand': register change and metadiscursive engagement with mediatized Multicultural Toronto English". English Language and Linguistics. 28 (4): 774–797. doi:10.1017/s1360674324000509. ISSN   1360-6743.
92. Kurinec, Courtney A.; Weaver, Charles A. (2021). ""Sounding Black": Speech Stereotypicality Activates Racial Stereotypes and Expectations About Appearance". Frontiers in Psychology. 12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.785283 . ISSN   1664-1078. PMC   8740186 . PMID   35002876.
93. Taylor, Sharine (21 October 2019). "Toronto's Slang Isn't 'New.' It's Black". Vice. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
94. Quammie, Bee. "People accusing Drake of appropriation must not know much about "the 6"". REVOLT. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
95. "Cringeworthy Toronto slang article attracts pointed criticism". www.blogto.com. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
96. Wyman, Maia (11 April 2025). "The Toronto Accent Is Real". The Walrus. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
97. "Judge Tyco - Bell Media". Judge Tyco - Bell Media. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
98. Penrose, Nerisha (15 May 2017). "Drake Flexes His Acting Chops in Hilarious YouTube Sketch". Billboard. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
99. "Shawn Mendes Teaches Us Canadian Slang & Proves He Really Is The 'Pickering Gawd'". Narcity. 10 December 2020. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
100. Okazawa, Ben. "Kendrick Lamar Uses Toronto Slang to Diss Drake on New Song "euphoria" | Exclaim!". Exclaim!. Retrieved 8 June 2024.