Learn Northern California slang

Are you ready to learn some Northern California slang? Well, let's get started! This region is home to wonderful wilderness, famous companies, great universities (the University of California, Berkeley), and a wonderfully unique culture. Here, we focus on its slang.

NorCal

Northern California, also known as NorCal, is a region in the northern part of the state of California. It is known for its diverse geography, from coastal beaches to redwood forests to snowy mountains. The NorCal culture is also diverse, with a mix of urban and rural, and a melting pot of ethnicities and backgrounds.

Hella

Now, let's talk about the word "hella." This is a Northern California staple and can describe just about anything and loosely means "very": "That party was hella fun" or "I'm hella tired." The more hella you use, the more NorCal you sound.

Tight

Next up: "tight." This doesn't mean "narrow" or "constricted," rather the opposite. "Tight" means "cool" or "awesome." "That concert was tight" or "That shirt is tight" are both examples of how to use this word.

Bruh

Another important slang term to know is "bruh." This is a shortened version of "bro" and can be used as a casual greeting or to express agreement. "Sup, bruh?" or "That party was lit, bruh" are both examples of how to use this word.

The Bay

The Bay refers to the San Francisco Bay Area. So if you're from San Francisco, Oakland, or any of the surrounding cities, you're from the Bay. And if you're not from the Bay, it's best to not try to pretend you are—it will be very obvious! 

If you're a student at UC Berkeley, you'll be speaking NoCal slang like a pro in no time. Just use it with caution. Too much is always too much!