California Slang - Northern California Slang

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."