Like any hometown in America and it's influence on language, whether you're from Pittsburgh, have a New York accent, or spit SoCal slang, growing up in the Bay definitely took a toll on my vocabulary... and apparently more than I thought. These phrases were everywhere---in our music, on MTV, even some of my teachers knew what they were. But then I came to college and heard the four words that blew my mind: "What does that mean?" WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?:

In hopes of enlightening everyone so I can start using these terms again, here are some Bay area terms, defined.

1. Gig: dancing a lot and having a grand time.

Example: Wow, homecoming was so fun, barely anyone got in trouble for dancing, we were giggin'.

Every school dance and party, "giggin'" was practically the motto. It's like the equivalent to "goin hard", except better, clearly.

2. In The Cuts: far away or in a secluded/hidden place that might be in a weird/sketchy area.

Example: I don't want to drive to that party, it's wayyyy in the cuts.

I try to use this for things as simple as walking to class and its heartbreaking to get blank stares. C'mon, how cool does it sound to be like "Ugh, my class is all the way in public affairs building, and that's in the cuts."

3. Hella: a large amount.

Example: I have hella homework tonight.

This is slowly but surely making it's way to LA, but when I first moved there, I didn't even think of 'hella' as a slang term. It just substitutes for the word "really" and makes the sentence so much better. I'm hella hungry. That shirt's hella cute. Why are there hella bananas in the kitchen?

4. Beezie: derogatory term for a female, but also could be a term of endearment.

Example: *posts pic on myspace* "Love My Beezies ;-*"

This one was one of those ones I used sarcastically, and is so much better than the other B word. It makes everything less aggressive. Like, that waitress was a beezie. Or Sup beezies.

5. Yee: "yes" or "woohoo".

Example: Yee yee.

No explanation needed. THAT PARTY WAS DOPE YEEEEEEEE. ARE YOU GOING TO CLASS? YEEEEE.

6. The Yay: the Bay Area.

Example: I'm from the yay.

Rolls off the tongue nicely. Not that I would ever use this seriously when someone I didn't know asked me where I was from, but 'I'm from the yay' just makes anyone sound much cooler than they actually are.

7. Gassed/Put on Blast: humiliating someone in an argument.

Example: Oh shoot, she just got put on blast. (She just got gassed)

This one I could not believe had not been used everywhere. This was one of those phrases that I really cant think of a better way to say it.

8. Out of Pocket: doing something out of character or something strangely out of the ordinary.

Example: I just saw Spring Breakers, Selena Gomez was so outta pocket.

The example......enough said.

9. Yadidamean: "Do you know what I mean?" Do you understand what I am saying?

Example: That test was hard, yadidamean?

I always use this when I am trying to get my point across, and it makes everything more friendly. Yadidamean?

10. Trippin': stressing out, paranoid, unnecessarily upset.

Example: You're not going to get in trouble, why are you trippin'?

I'm always trippin' about my grades, trippin' about my bank account. It's a great way to say wow I am really freaking out without saying wow I am really freaking out. You don't wanna be that friend, right? Good, cause you're not; You're just trippin' too much.

There is no place like the bay, and clearly no words like our slang. Shout out to mac dre and e40 for enhancing my language, yaddidamean?