Cyberpunk 2077: All Cyberpunk Slang Explained

Summary Cyberpunk 2077 slang can be confusing but enhances immersion by reflecting the game's futuristic world.

The game's slang draws from the Cyberpunk franchise's tabletop origins, blending technical jargon with foreign language influences.

Understanding common slang terms in Cyberpunk 2077 enriches gameplay and helps decipher character dialogue.

For the cybernetic citizens of Cyberpunk 2077, futuristic slang is part of everyday conversation - but for players conversing in the modern day, it can be a point of confusion. The varied vernacular of Night City can be jarring at first, especially to those who are not versed in the complex, intricate lore of the long-running Cyberpunk franchise. At times, it can even feel like V and their acquaintances are speaking another language entirely. However, by familiarizing themselves with even just a few Cyberpunk 2077 slang terms and their definitions, one can cultivate a far richer and more immersive gameplay experience.

The game introduces just a handful of the slang terms created for the original Cyberpunk 2020 and Cyberpunk RED tabletop roleplaying games. The Cyberpunk 2077 universe is so heavily influenced by the technology of the day, with computers even becoming part of humans themselves, that it is natural for some of the technical jargon to have also woven its way into everyday expressions. Much of Cyberpunk slang is a combination of these technical terms, words from foreign languages with large speaker populations in Night City, and of course, an edgy attitude.

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Cyberpunk Glossary - All Cyberpunk 2077 Slang Explained

Night City's Streetslang Defined & Explained

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Cyberpunk 2077 incorporates many unique terms and phrases into the story, various missions, and even just NPC chatter to help build a more immersive world for the player. There are a lot of unfamiliar expressions that V will run into, but there are some that are more likely to be heard than others. Simply through playing the game, it is possible to get the general connotation behind many of them, but the immersion can be much more satisfying when having a full understanding. Below are some of Cyberpunk 2077's most common slang terms and what they mean:

Term Definition Apogee The best or the greatest. AV An abbreviation for Aerodyne Vehicle, a popular type of jet-powered, flying automobile in Cyberpunk. AVs are usually reserved for the wealthy or the Trauma Team. Biz Short for "business," but refers more directly to any kind of job, work, or meeting. In the context of Cyberpunk Borg Short for cyborg. It may be used derogatorily to judge those who have undergone numerous cybernetic surgeries or nearly replaced their entire bodies. Boostergang/Booster A gang (or a member of a gang) characterized by their extreme territoriality and use of cybernetic implants. This is the most common type of gang in Night City. Boostergangs can consist of just a handful of punks, or they can be a large, organized group like Maelstrom. Bourgie/Bourgy A classist insult meaning "low class." Braindance/BD A virtual experience that allows the user to relive someone else's memory, including their thoughts, emotions, and pain. Braindance editors, such as Cyberpunk 2077's Judy, can edit raw footage to turn it into a marketable product, usually for entertainment purposes. Chippin' In To install cyberware, especially for the first time. Alternately, to hook up to any machine. This is also the name of a single by Johnny Silverhand's band, Samurai. CHOOH/CHOOH2 An alternative fuel invented by Biotechnica. Can be used interchangeably with certain modern American English uses of "gas" - e.g., "Hit the CHOOH!" Choom/Choombah Derived from "choombatta," this is a Neo-African American word of endearment for a friend or family member. It has been appropriated widely by non-Black residents of Night City as a rough synonym for "bro" or "bud." Chrome Another word for cyberware. Can also be used as a verb, to describe the action of receiving cybernetic implants. Corpo A word for a corporate employee, often used in a derisive way. It's also one of Cyberpunk 2077's branching lifepaths. Culture Vulture An entertainment journalist, especially those who profit off of publicizing tragedy. DataKrash The near-total collapse of the Net, orchestrated by legendary Netrunner Rache Bartmoss in the early 2020s. Deckhead Another word for a Netrunner. So-called for the cybernetic implant in their brain, which lets them enter and hack the Net. Delta To leave, usually with haste. Detes Short for "details." Dirty Analog, low-tech, or outdated. This derogatory label may be applied to items unconnected to the Net, or to anything suspiciously antiquated. Dock Sexual intercourse, especially a casual hookup. Dorph Endorphins; a synthetic recreational endorphin. Hackers in Night City are known to take Dorphs to boost their performance. Dorpher/Dorphead Users of Dorphs who have become reliant on the drug. Dorph gangs are often composed of Dorphers and Dorph pushers. (The) Edge The outskirts of society, the wrong side of the track, the darkness on the edge of town. The metaphorical home of Edgerunners in Cyberpunk 2077. Edgerunner Someone who lives on the Edge. May be claimed as a badge of honor or even vocation, as in the various fixers, couriers, and mercenaries who can get things done just outside the letter of the law. Eddies Short for Eurodollars, Night City's primary currency. Fixer A dealmaker, usually in the crime business. Generally the first point of contact in Flatline To die or to kill. Gangoon A gang member, implied to be low-ranking. Mostly associated with the Valentinos. Gato Another word for cool. Gonk An idiot or a fool. Handle A street name or alter ego, often used to evade identification when working outside the law. Highrider A space-dweller. Some such Cyberpunk citizens spend most of their lives in space, working on satellites or as crew on interstellar flights. Iron A gun or other weapon. Jaina A term of endearment associated with Chicano culture. Joytoy A sex worker. Can be gendered as Joyboy or Joygirl. Kibble Processed food, especially government rations which resemble dry dog food (because it literally is - Kibble was first created by a dog food manufacturer). Kibble Card A ration card. Analogous to food stamps or EBT, many of Night City's poorest are reliant on a deteriorating welfare state which allots them low quality food. Klep To steal. From the Greek word of the same meaning, but probably more directly derived from "kleptomania." Linefoot A term for a non-Nomad, usually used by Nomads. Meatspace The physical world, as opposed to cyberspace. Netrunner A specialized, skilled user of the Net. Anyone can use the Net, but Netrunners have augmented themselves to hack into the Net's Menu and traverse cyberspace with grace. Netpig A derogatory term for Netwatch, the private police force that monitors the Net since DataKrash. Nomad Residents of the Badlands outside Night City, often banned from corpo life. For characters in Cyberpunk 2077, this is a lifepath defined by belonging to a close-knit clan. Nova Cool. Derived from Latin for "new." Used similarly to "preem," especially when the subject is something unique or technologically advanced. Posergang/Poser A gang (or a member of a gang) that operates with the primary goal of achieving a certain body type or physical appearance. Although they're now one of the most dangerous gangs in Cyberpunk 2077, the Valentinos were originally a posergang. Preem Derived from the word premium, this casual term means "cool" or "dope." Used similarly to "nova." Ripperdoc/Ripper A cybernetic surgeon. While any doctor specializing in outfitting patients with cyberware could be called a ripperdoc, the term carries a streetwise connotation that often denotes a practitioner who caters to Night City's criminal element. Rockerboy/Rockergirl A musician that doubles as an activist, using their talents to lead social movements. Their fans and comrades view them as freedom fighters, but some Corpos opt to call them terrorists. Samurai A corporate mercenary. Also the ironic name of Johnny Silverhand's band in Cyberpunk 2077. SCOP Single-cell organic protein, a component of synthetic food. Associated with low-quality foodstuffs, it may be used disparagingly, especially when combined with insults as in "scopsucker." Scratch Another word for money or eddies. Screamsheets Newspapers that are personalized to the consumer's interests, usually digital rather than physical. Scroll To edit a braindance. Shard Short for "datashard," the primary medium of portable data storage in the Cyberpunk continuity. Basically akin to a flash drive. Solo A lone mercenary who takes many short-term gigs for quick cash, as opposed to sticking with one long-term job or corporation. Trauma Short for Trauma Team, Night City's heavily-armed squad of medical first responders. Trauma Team clients may be referred to by the type of insurance they've purchased. Those with the most expensive package, Platinum coverage, are guaranteed better service than those with a Silver or Gold package. Vidiot A video game or virtual reality addict. Virtu An unedited Braindance, in which emotions and sensations are felt fully. Often associated with gray-market BDs showing highly objectionable content. Weefle An inexperienced Netrunner. Zeroed Killed. This term may be a reference to "zeroing" in tabletop RPGs, when a player character loses all of their hit points.

