Hippy Slang of the 60’s – Can You Dig It?
The 60’s. It was a time of political controversy, rebellion, protest marches, bras burning, 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, got married while a few 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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User Comments
IcyCucky
On November 11, 2007 at 6:55 am
This is a cool list of slangs..
Great article.
ron
On November 11, 2007 at 8:46 am
good job
Darlene McFarlane
On November 11, 2007 at 11:08 am
Thanks Icy. I remember this era well. It was a definite revolutionary turning point.
Nick Kenney
On November 11, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Far out, Darlene! I remember the ’60’s. I was a little kid but I remember watching my older cousins getting ready to go out and listen to them talk and I grew up watching American Bandstand…
I can dig it….
Darlene McFarlane
On November 11, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Thanks Nick. I was a mother by the middle 60’s and wasn’t part of the hippy movement but, I enjoyed the era very much. There was a lot of political unrest especially in the US but in some ways I think the hipsters made people stop and think. I know some changes were due to their relentless protests and passion for what they believed in.
It was a real happening time.
I loved American Bandstand.
Anne Lyken-Garner
On November 12, 2007 at 6:45 am
Great list Darlene, I love this era even though I didn’t really live through it as an adult. How do you get your pictures to come out in the published article? I’ve very often used pictures but when the article gets published they’re not there!
Could you tell me what method you use? Is it the copy and paste or insert from file?
Thanks
Darlene McFarlane
On November 12, 2007 at 9:10 am
Thank you, Anne. I can’t take the credit for the pics on this one. Triond did the graphics for me. I think they did a great job too, it added spice to the article.
valli
On November 12, 2007 at 11:01 am
Excellent article. Thank you for sharing as I have no idea about it.
lizzie 2 uk
On November 12, 2007 at 11:04 am
I was a teenage hippie. Still am in some ways…far out, man!
C A Johnson
On November 12, 2007 at 4:50 pm
This is a great list, Darlene. I wasn’t born in the 60s, but I am familiar with some of the slang.
Jonathan Pickard
On November 13, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Hi Darlene
Very informative article! groovy lol.
I have had a long break from writing but hoping to get back to it very shortly. I look forward to reading more of your work. I am continuing to click on all your articles each month.
Take care
Jonathan
Liane Schmidt
On November 13, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Very cute and unique article.
Best wishes Darlene.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
Lucy Lockett
On November 22, 2007 at 5:50 pm
I watched my older brother and sister go through it but I am a hippy at heart! This bought back a smile to my face.
B.T. Dreams
On November 26, 2007 at 8:50 pm
I wasn’t there for the 60’s but i heard some crazy stories about the old days. In fact im wearing a tye-dye shirt right now.lol
JNV
On December 2, 2007 at 7:39 am
I dig it. Great article
roxann boeberg
On December 16, 2007 at 3:52 pm
wow!
i totally remeber the 60’s!!
:]
besst tiimes everrr!
everything i was involved in it was happenin!! :p
well i hopee to see some more of our sick nasty wordss from the 60’s soon!!!!
HAPPY X-MAS.
chris
On December 16, 2007 at 5:41 pm
apparently the majority of the people who commented are freaks or they are freaks and still on drugs…..the 60s (by the way there is no apostrophe to make that plural) were the worst years in America and that is what is wrong with everything now; so thanks to all the freaks and dopeheads, a job well done
petey
On December 16, 2007 at 10:12 pm
hey dude just because we hippies were always high off of drugs and most of us still are doesn’t mean the 60’s were so bad infact if you did it right you probably would have had fun so losen up man enjoy life while you can the 60’s are far out man and thanks for the job well done:)
yeaitsmeagain
On February 4, 2008 at 3:21 pm
hey chris …… evidently you weren’t there or you’d know that being called a ” freak ” was is a compliment in the hippie
genre. like ” letting your freak flag fly “. it was right winged whackos that caused the hippie era to evolve to begin with. thank people like yourself ( but obviously a little older ) for the hippies , and just look around today and see what happens when whackos get in control. same as it ever was. an economy down the dumps and a unwanted and unnecessary war on our hands( unless you want to grease your rich corporate friends ). now THATS something to be proud of eh chris ? THESE are some of the worse years in America , we need the hippies back again.
sk8r boy
On March 12, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Groovy article man, it was real happining. I wasn’t born in the 60’s but my mom told me about it. I loved your article! Peace Out Brother.
amee
On March 27, 2008 at 7:27 am
nice article!
