homie

or hom·ey

[ hoh-mee ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a homeboy or homegirl.

homie

/ ˈhəʊmɪ /

noun

1. See homeboy
   slang.
   short for homeboy or homegirl See homeboy

Word History and Origins

Origin of homie¹

First recorded in 1940–45; by shortening and alteration

Example Sentences

Barney Bones — “Should’ve Stayed Down”Fellow 88rising member and “long-time homie,” Barney Bones, is one of the most refreshingly unique artists to enter the music scene in the past five years.

From Essence.com

Because I kinda look at him as my friend, or at least my homie.

From The Daily Beast

Was she fascinated with Harry's careless 'bon homie' and gay assurance?

From Project Gutenberg

About This Word

What does homie mean?

Homie is a slang term for a close friend.

It can be used to refer to a friend, as in This is my homie Russel, or as a term of address for one, as in Hey, homie! 

Homie is sometimes spelled homey. It’s a shortened version of homeboy or homegirl, which are gender-specific but mean the same thing.

These terms are all associated with urban and hip hop culture and are primarily used by members of African American and Latinx communities in the U.S.

They commonly refer to a close friend who’s from the same neighborhood. In some cases, the words are used to refer to a fellow gang member. However, the terms have entered mainstream use and usually simply refer to a close friend.

Homie is frequently used with a possessive pronoun, as in my homie. 

Example: I’m having a night out with just me and my homies.

Where does homie come from?

The first records of the word homie in its modern sense come from the 1900s. It’s thought to be a shortened version of homeboy.

The word homeboy is first recorded much earlier, in the 1800s, but it didn’t acquire its modern sense until later in the 1900s. Both terms started to gain in popularity after the 1960s.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to homie?

• homey (alternate spelling)
• homies (plural)

What are some synonyms for homie?

• buddy

What are some words that share a root or word element with homie? 

• homeboy
• homegirl
• home

What are some words that often get used in discussing homie?

• friend
• neighborhood
• my
• hometown
• gang
• member

How is homie used in real life?

Homie is a slang term that’s always used informally. It’s primarily used by members of the African American and Latinx community. It’s also commonly spelled as homey.

#Seahawks big ups to my homie from back home @TonyMcDaniel78 pic.twitter.com/xWWFJCnv8T

— The_Movement (@Muscle_Tech_Kev) September 5, 2014

just cause y’all from the same hood don’t make y’all homies 💯

— Mr.DoTheMost 🤷🏾‍♀️ (@Bomptonbeezy) November 15, 2019

Having my homie from back home around for the last couple days has reminded me who I am, why I'm here, and to get back on my grind. Its time

— Blaine Burnett (@BlaineLlrk) November 19, 2013