Related 10 Things Cyberpunk 2077 2 (Orion) Must Include Not much has been revealed yet for the future sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, but here are some things that the upcoming Project Orion needs to include.

How Cyberpunk Slang Has Evolved Since The Tabletop Game

Origins Of Cyberpunk 2077 Slang

Cyberpunk 2077 is set in the same expansive world originally created by Mike Pondsmith for Cyberpunk, a tabletop role-playing game series. It draws influences from a variety of languages, lifestyles, and cultures seen and heard on the streets of Night City. For example, Cyberpunk's slang draws heavily from Spanish and Japanese, reflecting the high number of Night City residents who speak those languages. It also draws heavily on technical terms, especially those related to the internet, computers, and Cyberware. Many of these terms are derived from the writings of William Gibson, a speculative fiction writer often credited with the invention of the cyberpunk genre as a whole.

In the Cyberpunk tabletop game series, "Gibson" is used as slang for an insightful person or psychic, in a playful reference to Gibson's seemingly prophetic output.

To make it into the video game it is today, there are naturally some minor differences between the TTRPG and CD Projekt Red's sci-fi RPG. Much of the slang introduced in the original sourcebooks has even evolved over the years: for example, the meanings of "input" and "output" were swapped sometime between 2020 and 2077. However, the majority of Cyberpunk 2077 remains canonical to the events of Pondsmith's expansive fictional world. As such, a lot of interesting background for the game and further definitions of the slang that is used in Cyberpunk 2077 can be gained by giving the TTRPG a spin, or from reading one of the many sourcebooks that accompany the series.

Enjoying the futuristic world of Cyberpunk doesn't necessarily require players to study the ins and outs of either the TTRPG or the slang meanings. The game uses many colloquialisms throughout, however, so it is good to know some of the terms, but generally, there is enough context around the use of the terms to be able to interpret them without the need for research. Becoming familiar with Cyberpunk 2077's most common slang terms and what they mean - alongside some first-person exposure to the streets of Night City - will have V prepared to flatline some gonks and earn some eddies in no time.

Source: Cyberpunk 2077/YouTube