I have a dilemma

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>You see, I have recently been informed that people outside of the bay area frown upon the word "hella". Since there is a high probability that I will attend college outside of this wonderful area of the bay, I have been trying to eliminate this word from my vocabulary. I have tried to carry out conversations substituting the word "hella" with "very" or "so many". However, it just doesn't sound right. It is inauthentic and leaves a bitter taste on my tongue.</p>

<p>I have the same problem with the words "dude" and "guys" (both when referring to either gender), and "legit".</p>

<p>Should I just admit defeat and accept that I'm condemned to live a lonely, misunderstood life? Should I start a club that educates people on the awesomeness of the word "hella?" What should I do?</p>

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<p>Each region has its distinctive phrases so your dilemma is moot.</p>

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<p>Just tone it down. Limit it to one bay area word per sentence or something. “Dude, that’s hella legit” –> “Omigosh, that’s super cool!”. </p>

<p>Nah, I don’t think people will care. But apparently a lot of people don’t know what “hella” means, so that might pose a problem.</p>

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<p>Using “hella” is a great conversation starter.</p>

<p>But it’s really ****ing annoying.</p>

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<p>you always have the option of valleygirling the “soooooooooooooooo many”</p>

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<p>I find “really” and “a lot” to be good substitutes for “hella”. </p>

<p>It was hella fun. There were hella people. vs. It was really fun. There were a lot of people.</p>

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<p>What about “I hella failed the test.” Seriously, they just throw it in anywhere. And of course anything they like is “hella legit.”</p>

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<p>^In that sense, it’s kinda used in place of “really”. </p>

<p>“really failed” sounds weird, but people say “I really screwed up” and “I really effed up on that one” which are essentially the same things.</p>

<p>But yea, I get what you mean. People say “hella fail” instead of “failll”. I’m not sure what adjective they were going for. “super fail”? I dunno. You get used to it.</p>

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<p>People who use “hella” around here just get stared at. It is incredibly annoying and only used by <14 year olds.</p>

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<p>Ah you people have to be from Norcal to understand. “Hella” is an integral part of our vocabulary. Any substitution just sounds… off. Do a lot of people really not know what it means? That really won’t help.
Romanigypsyeyes, around here it’s used by students of all ages. But I must ask, why is it so annoying?</p>

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<p>Yea. My friend said “hella sick” to her Texan friend and she had to explain both of those terms to her. </p>

<p>I’m from the Bay too, but I’m not too fond of “hella”. But it’s everywhere and it becomes ingrained within your life. I don’t say it myself because I know I’ll fall back on it too much if I start. My friends/classmates all say it and I barely even notice it anymore. I guess it’s more annoying if your area doesn’t say it and it’s just the obnoxious young people who use it to seem “cool”.</p>

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<p>hella is used in washington state a lot.</p>

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<p>No, not obnoxious youngsters. Pretty much just people from norcal</p>

<p>Kinda related note, though. I remember an episode of King of the Hill where a character supposedly from Orange County refers to the state as Cali. It was really funny because people from Orange County tend not to be ghetto, and more importantly I’ve never heard anyone from California actually say “Cali”</p>

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<p>So what? People from New Jersey don’t call it “Joisey.” </p>

<p>And you guys are ■■■■■■■■ or using the word “hella.” Please let go of the word, I will slap anyone in the face if they ever use that word in my proximity. Legit.</p>

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<p>That’s a terrible analogy.</p>

<p>You guys? Did you read the thread?</p>

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<p>^^hah. Wrong use of the word “legit”.</p>

<p>So back to the main topic, the OP just has to cut down on his Norcal slang and he’ll live a happy/non-isolated college life. Problem solved. </p>

<p>“Dude” and “legit” are tolerable in my opinion while “hella” is way too overused. But anything in excess can be annoying.</p>

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<p>Doesn’t everyone everywhere say legit? I say it constantly. But maybe I picked it up from my sister and maybe she picked it up from her CA friends.
I like hearing people talk in slang. It’s very interesting. I only don’t like dumb for very. I guess it’s the same as hella in CA, but lots of people here will say “that test was dumb hard” which sounds more stupid than anything else I’ve ever heard.
Oh, and I like using 1920s-40s rural southern slang. Like Faulkner stuff. There’s a right smart of people there and whatnot.</p>

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<p>What the hella??</p>

<p>I just found out that people say this</p>

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<p>Umm, no. Everyone uses legit. Why do all you California kids think you start everything?</p>

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<p>You should be fine. Personally, “hella” sounds dorky but if the person is otherwise a good person then it’ll work out.</p>