Hippy Slang Of The 60's

Posted Dec 14, 2008 by Darlene / comments 8 comments / Print / Font Size Decrease font size Increase font size

The 60’s. It was a time of political controversy, rebellion, protest marches, burning bras, bare feet, and flower power. From the dust of the 60’s turmoil rose a new cultural lifestyle with a new breed of people: We called them Hippies.

 They were children of peace who criticized middle class values, rebelled against established institutions, and were dead against the Vietnam War. They were a new and liberated class of people who gave preference to freedom, love, and peace. They were set apart from others by the way they looked, how they thought, and how they spoke.

There emerged a language that they alone understood and this too helped set them apart from the rest of society. Below is a list of unique words that made the language of the Hippy their very own:

* Pad: Your pad was where you lived. “Let's head over to Pete's place and hang out.”

* Crash: To crash meant to go to sleep, usually right where you were. “I think I'll crash on the floor.”

* Gas: If you had a gas, you had a lot of fun. “We had a gas before crashing at Pete's pad.”

* Scarf: To eat something very quickly. “I had a gas scarfing pizza before I crashed at Pete's pad.”

* Split: To split meant to leave. “I split Pete's pad the next morning.

* Scene: The place where you are is the scene. A scene is where something is happening. “I was at
Pete's pad but I split the scene.”

* Happening: To be in a fun place where everyone is having a good time is a happening place. “The
party at Pete's pad was a real happening scene."

* Groovy: When something is referred to as groovy it was cool. “Pete has a groovy pad.”

* Far out: If something was far out, it was better than groovy. “Pete's a real far out guy!”

* Dude: A dude was a geek of the 60's. “Pete's brother is a dude.”

* Drag: A drag was anything boring. “Do you know Pete's brother? That dude's a drag.”

* Dig: To understand. “Do you dig what I'm saying dude?” “I dig it!”

* Peace Out: Goodbye. “I'm going to split, peace out brother.”

* Threads: Your clothes. “Pete's brother's threads are far out for a dude.”

* Hang Loose: Don't get your tail in a knot, relax. “I know Pete's brother is a drag but hang loose until he
splits.”

* Brother: Any good person or a friend was your brother. “That brother's no drag.”

* Gut Wadding: Fast food was called gut wadding. “Come on Pete, let's scarf some gut wadding at the
burger joint.”

Ah, the 60's. If you were cool, you were hip. Bellbottom jeans were in, torn and frayed jeans, tie dye shirts, love beads, head bands, granny dresses, granny glasses, sandals, crocheted hats and belts, ankle bells, and bare feet were all part of the Hippy life style. Where are they now?

Many went to collage, grew up and got married
while some held fast to the Hippie life and brought it along with them into the 21st century. It's a little harder to recognize them now but if you get a chance to hear them speak, you'll figure it out.

Peace out brother and stay hip.

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Comments

travelerscp
travelerscp said... on February 27th, 2009 at 4:50 AM

"Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end, we'd sing and dance forever and a day...." Look at me now, where did all that hair go? LOL. Good times.

louiejerome
louiejerome said... on February 2nd, 2009 at 9:12 PM

Great read. I remeber this too.

w1z111
w1z111 said... on January 4th, 2009 at 12:53 PM

Heh...I must say, I grew up in the 60's myself. I do think times were much more relaxed and more enjoyable then. And, yes, many of the truest "hippies" used the kind of language you describe quite fluently! Good read!

Bojack
Bojack said... on December 23rd, 2008 at 4:55 AM

Groovy article Darlene,I'm at the pad now,but gotta split the scene,go scarf some grub,then head back to the pad and crash;you dig? Oh my God,I must be older than I thought.I actually remember this stuff. Darlene,I didn't really even know what Vietnam was,just a show we watched after school a lot on TV with a guy named Walter Cronkite.

clayhurtubise
clayhurtubise said... on December 22nd, 2008 at 7:56 AM

LOL. In fourth grade we actually had a class on this! Of course it was after the class of 'Duck and Cover', in case of a nuclear attack! Thanks, Clay

lindalulu
lindalulu said... on December 17th, 2008 at 6:46 AM

great write made me smile.

Goodselfme
Goodselfme said... on December 16th, 2008 at 12:16 AM

Fun read that took me back to the future. Well done and full of good things.

Swapna.P
Swapna.P said... on December 14th, 2008 at 6:25 PM

wow..excellent points...



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