Has anyone done you the honor of calling you an OG? It’s a sign of respect. We explain what an OG is and how to use this slang term to refer to someone you admire.
original gangster
Taken literally, OG stands for ‘original gangster’. If that doesn’t match the places you’ve seen this acronym, don’t worry. While the literal definition may seem different, the abbreviation “OG” has taken on a life of its own over the past few decades – from its origins in the 1970s to the present day on the Internet. You can write it in both uppercase “OG” and lowercase “og”.
While the definition has changed somewhat over the years, calling someone an OG is essentially an expression of deep respect or admiration for someone. It can refer to someone who is groundbreaking or innovative, such as an artist who popularized a musical trend or a fashion style. This is the closest we can get to the original definition of the term being ‘original’ or ‘first’ in something.
OG can also mean “exceptional” or the best in a particular field. In this case, OG is synonymous with GOAT, or “the best of all time.” You could say “Tiger Woods is an OG” to refer to his golf excellence, for example. You can also use OG to refer to friends or personal relationships, especially people who have stayed authentically with you over a long period of time. For example, you would call friends who have been by your side since childhood, OGs.
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The History of OG and Original Gangsters
OG and “original gangster” come from the African-American vernacular English or AAVE. The phrase was coined in the 1970s by the Los Angeles-based Crips gang whose members identified themselves as the OGs, or the first mobsters to emerge. Later, they would use this term to refer to people who have been closely associated with the gang for a long time. Younger members often referred to older members as OGs.
The term entered mainstream consciousness through hip-hop, which incorporates many words and ideas from gang culture. You can find it in rap lyrics in the 80’s and 90’s, most notably an Ice-T song called “OG Original Gangster” that made its way onto the Billboard charts.
It eventually ended up on the internet. Although the first Urban Dictionary article is from 2004, OG has become extremely popular in late 2010 with the rise of platforms such as Twitter and TikTok. As a result, you’ll often find memes saying things like, “Only OGs will know this,” referencing an inside joke that only people with a specific set of experiences will understand.
What is an OG?
Like many terms, the exact meaning of OG can vary drastically based on context, especially since it has had so many definitions over the years.
The easiest way to use OG is short for “original.” For example, you could say, “Adam West is the OG Batman,” referring to the fact that he’s the first to play a live-action Batman in a filmed show. This usage is widespread, so much so that many people use it without really knowing what it stands for.
As mentioned before, an OG is also authentic, exceptional, or admirable. Young people, like their grandparents, often refer to the elderly as OGs. You also see this for historical figures, artists, sports legends and anyone who deserves admiration. So if someone refers to you as an OG, you should take that as a huge compliment.
Also keep in mind that the letter “G” is right next to “H” and “F”, which is why OG is often automatically corrected to “oh” and “from”. So if you see an “OG” that looks nothing like it at all, it could be one of those other words. Alternatively, some keyboards automatically correct the lowercase “og” to “or” or “oh”, so be sure to double-check your message before sending.
How OG. use
Using OG is quite simple. Use it to refer to people you think are original, authentic, or exceptional. Depending on the context, you can also refer to someone as “my OG”, which means that you have a special relationship with that person.
Here are a few examples of OG in action:
- “Prince was the performer.”
- “My grandfather went through crazy things. He is an OG.”
- “You’re my OG. You are there for me through thick and thin.”
- “Christopher Reeve is the OG Superman for me.”
Would you like to know more about other internet abbreviations? Check out our explanation of TBF, IRL and WBK to expand your online slang vocabulary even further.
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