Street
firme
What does firme mean?
Good, tight, the real deal. Used to praise a person, a ride, a fit, a track — anything that hits right. The Eastside equivalent of 'solid' or 'clean'.
"That '64 Impala he rolled up in is firme, homie."
Origin
Caló, the Chicano/Pachuco argot of the US Southwest, borrowed from Spanish 'firme' (firm, steady) and twisted into slang for 'cool' or 'excellent'. Anchored in East LA lowrider and oldies culture from the mid-20th century onward.
Frequently asked questions
What does firme mean in Caló?
It means cool, solid, or excellent. Calling something 'firme' is a term of approval, and a 'firme vato' is a reliable, stand-up guy.
Is firme the same as the normal Spanish word?
It is built on standard Spanish 'firme' (firm or steady), but Chicano Caló stretched that sense into a slang way of saying something is great.
How do you use firme in a sentence?
Use it to praise something, like 'Está firme tu ranfla' (Your car is cool). It works much like saying 'that's tight' in English slang.
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