Introduction
Cyberpunk slang represents the linguistic evolution of a dystopian future where technology, corporate power, and street culture collide. This specialized vocabulary emerged from cyberpunk literature, films, and games, creating an authentic voice for characters navigating high-tech, low-life scenarios. Understanding cyberpunk slang is essential for writers, gamers, roleplayers, and fans who want to authentically engage with this influential subgenre.
Why Cyberpunk Slang Matters:
- Establishes authentic atmosphere in creative works
- Enhances immersion in cyberpunk games and stories
- Reflects real technological and social anxieties
- Creates distinct character voices and worldbuilding
Core Concepts & Principles
Foundation Elements
High Tech, Low Life: Slang reflects advanced technology alongside social decay Corporate Dystopia: Language shows resistance to and integration with mega-corporations Transhumanism: Terms evolve around body modification and consciousness alteration Information Age: Data, hacking, and digital existence dominate vocabulary Class Stratification: Clear linguistic divisions between street and corporate levels
Linguistic Evolution Patterns
- Tech Integration: Computing terms become everyday language
- Corporate Speak: Business jargon gains sinister undertones
- Street Adaptation: Underground culture creates counter-corporate terminology
- Global Fusion: Mix of languages reflects multicultural urban environments
- Temporal Compression: Future slang feels familiar yet alien
Cyberpunk Slang Categories
Technology & Computing
| Term | Meaning | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ice | Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics (security software) | “That server’s protected by military-grade ice” |
| Deck | Cyberspace interface device/computer | “Jack into your deck and run the trace” |
| Netrunner/Console Cowboy | Professional hacker | “Best netrunner in Night City” |
| Flatline | Brain death from cyberspace trauma | “One wrong move and you’ll flatline” |
| Meatspace | Physical reality (vs. cyberspace) | “Problems in meatspace affecting the net” |
| Ghosting | Leaving traces in cyberspace after death | “His consciousness is still ghosting the mainframe” |
| Wetware | Human brain/biological computing | “Upgrade your wetware with these implants” |
| Chrome | Cybernetic enhancements/implants | “She’s loaded with military chrome” |
| Rig | Vehicle or computer setup | “Custom-built rig for deep net runs” |
| Simsense/SimStim | Simulated sensory experience | “Addicted to simsense entertainment” |
Corporate & Economic
| Term | Meaning | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| Corp | Mega-corporation | “Which corp do you work for?” |
| Suit | Corporate executive | “Another suit trying to buy us out” |
| Wage Slave | Corporate employee | “Just another wage slave in the machine” |
| Chiphead | Addicted to skill chips/data | “He’s become a complete chiphead” |
| Scrip | Corporate currency | “They pay in scrip, worthless outside the zone” |
| Golden Parachute | Executive escape plan | “CEO triggered his golden parachute” |
| Extraction | Corporate kidnapping/recruitment | “Planning an extraction on their lead scientist” |
| Black Budget | Secret corporate funding | “This runs on black budget money” |
| Zaibatsu | Japanese mega-corporation | “The zaibatsu controls everything here” |
| Company Man | Loyal corporate agent | “Watch out, he’s a company man” |
Street & Underground Culture
| Term | Meaning | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| Choom | Friend/buddy | “Thanks for the backup, choom” |
| Gonk | Idiot/fool | “Don’t be such a gonk” |
| Razor | Cool/sharp/impressive | “That bike is absolutely razor” |
| Preem | Premium/excellent | “Preem quality work right there” |
| Nova | Amazing/fantastic | “That was nova, absolutely nova!” |
| Klep | Steal/theft | “Time to klep some corporate data” |
| Braindance | Recorded experience playback | “Got some hot braindance recordings” |
| Edgerunner | Freelance mercenary | “Hiring edgerunners for the job” |
| Rockerboy/Rockergirl | Rebel musician/artist | “She’s the best rockerboy in the underground” |
| Nomad | Mobile tribe member | “Nomads control the highways” |
Body Modification & Enhancement
| Term | Meaning | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| Borged | Heavily cybernetically enhanced | “He’s completely borged out” |
| Meat | Unenhanced human body | “Still running on pure meat” |
| Cyberpsycho | Mentally unstable from too many implants | “Another cyberpsycho incident downtown” |
| Chipware | Skill/memory enhancement chips | “Latest chipware gives instant languages” |
| Bioware | Biological enhancements | “Prefer bioware over metal implants” |
| Headware | Brain-based cybernetics | “New headware boosts reaction time” |
| Bodyware | Physical enhancement implants | “Military-grade bodyware installation” |
| Humanity Cost | Psychological price of enhancement | “Every implant has a humanity cost” |
| Essence | Core human identity/soul | “Losing essence with each upgrade” |
| Fleshware | Organic body modifications | “Designer fleshware for the wealthy” |
Substances & Stimulants
| Term | Meaning | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| Glitch | Synthetic drug/malware | “Street glitch is causing neural damage” |
| Boost | Performance enhancer | “Need some boost for this job” |
| Synthcoke | Synthetic cocaine | “Synthcoke trade runs the underworld” |
