What Does Jawn Mean? A Guide to Using this Philly Slang the Right Way

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Learn the history of Philly’s favorite multi-purpose slang term

Co-authored by Marcus Pruitt, BS Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: December 11, 2024 Fact Checked

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• "Jawn" Meaning
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• How to Use "Jawn"
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• Origin
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• Is “jawn” a Black term?
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• "Bad Jawn" Meaning
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• More Unique Philly Slang Terms

|Show more |Show less

“Jawn” is an all-purpose slang term that can be used to refer to any person, place, or thing. Despite only recently gaining popularity on TikTok, jawn has been used in Philadelphia for years. If you came across the term online and have been wondering what it means and how to use it, you’ve landed in the right place. In this article, we'll go over everything you need to know about jawn, including what it means, its origins, and how to use it in a sentence.

What does “jawn” mean?

Jawn is an all-purpose noun used to refer to a person, place, or thing without directly naming it. In conversation, jawn takes the place of a word or thing. For example, “pass me that jawn” means “pass me that thing.” The slang term is most commonly used in Philadelphia.

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Section 1 of 6:

Different Meanings of “Jawn”

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1. Jawn is an all-purpose noun that refers to a person, place or thing. It is a catch-all slang term that has different meanings based on the context it’s used in. If someone is looking for something or wants to talk about something without naming it, they will call it a “jawn.” Jawn can also be used to refer to a crush or friend.

   • Example: “I just grabbed a slice of pizza from that new shop down the street and trust me, that jawn valid.”
   • Example: “Yeah, we had a test in class and I ain’t gonna lie, that jawn was hard.”
   • Pronunciation: "Jawn" sounds like “John,” with a heavier emphasis on the first syllable. It is pronounced like “jaw” with an "n" attached to the end.
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Section 2 of 6:

How to Use “Jawn” In a Sentence

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1. Use jawn to refer to a person, place, or thing without directly naming it. For example, if you want to express how good a meal was (like a Philly cheesesteak), say “Man, that jawn was good!" If you really want to sound like you’re from Philadelphia, say “Man, that jawn was hitting!” People tend to add "jawn" to their sentences for a bit of "Philly flair."

   • Example: If you show up to an event that has a lot of people, say "Dang, this jawn packed!"
   • Example: “You see that jawn down the street? She said hey to me the other day!”
   • Example: “I just got a bunch of clothes from the store. Them jawns fire!”

Section 3 of 6:

Where does “jawn” come from?

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1. The slang term, “jawn,” was popularized in Philadelphia. Although it’s Philly slang, the term actually came from New York. African Americans in the region shortened the word “joint” to “jawn,” and this meaning moved south to Philadelphia, where it became a staple of the city.

   • Use of the word “joint” to refer to something goes all the way back to the Old French and English, where it specifically referred to a connection or association.
   • The term has gained popularity on TikTok thanks to streamers like Raud and Kai Cenat.
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Section 4 of 6:

Is “jawn” a Black term?

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1. Yes, “jawn” is a Black term. Black New Yorkers originally used the term “joint,” but pronounced it as “jawn.” This is because of an African American Vernacular English (AAVE) tendency to remove the consonant at the end of a word and replace it with ‘aw’ or ‘uh’ sounds.

   • Since its popularity on TikTok, “jawn” has been used by all types of people, both in and out of Philly.

Section 5 of 6:

What is a “bad jawn?”

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1. 1
   A “bad jawn” is an attractive person. When someone uses “bad jawn,” they are often referring to a really attractive woman. This is a slang term that is most commonly used in Philadelphia. If you’re walking down the street and hear a group of guys say, “Dang, that’s a bad jawn. You see that?,” that means they think you’re attractive and are telling their friends about you.
2. 2
   Philadelphians also use “bad jawn” to refer to a bad situation. For example, if you tell your Philadelphian coworker that you got scheduled for a 12-hour shift without warning, they may respond by saying “For real? I’m sorry, that’s a bad jawn.”

   • The meaning depends on the context. If you’re unsure of what’s being referred to, listen to the rest of the sentence for context.
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Section 6 of 6:

More Unique Philly Slang Terms

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1. Philly slang is distinct and features many unique words. You can head out to Philly and hear some terms you’ve never heard anywhere else! Sure, TikTok can help you get up to speed on some popular Philly words, but there’s so much more to know. More examples of unique Philly slang:

   • Boul/Young boul: These words are most often used in place of "boy" to refer to someone younger than you, but they can also refer to just about anyone. If you’re walking down the street and see a friend, say “Aye young boul!” to playfully call them over.
   • Drawn: This is a super popular slang term across Philadelphia. When someone is acting crazy or out of character, a Philly native would say they’re “drawn.”
   • Frauding: Frauding is another word for lying. This is used all over Philly, mostly when people are trying to express that they aren’t lying. For example, if you’re accused stealing, say “I’m not frauding, I got this from the store down the street.”
   • Oldhead: Philadelphians use "oldhead" when referring to someone who is old or looks old. Similar to the word unc, this can also be used when a young person is doing something associated with older people, like completing a crossword puzzle.

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