Black English
Americannoun
-
any of a variety of dialects of English or English-based pidgins and creoles associated with and used by some Black people.
Etymology
Origin of Black English
First recorded in 1730–35
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The terminology used to describe Black English is also controversial.
From Washington Post • Aug. 17, 2022
A form of both comfort and contention in the Black community, Black English has always had the capability to unite and divide.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 17, 2022
AAVE, also referred to as Black English Vernacular or Ebonics, is a generalized term for a variety of dialects spoken by Black Americans.
From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021
Jason Sudeikis showed up to the “Ted Lasso” Season 2 premiere in a shirt with the names of three Black English soccer players who endured racist abuse online.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2021
A common minstrel trope implied that Black English was once replete with what linguists call the “generalized am”—that is, using the verb form “am” with pronouns other than the first-person singular.
From Slate • Aug. 18, 2020
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
