Brooklynese

noun

Brook·​lyn·​ese ˌbru̇-klə-ˈnēz How to pronounce Brooklynese (audio) -ˈnēs How to pronounce Brooklynese (audio)
: the vernacular speech of greater New York City and environs

Examples of Brooklynese in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Similarities still exist between New Orleans’ Yat variation and Brooklynese, a dialect popular in New York City, because of the urban centers’ shared Irish and Italian heritage. Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Jan. 2024 In her professional life, Cyndi Lauper has been a kaleidoscope of personae: ’80s pop hitmaker; New Wave fashion guru; proto-Third-Wave feminist; LGBTQ activist; Broadway composer and lyricist; chameleon powerhouse vocalist; and bubble gum punk Brooklynese comedian. Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Brooklynese.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Brooklyn, borough of New York City

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Brooklynese was in 1939

Dictionary Entries Near Brooklynese

Cite this Entry

“Brooklynese.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Brooklynese. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

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