BUT
Pad: Your pad was where you lived. “Let’s head over to Pete’s place and hang out.” isn’t it supposed to be “Let’s head over to Pete’s PAD(not place) and hang out.”
: )
Like “ska8r boy” I to am not from the 60s but I love a lot of the music from there! : )
al
On April 1, 2008 at 1:57 am
this article digs ok :]
im a modern day hippie, tryin to bring back the love.
we don’t need too much more than a hippie revolution.
peace love & serenity baby.
8th grader
On May 21, 2008 at 8:24 pm
haha I am doing a count down to the last day of school GRADUATION DAY. We are on d day which is disco day/70’s day which is going to be awesome. I’m totally going to use a lot of fun slang. awesome website very helpful. LOVE AND PEACE! (which incidently is written in chalk on the front of my house)
Darlene McFarlane
On May 21, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Hey, 8th grader,
Sounds like a lot of fun. I am glad this article could help you out.
megan and group
On June 2, 2008 at 8:02 am
were hippies bad people or good peoplex x x
tempany
On June 2, 2008 at 8:07 am
iam tempany and i am doin a project about hippies so what was the life style like and what did they do for a living plus did they travel on the concord plz reply
ashily
On June 2, 2008 at 8:17 am
hi i am doing a project about fastion and we picked hippi fastion and came across this website to find that we can wtite to you so can you please help we are strugaling and donnt no what to do
Nandy
On June 9, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Hi I’m brazilian and i did a project about hippies…now i am doing a new project in english for my english course!
I loved these pictures and your article.
Pay attention: Make LOVE no WAR! =)
Darlene McFarlane
On June 10, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Hi Nandy,
Thank you for your kind comments.
illusion
On July 25, 2008 at 11:07 pm
man this hippie stuffs is rightcheous, i can dig it brother, i can dig it
liz
On July 27, 2008 at 4:08 pm
far out article
Romper Stomper
On August 4, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Saying hippies sum up the sixties is like saying dinnertime lasts all day!
Give anyone enough LSD and soon they too can drivel on in psychobabble….oh yeah and only middle class kids rebel against middle class values!
excruciatingly painful patronising article!
We’re English don’t you know
Bubsboy
On August 27, 2008 at 1:58 am
It seems you all are just venting and inventing. I was and am a hippie and until they throw dirt on my coffin, I’ll remain true to the label. Drugs were just a small portion of a massive movement. We changed the world…for a while. The generation that followed us got high and got lazy and made it possible to squelch all that was attained. We acheived Roe vs Wade, a moratorium against capitol punishment, 18 year old legal drinking age AND voting age.
We had the establishment (government and industry) up against the wall, only to watch the following generation let it all slip away. Alas, according to the Constitution, we were demanded to over throw the out of control government. We blew it man, we blew it!!!
bananaTropicana
On August 31, 2008 at 9:26 am
thanks this helped alot i am putting them on paper thing in glow in the dark paint and haining them on the wall 4 my birthday thanks alot
flower power
On September 4, 2008 at 10:46 am
hippes rule man ya u have to agree dudes
timmy two toe thomas
On September 17, 2008 at 1:34 pm
i beat da ah ah
zeppelins chick
On September 23, 2008 at 7:01 pm
i luv the 60s man, wish i coulda been there!!!! iwas just born to late is all!!! inside im all hippie though!!!! peace and love forever man!!!! peace out bro
Rainbow
On October 16, 2008 at 5:31 pm
hey Chris, lighten up dude! get a grip and go back on your medication. nighty night.
manda
On November 2, 2008 at 3:22 pm
i already knew nearly all of these….
bob
On November 3, 2008 at 9:50 am
so much pollution.
carmel
On November 3, 2008 at 9:50 am
peace out grant im gunna go crash at my groovy pad
bobby
On November 3, 2008 at 9:51 am
suck you
ted/carmel
On November 3, 2008 at 9:51 am
hi grant and matt
flower power babe
On November 3, 2008 at 9:52 am
just chill out dawg
Trey
On November 3, 2008 at 9:52 am
whats up?
