''Slay'' is a

slang Slang is vocabulary (words, phrases, and usage (language), linguistic usages) of an informal register, common in spoken conversation but avoided in formal writing. It also sometimes refers to the language generally exclusive to the members of p ...

colloquialism that possibly originated during the 1600s, but gained its current LGBT connotation in the 1970s from

ball culture The Ballroom Scene (also known as the Ballroom community, Ballroom culture, or just Ballroom) is an African-American and Latino underground LGBTQ+ subculture that originated in New York City. Beginning in the late 20th century, Black and Lati ...

. Originally having a meaning similar to "that joke was killer", ''slay'' has since gained a definition meaning being impressed or term of agreement.

History

While the term ''slay'' is often used in the context of murder or killing, first use of the term as slang is first listed in 1593, meaning something similar to "dying of laughter." It saw a resurgence in the

Roaring Twenties The Roaring Twenties, sometimes stylized as Roaring '20s, refers to the 1920s decade in music and fashion, as it happened in Western society and Western culture. It was a period of economic prosperity with a distinctive cultural edge in the ...

under a similar meaning. The term grew in popularity in the 1970s in spaces inhabited mainly by Black, Latino, and queer spaces as a result of

ballroom culture The Ballroom Scene (also known as the Ballroom community, Ballroom culture, or just Ballroom) is an African-American and Latino underground LGBTQ+ subculture that originated in New York City. Beginning in the late 20th century, Black and Lat ...

, gaining a place in

African-American Vernacular English African-American Vernacular English (AAVE, ), also referred to as Black (Vernacular) English, Black English Vernacular, or occasionally Ebonics (a colloquial, controversial term), is the variety of English natively spoken, particularly in urba ...

. ''Slay'' gained considerable attention after the release of '' Paris Is Burning'' which documented ballroom culture in New York City in 1990, as the term was often used in the film. It is here where ''slay'' started to gain a connotation of a term of agreement and for something to be impressive. With its prominence in the

LGBT community The LGBT community (also known as the LGBTQ+ community, GLBT community, gay community, or queer community) is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other queer individuals united by a common culture and soci ...

, the term has seen a growth outside of these communities since 2009 as a result of

RuPaul's Drag Race ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, VH1 (season 9–14) and, beginning with the f ...

, where ''slay'', as other terms used mainly in the LGBT community, were thrown around between contestants. The show would also use the word in a special in 2018, the

RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular ''RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular'' was a holiday television special, which aired on VH1 on December 7, 2018. The hour-long ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' special, announced on November 1, had former ''Drag Race'' contestants Eureka O'Hara, Jasmin ...

, as well as the word's usage by

RuPaul RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960; stylized as RuPaul) is an American drag queen, television personality, actor, musician, and model. Best known for producing, hosting, and judging the reality competition series '' RuPaul's Drag Race ...

becoming an

internet meme An Internet meme, commonly known simply as a meme ( ), is an idea, behavior, style, or image that is spread via the Internet, often through social media platforms. What is considered a meme may vary across different communities on the Internet ...

. The term reached mainstream status in 2016 due to its use by Beyoncé in her song "

Formation Formation may refer to: Linguistics * Back-formation, the process of creating a new lexeme by removing or affixes * Word formation, the creation of a new word by adding affixes Mathematics and science * Cave formation or speleothem, a secondary ...

", which was performed at the

Super Bowl 50 halftime show The Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show took place on February 7, 2016, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California as part of Super Bowl 50. It was headlined by the British rock group Coldplay with special guest performers Beyoncé and Bruno Mars, who ...

. "Formation" contains a repeating line "'Cause I slay (slay), I slay (hey)" found between verses, as well as at the end of lyrics such as "now let's get in formation", which is followed by the response "'cause I slay". ''Slay'' has since gained significant popularity and mainstream usage on

social media Social media are interactive media technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. While challenges to the definition of ''social me ...

. As a result, it has sparked discussion on whether this expanded usage of the term past

speakers constitutes appropriation.

References

{{Ball culture 2010s slang Ball culture LGBT slang RuPaul's Drag Race

History

See also

References