There are many words and phrases that people off the Island don't know or use. Staten Islanders use Italian and English slang that we expect everyone else to know. Here's a list of words that Staten Islanders know all too well.
1. "She thinks who she is"
This phrase is used to describe people who are extremely conceited and think that their shit don't stink.
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2. "Scheeve"
This term is used for something or someone that is absolutely disgusting. You can scheeve just about anything.
3. "Chooch" (misused as "jooch")
We use this word when someone does something stupid without thinking first or acts extremely immature. If a 16-year-old goes in a Barbie Jeep, you'll call her a big chooch!
4. "Mad"
We use the word "mad" in place of very. Something could be mad nice or someone could be mad hot.
5. "Jelly"
For some reason, jealous just wasn't cutting it, so Staten Islanders termed the word jelly. We didn't even lessen the amount of syllables, so I'm not sure what the point was...
6. "Bugging/flipping"
A term used for people who are freaking out. If you fail your test, you'll be bugging out.
7. "Stoonad"
This word is used for people who never think. Making a stupid, rash decision would make someone stoonad!
8. "Literally"
We use "literally" in its exact opposite context - figuratively. If someone is "literally dying" on Staten Island, he or she is assumed to be very much alive. Example: I have so much work, I'm literally dying.
9. "Dead"
Much like literally, dead is used figuratively. If something is really funny, we say we're dead. If you're dead, you're so overwhelmed with laughter.
10. "Tight"
Tight is used to describe being extremely pissed or annoyed at something. If you can't go to the party, you'd be mad tight.
11. "Banging"
A term used to describe basically anything that's good. Staten Island food is banging!
12. "Fa-Days"
Something that is occurring for a long period of time. It can also be used to describe a large quantity of something. For example, when people get Starbucks very often, they may take a picture of their coffee and write "Starbucks fa-days".
13. "Out/Outcha"
A term used when you and your friends are going to a particular place. You may say, "We out to the city."
14. "Awk!"
Awk is just short for awkward. We're very lazy on Staten Island, so two syllables is a lot for us to say.
15. "Scoop"
A term used for when you're picking someone up from some place. It can also be used if someone is picking you up. You text your friends and ask if they can scoop and take you to get food.
16. "Kicks"
A word we use in place of sneakers.
17. "Fit"
On Staten Island, fit doesn't just mean in shape. You can be fit to do just about anything. If your friend asks you to go to a concert, you reply with, "I'm fit".
18. "Mint/Mink/Sick"
We use these as synonyms for really nice. You can have mint sneakers or a sick dress.
19. "Deadass"
A word that can be used to question whether something is legit or to verify that something is legit.
20. "Could You Imagine?"
This is a negative phrase used to show the disbelief of something that someone might do. For example: Could you imagine that she dyed her hair green?
