Street
cuz
What does cuz mean?
Internal address term used between Crips — a contraction of 'cousin'. Functions the way 'blood' does for Bloods: identifier, greeting, sentence-ender. Saying it the wrong place can get you checked.
"What's good, cuz, where you been?"
Origin
Crip gang vernacular, South Central LA, from the 1970s; bled into mainstream West Coast rap through the 80s and 90s.
Frequently asked questions
What does cuz mean?
It's short for cousin, used affectionately as a friendly term of address for relatives, friends or acquaintances.
Where does cuz come from?
It's a clipping of 'cousin', prominent in Māori and Pasifika New Zealand English.
Does cuz mean an actual cousin?
Not necessarily — it's often used for friends and acquaintances, not only real cousins.
How do you use cuz in a sentence?
Say something like 'How's it going, cuz? Long time no see.'
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