The slang word “gnarly” can mean different things depending on the context, so it’s no wonder people get confused over it. However, this article will make sense of it all. We’ll cover the meaning, the origin and the usage of the word, so you can use the word confidently.
Let’s get straight to it.
What does the slang word “gnarly” mean?
When people use the slang word “gnarly” they are usually saying that something is extremely good, impressive or cool. That said however, it can also mean the opposite, calling something dangerous, difficult or even disgusting.
This means that you have to pay close attention to what is being said as a whole, in order to make sense of what the person means. For example, a roller coaster ride could easily be described as gnarly, but whether it’s meant in a good or a bad way generally depends on whether the speaker typically enjoys roller coasters or is afraid of them.
Where does the slang word “gnarly” come from?
The slang dates back to the 1970s when surfers started using the word to describe big, dangerous waves in the ocean that are fun to surf if you have the experience and ability to do so.
The metaphor was derived from the older word “gnarl” which is the word used to describe a a rough, knotty protuberance on tree branches and on bushes. The suffix “-y” adds a characteristic quality.
The word “gnarly” was then adopted by young people in the 1980s to describe anything they considered really cool, but also using it to describe anything really negative too. Around this time, the word “gnarly” was also being applied to other sports, for example challenging terrain for skateboarding and mountain biking that enabled impressive maneuvers.
The 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High was a major catalyst for popularising the slang. Sean Penn’s character, Jeff Spicoli, was a stoner surfer who famously used the word to describe things, cementing “gnarly” in the minds of mainstream American teens.
While “gnarly” is no longer a mainstay of everyday youth slang, its legacy persists. It is primarily associated with 1980s and 1990s culture and is sometimes used ironically or as a nostalgic callback to that era.
How people use the slang word “gnarly” - featuring whole sentence examples
As with any slang, the word “gnarly” is for casual informal use, and is not suitable for business or academic writing.
Here are some whole sentence examples of the term in use. Take care to consider the tone you use to indicate whether you mean it as a positive or as a negative.
- Those were some gnarly waves dude. Your moves were impressive but it looked dangerous.
- Nickelodeon was gnarly back in the 90s. I miss it now.
- That drum solo was gnarly.
- That mountain trek was gnarly.
Final word
So, to summarise, the word “gnarly” can either mean that something is really cool, or that it is difficult, dangerous or disgusting. For this reason, you have to pay close attention to the context in which its being used in order to understand what is meant.