flower power babe
On November 3, 2008 at 9:53 am
hi
carmel
On November 3, 2008 at 9:53 am
i had a lot of gas at your house dude
that means i had a lot of fun at your house geek
flower power babe
On November 3, 2008 at 9:55 am
SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUck u
Bad boy
On November 3, 2008 at 9:55 am
come with me
flower power babe
On November 3, 2008 at 10:00 am
SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUck u
flower power babe
On November 3, 2008 at 10:06 am
What yall talkin bout dis is da ghetto of flint we aint got gas in our PAD
Bad boy
On November 3, 2008 at 10:08 am
oooo I like your tricks
Rosemarie
On November 3, 2008 at 10:18 am
Remembering the old days!!! Great flashback! Peace!
starburst
On November 3, 2008 at 11:44 am
thats so rad mannn
vicky
On November 6, 2008 at 8:55 am
this was good. im doing a project on it and i didnt know ANY of these haha. wow im (:
peace:p
vicky
On November 6, 2008 at 8:56 am
im hot. and gassy and a drag
Dieter Hentz
On November 11, 2008 at 1:27 pm
good time
Craig
On November 13, 2008 at 7:30 am
I was in New Zealand in the sixties as a child 6-11 and remember it well. The slang, the ‘bell bottoms’, tie dye, etc. There was and add on tele for natural gas at the time with the end quote “What a gas…”
Smart One
On December 12, 2008 at 1:54 am
thanks ,good job.
I come here coz of seaarching articles about college slang of 60’s for my graduation thesis.It helps.
Johnny Yuma
On January 16, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I remember most all of these Darlene. I never got involve with the hippies but I did enjoy listening to them talk and usually knew what they were talking about.
Great piece of work here my friend!
Johnny Yuma
arthur greene
On February 5, 2009 at 2:49 pm
i wish the world could be peaceful and that society would’nt be so corrupt peace out man we need the hippies back we need to feel the love again we need bob marly back
person
On March 9, 2009 at 12:42 pm
you spelt college wrong
Naheed
On March 23, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I enjoy twiddleing my bum hais and flipping consciencly. I am unsure of my arival and my absence is loathing away. Basically I am impaied at this time and do not wish to lather my colon
kimbotoo
On March 26, 2009 at 12:58 pm
i love my mom very much she does everything for meeeeee:)
petal *+
On April 1, 2009 at 12:01 am
sweet man, i dig it
dude
On May 3, 2009 at 8:22 pm
mah
Bo Jack Russo
On May 3, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Darlene I remember reading this a long time ago,it was great then too,Bo
Caity01
On May 10, 2009 at 5:43 pm
haha, i like how we still use slang like this, but “dude” isnt used as geek anymore, but that’s so funny
Nayuki Kuran
On May 14, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Thanks! I seriously needed this for a school project! This helped me out alot. Thanks!
Georgie
On June 8, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I still talk this way!
ned
On July 8, 2009 at 2:33 pm
THIS WEBSITE IS FAR OUT
Ghost
On September 4, 2009 at 9:54 am
Im growing up in the 21st century but i belive in the old hippie way. and i never realy knew i was using all these psycadelic terms. its like groovy dude.
MiamiGirl
On October 4, 2009 at 4:31 am
Great article and yes, I too needed to research hippy slang for a school paper that I am writing about Jimi Hendrix, who might I add was absolutley awsome, or opps, Groovy; I mean groovey LOL.. Anyways, I was born in 1978, so wasn\’t even thought of in the 60\’s. But I wish with all my heart that I was in my thirties then (in the 60\’s) and finishing my life now. I work in the administrative department of a nursing home in Overland Park, Kansas, and I always do my best to make a little time to get to know our residents. Something I always tell them is how very lucky they are to have been in the prime of their lives when they were. I try to tell them how bad I think things are in our country today and how I wish with all of my heart that I was around in the 40\’s – 50\’s and 60\’s like they were. From what I read about and can understand, life looked like it was just easier then. I mean people were more laid back all together and not everybody was in one big rush to get somewhere or be somewhere like they are today. As far as I am concerned the technology age has ruined this country and done nothing but cause good american people to loose jobs and make everyone in this era very impatient and very rude. Oh well, I guess this is the time god meant for me to be on this earth, so as I always have, I will make the best of it and continue to strive for a better life for myself and my family. Thanks again for the great article and any square who has anything bad to say about hippies. Get off of the webpage. LOL
b-man
On November 5, 2009 at 10:17 pm
awesome sight
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