🗣️ Streetslang
Some common terms in the Time of the Red
A-F
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AI | Artificial Intelligence; a computer with full self-awareness |
| AV | (Pronounced “Ay-Vee”) An aerodyne; an automobile-like vehicle powered by ducted jet fans |
| Beaverville | A safe suburban neighborhood, primarily inhabited by mid-level Corporate executives |
| Bonanza | The location of a big score, like an abandoned Corporate facility |
| Booster | Any member of a gang that affects cyberware, leather clothing, and random violence |
| Borged Out | Heavily cybered; more machine than meat. Usually a warning sign |
| Braindance (BD) | Full-sensory recordings of someone’s experience, played back through cyberware |
| Chilled | To be cool; to be together |
| Chip | Any type of data recording, usually in the form of small colored slivers of plastic |
| Chippin’ In | To buy cyberware for the first time. To cast your lot with a group. To connect with a machine |
| Chombatta (Choomba) | Neo-Afro American slang for friend, family member |
| Chrome | Cyberware. “Nice chrome” = nice implants |
| Chromatic Rock | A type of heavy metal characterized by heavy electronics, simple rhythms, and violent lyrics |
| Combat Drugs | Designer drugs created to increase speed, stamina, and reflexes |
| Conapt | A condominium apartment in a Corporate Zone |
| Cybered-Up | To get as much cyberware implanted as possible before going over the Edge |
| Cyberpsycho | Someone who has lost their humanity to cyberware; extremely dangerous |
| Delta | To leave, get out fast. “Let’s delta!” |
| ’Dorphs | Synthetic endorphins; a designer drug that increases healing and produces a “rush” |
E-L
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Eddie/Eddy | Eurodollars (eb). “Got any eddies?” = got any money? |
| Edgerunner | A mercenary, criminal, or freelancer operating on the edge of the law |
| Exotic | A human biosculpted with non-human elements (fur, long ears, fangs, etc.) |
| The Face | The representative of a Megacorporation for legal purposes |
| Fixer | A deal-maker, information broker, the person who connects jobs to crews |
| Flatline | To kill. Also: a dead person or thing. “He flatlined” = he died |
| Gonk | An idiot, fool |
| Go LEO | To make the trip into Low Earth Orbit; to visit one of the inner space stations |
| Gyro | Small one- or two-seat helicopters, used mostly in police work |
| Handle | A nickname; a working name you are known by on The Street |
| Hydro | Hydrogen fuel, used to power some vehicles |
| Input/Output | A mechanistic term for a casual lover |
| Keyboard | A computer interface deck with manual keys; also, a terminal |
| Kibble | Cheap processed food; what most Night City residents live on |
| Kombi | A large vehicle for cargo and passengers; popular with Nomads as mobile housing |
| ![[street_food.png | 600]] |
M-R
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mainline | Your partner in a serious, long-term relationship |
| Meat | Organic body, as opposed to chrome. “All meat” = no cyberware |
| Meatspace | The physical world (as opposed to cyberspace/the NET) |
| Midnight Market | Top secret, temporary marketplace for highly illegal goods; run by high-level Fixers |
| Netrun | To interface with a NET Architecture and hack into its programs |
| Night Market | Off-the-grid temporary marketplace for cyberware and gear |
| Nova | Cool, excellent, the best. “That’s nova, choom!” |
| Polymer One Shot | Any cheap, plastic disposable pistol |
| Posergang | A gang whose members all affect a specific look, style, or bodysculpt |
| Preem | Premium; high quality |
| R.A.B.I.D.S. | Deadly black ICE spread throughout the Old NET after the DataKrash |
| Ripperdoc | A surgeon specializing in implanting (often illegal) cyberware |
| Ronin | A freelance assassin or mercenary; usually considered untrustworthy |
S-Z
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Samurai | A Corporate assassin or mercenary |
| Screamsheet | A digital newspaper or news broadcast; disposable media |
| Slammit On | To get violent; to attack someone without reason |
| Solo | A combat specialist; mercenary, bodyguard, assassin |
| The Street | Wherever you live, late at night. Also: the Subculture, the Underground |
| Stuffit | To have sex. Also: to forget about something |
| The Time of the Red | The period from 2023 to the late 2040s; named for the red skies after the 4th Corp War |
| Trauma Team | Medical emergency service; heavily armed paramedics |
| Wetwork | Assassination, murder for hire |
| Wirehead | Someone addicted to braindance or NET stimulation |
| Zero | To kill. “Zero that gonk!” |
| Zeroed | Dead. “He got zeroed last night.” |
🎤 Common Phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ”Stay frosty” | Stay alert, be careful |
| ”Let’s delta” | Let’s leave, now |
| ”Got any chrome?” | Do you have cyberware? |
| ”Going over the edge” | Losing humanity to cyberpsychosis |
| ”Slot it” | Put the chip in; do it |
| ”What’s your handle?” | What’s your street name? |
| ”That’s nova” | That’s cool/excellent |
| ”Don’t flatline on me” | Don’t die / don’t fail me |
| ”Preem work, choom” | Excellent job, friend |