| Blue Glass | Dangerous street drug | “Blue glass will fry your brain” |
| Dorph | Synthetic endorphins | “Running on pure dorph” |
| Smash | Combat stimulant | “Smash keeps soldiers fighting” |
| Hyper | Hyperactivity drug | “Hyper dealers on every corner” |
| Freeze | Emotion suppressor | “Corporate executives live on freeze” |
| Wire | Neural stimulant | “Wired up for the long haul” |
| Crash | Drug comedown/system failure | “Hard crash after the run” |
Common Usage Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: Overusing Slang
Problem: Making dialogue incomprehensible with too much jargon Solution: Mix standard speech with selective slang for authenticity without confusion
Challenge: Inconsistent Terminology
Problem: Using different terms for the same concept Solution: Create a reference glossary and stick to established conventions
Challenge: Anachronistic Language
Problem: Using obviously dated or contemporary slang Solution: Focus on tech-influenced evolution of current terms
Challenge: Cultural Appropriation
Problem: Misusing borrowed foreign terms Solution: Research cultural context and use respectfully
Best Practices & Practical Tips
Writing & Creative Use
- Start Simple: Introduce 2-3 key terms, then expand vocabulary gradually
- Context Clues: Let meaning emerge naturally through dialogue and action
- Character Voice: Different social classes use different slang levels
- Regional Variation: Adapt terms for different geographic settings
- Temporal Consistency: Maintain slang evolution timeline within your world
Gaming & Roleplay
- Character Background: Match slang to character’s profession and social class
- Gradual Integration: Start with basic terms, add complexity over time
- Group Consistency: Establish shared vocabulary with fellow players
- NPC Distinction: Use slang patterns to differentiate character types
- Immersion Balance: Prioritize understanding over authenticity
Worldbuilding Applications
- Social Stratification: High-corp vs. street-level vocabulary differences
- Technological Integration: Show how tech changes everyday language
- Cultural Blending: Reflect multicultural urban environments
- Evolution Timeline: Track how terms change over story timeline
- Brand Integration: Corporate names become generic terms
Slang by Social Class
Corporate Tier
Formal cyberpunk corporate speak with subtle menace
- “Liquidate” (eliminate)
- “Downsizing” (firing/killing)
- “Restructuring” (hostile takeover)
- “Human resources” (people as commodities)
- “Optimize” (control/exploit)
Street Level
Raw, immediate survival language
- “Flatline” (kill/die)
- “Slot” (kill)
- “Waste” (destroy/kill)
- “Burn” (betray/expose)
- “Ghost” (disappear/leave)
Tech Specialist
Technical precision with underground edge
- “Trace/Track” (follow digitally)
- “Splice” (modify/connect)
- “Loop” (trap/cycle)
- “Dump” (download/abandon)
- “Compile” (create/prepare)
Regional & Cultural Variations
Asian Influence
- Zaibatsu (mega-corporation)
- Oyabun (crime boss)
- Ronin (masterless mercenary)
- Bushido (honor code)
- Kami (digital spirit/AI)
Latin American
- Coyote (smuggler/guide)
- Machismo (aggressive enhancement culture)
- Barrio (defended neighborhood)
- Hermano/Hermana (trusted ally)
- Muerte (death/violence)
European Elements
- Konzern (German mega-corp)
- Noir (dark/hidden)
- Underground (resistance culture)
- Syndicate (organized crime)
- Protocol (formal procedure)
Evolution Timeline
Early Cyberpunk (1980s Origins)
Foundation terms from literature and early computing culture
Gaming Era (1990s-2000s)
Expansion through tabletop and video games
Modern Adaptation (2010s-Present)
Integration with real technological advancement
Future Projection
How terms might evolve with emerging technology
Resources for Further Learning
Essential Reading
- William Gibson’s Sprawl Trilogy – Original cyberpunk vocabulary source
- Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash – Advanced tech slang evolution
- Richard K. Morgan’s Takeshi Kovacs Series – Body modification terminology
- Philip K. Dick’s Works – Reality/identity confusion language
Gaming Sources
- Cyberpunk 2020/2077 RPG – Comprehensive slang dictionary
- Shadowrun – Magic-tech hybrid terminology
- Deus Ex Series – Corporate conspiracy language
- Ghost in the Shell – Consciousness/identity vocabulary
Film & Media
- Blade Runner/2049 – Visual and verbal aesthetic
- The Matrix – Reality simulation terms
- Neuromancer Audiobook – Pronunciation guide
- Cyberpunk Documentaries – Cultural context
Online Communities
- r/Cyberpunk – Contemporary usage examples
- Cyberpunk Forums – Gaming community slang
- Writing Communities – Creative application discussion
- Academic Papers – Linguistic analysis of cyberpunk language
Quick Reference Guide
Most Essential Terms (Beginner)
Choom, Corp, Deck, Ice, Chrome, Edgerunner, Flatline, Netrunner, Preem, Razor
Intermediate Expansion
Braindance, Chiphead, Cyberpsycho, Extraction, Meatspace, Nomad, Rockerboy, Wage Slave, Wetware, Zaibatsu
Advanced Vocabulary
Blue Glass, Dorph, Essence, Ghosting, Humanity Cost, Simsense, Synthcoke, Wire
Context Combinations
- “Preem chrome, choom!” (Excellent cybernetics, friend!)
- “Corp suits hiring edgerunners” (Corporate executives hiring mercenaries)
- “Flatlined by ice” (Killed by security software)
- “Razor netrunner with nova deck” (Cool hacker with amazing computer)
Master this vocabulary to authentically navigate the neon-soaked streets of cyberpunk culture. Remember: in the future, language is just another system to hack.