Northern California Slang
HELLA is a slang word used by people living in Northern California or "NorCal" for short. While it is heard in other parts of Northern California, it is most commonly heard in the San Francisco Bay Area where it originated. Most Southern Californians do not use the word "hella”, so it helps distinguish Northern Californians from Southern Californians. Though, the Southern California band No Doubt (Orange County) used the word in their song "Hella Good".
The term "A Kelly" was common soon after the slang term "Betty" was popularized in Southern California. Especially in the East Bay and Oakland, the term "Kelly" is used to describe a "hot girl" who is considered low maintenance. A "Kelly" essentially looks good coming and going, day or night, in sweats or in the hottest dress. The term was used in the XBox game A Pimp RPG where the main character Big Daddy K first meets up with Trixie and says "Whoa, you know what you go there? That's a Kelly. She ain't never gonna disappoint."
Read more about this topic: California Slang
Famous quotes containing the words northern, california and/or slang:
“Warmest climes but nurse the cruelest fangs: the tiger of Bengal crouches in spiced groves of ceaseless verdure. Skies the most effulgent but basket the deadliest thunders: gorgeous Cuba knows tornadoes that never swept tame northern lands.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“But why go to California for a text? She is the child of New England, bred at her own school and church.”
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“I’ve found that there are only two kinds that are any good: slang that has established itself in the language, and slang that you make up yourself. Everything else is apt to be passé before it gets into print.”
—Raymond Chandler (1888–1959)