Shawty (slang) explained

Shawty, shorty, shauty or shortie is a slang term from African American Vernacular English used generally as a nonspecific term of endearment. In specific settings, it can be interpreted as a catcall. Since the 1990s,^[1] the term has also been used to refer to young and attractive women, mostly in hip hop tracks from that decade and those from the early 2000s. ^[2] Shawty is a Southern and African American variant of shorty,^[3] and can also refer to someone of any gender who is shorter in stature compared to a taller person. It is also frequently used to amicably address newcomers, children, and good friends.^[4]

In hip hop music

Below is a list of songs which contain the term in the lyrics.

• "Method Man", a 1993 song by Wu-Tang Clan^[5]
• "Gimme the Loot", a 1994 song by The Notorious B.I.G.
• "C.R.E.A.M.", a 1993 song by Wu-Tang Clan
• "Shorty Wanna Be A Thug", a 1996 song by Tupac
• "No Diggity", a 1996 song by Blackstreet
• "When the Last Time", a 2002 song by Clipse
• "In da Club", a 2003 song by 50 Cent
• "Yeah! (Usher song)", 2004
• "Shorty Wanna Ride", a 2004 song by Young Buck
• "Touch It", a 2005 song by Busta Rhymes
• "Diamonds from Sierra Leone", a 2005 song by Kanye West
• "Shortie Like Mine", a 2006 song by Bow Wow
• "Bartender", a 2007 song by T-Pain feat. Akon
• "Cyclone", a 2007 song by Baby Bash feat. T-Pain
• "Shawty", a 2007 single by Plies
• "Low", 2007 song by Flo Rida and T-Pain
• "Take You There", a 2007 song by Sean Kingston
• "Get It Shawty", a 2007 song by Lloyd
• "Shawty Is a 10", a 2007 song by The-Dream
• "Killa", a 2007 song by Cherish
• "Sexy Can I", a 2008 song by Ray J feat. Yung Berg
• "Shawty Get Loose", a 2008 single by Lil Mama
• "Thug Story", a 2008 single by Taylor Swift and T-Pain
• "Shawty Say", a 2008 song by David Banner
• "Replay", a 2009 song by Iyaz
• "Right Round", a 2009 song by Flo Rida feat. Ke$ha
• "Sugar", a 2009 song by Flo Rida feat. Wynter
• "Sorry, Sorry", a 2009 song by Super Junior
• "Fire Burning", a 2009 song by Sean Kingston
• "Shawty Wus Up", a 2010 song by Dondria
• “You’re My Only Shorty”, a 2010 song by Demi Lovato feat. Iyaz
• "Just A Dream", a 2010 song by Nelly
• "Wop", a 2011 song by J. Dash feat. Flo Rida
• "Whistle", a 2012 song by Flo Rida
• "No Mediocre", a 2014 song by T.I. feat. Iggy Azalea
• "Hot N*gga", a 2014 song by Bobby Shmurda
• "Moonlight (XXXTentacion song)", a 2018 song by XXXTENTACION
• "My Oh My", a 2020 song by Camila Cabello feat. DaBaby
• "Mood", a 2020 song by 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior
• "Mood Swings", a 2020 song by Pop Smoke feat. Lil Tjay
• "Shawty", a 2020 song by Luciana
• "SHAWTY", a 2021 song by Rondodasosa feat. Sacky
• "BIRKIN", a 2022 song by Rondodasosa
• "cocaine shawty", a 2021 song by Lil Peep feat. Yunggoth
• "Calm Down", a 2022 song by Rema & Selena Gomez
• "Get Into It (Yuh)", a 2022 song by Doja Cat
• "DREAM-GIRLS" a 2024 song by Camila Cabello

Other genres

• "Wild, Wild West", a 1988 song by The Escape Club
• "Shorty", a 1996 song by The Get Up Kids
• "No Scrubs", a 1999 song by TLC
• "Angel", a 2001 song by Shaggy feat. Rayvon
• "Just Dance", a 2008 song by Lady Gaga
• "Replay", a 2009 single by Iyaz
• "One Time", a 2009 song by Justin Bieber
• "One Less Lonely Girl", a 2009 song by Justin Bieber
• "Eenie Meenie", a 2010 song by Sean Kingston and Justin Bieber
• "She's a Dream", a 2009 song by Backstreet Boys
• "You're My Only Shorty", a 2011 song by Demi Lovato feat. Iyaz
• "Mistletoe", a 2011 song by Justin Bieber
• "Controlla", a 2016 song by Drake
• "Emiliana", a 2021 song by CKay
• "Calm Down", a 2022 song by Rema
• "Time Heals All", a 2023 song by Don Toliver
• "Silk and Cologne" a 2023 song by EI8HT and Offset
• "Shawty" a 2023 song by La Fève

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Etymology of Shorty. 2021-05-04. poly-graph.co.
2. Web site: What in the World Does 'Shawty' Even Mean? also for shawty bae . 2021-05-04. Lifewire. en.
3. Web site: Nolan. Melanie. The shorty story: A look at w the word became popular in rap songs. dead. 2021-05-04. Burlington County Times. en. 2021-05-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20210504020459/https://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/entertainmentlife/20180312/shorty-story-look-at-how-word-became-popular-in-rap-songs.
4. "Rappers Flirt with the Word 'Shawty'". USA Today, 6 August 2007.
5. Book: Spady. James G.. James G. Spady. Lee. Charles G.. Alim. H. Samy. 1999. Street Conscious Rap. Black History Museum, Umum/Loh Publishers. 394. 978-0967174105.