Go through this list. It's not your typical 'prison slang list.'
~A~
A BILL - A $100 bill
A BUSTER - A fake or imitation
A WAKE UP - Refers to the day of an inmate's release
A TODA MADRE: A Spanish slang phrase for “alright” or “perfect”
ACADEMY - Jail
AB OF TEXAS - Aryan Brotherhood of Texas
AD SEG - Administrative Segregation
AGUA: Spanish for “water,” slang phrase for meth
APARTMENT - Prison
APE - Derogatory term for a Black male
APPROVED FOR THE HOOD - OK'd for membership in the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang
ARTIC - Isolation; solitary confinement
ARYAN BROTHERHOOD: A white supremacist group/prison gang
ATTORNEY GENERAL - The authorities
~B~
B & W - Bread and water
BABY RAPER - A child molester
BACKING - Support or protection provided by other inmates
BAG - A large quantity of drugs
BARGIN: A reduction of an original sentence
BARRIO AZTECA: A prison gang in Texas
BARRIO: Spanish for “neighborhood”
BEATING THE GUMS: Talking; screaming; shouting
BEEF: Crime; infraction; a problem the inmate faces in prison
BEING MADE: The process of being inducted into the Eme
BGF: Black Guerilla/Gorilla (sic) Family. An African-American prison gang
BIG HOMIES: Mexican Mafia members
BITCH-MARK: A slash across the face made with a razor; intended to let other prisoners know that the individual wearing the scar is on the hit list.
BLACK HAND: The symbol of the California, Arizona, and Federal factions of the Mexican Mafia
BLACK MARBLE DAY: A code phrase in prison to indicate an expected shipment of drugs has not arrived as planned.
BLADES: Sharpened instruments; knives, shives, shanks
BLESSED: To gain membership into a gang without a formal initiation
BLOCK REP: An individual who is responsible for Eme and Sureño activities within a cell block.
BLOOD ALLEY: A location on the lower yard of San Quentin State Prison where hits have often taken place.
Blood In - Blood Out: To gain admission to some gangs you must kill someone; and to get out of the gang you must die naturally or be killed
BLUE NOTES: An African American prison gang
BOMBA: Spanish for ”bomb,” a prison-manufactured explosive device.
BONE YARD: An area where conjugal visits occur in prison
BOOGIE MAN: Guard, hack, turnkey, screw
BOOT HILL: Prison cemeteries at Folsom and San Quentin State Prisons
BOX: A carton of cigarettes
BOXCARS: Refers to closed front, highly secure cells in a special housing unit (SHU)
BOW GUN: A prison-made cross bow
BRAND: Member of Aryan Brotherhood prison gang
BUG JUICE: Liquid mixture of sodium luminal given to a disturbed person
BULLET: One year in custody
BUM BEEF: A conviction for a crime for which the person is innocent
BUM RAP: Unfair or excessive sentence
BUSTER: Derogatory term used to describe Norteños; derived from the phrase “sod buster.”
BUTCHER: Captain of the guards
~C~
CACHUCHONES: Spanish slang for “cops/prison guards”
CALIENTON: Spanish for “heater.” Often used to describe a beating.
CALIFAS: Slang for California
CALL IT A DAY: A prison phrase used to indicate that someone entered protective custody
CAMARADA: Spanish for “comrade,” denotes an individual trusted by the Eme
CARDINAL: Texas Syndicate recruit
CARNAL DE PALABRA: Spanish for “brother of word/creditability,” a phrase utilized to describe an influential Eme member
CARNAL: Spanish slang for “brother” used by Eme members
CCO: Consolidated Crip Organization. The CCOs are an African American prison gang.
CELL REP: A Sureño responsible for the inmates in his cell.
CHANSA: Spanish slang for “chance”
CHANTE: Spanish slang for “house or cell”
CHAPETE: Spanish slang for “a stupid or worthless person”
CHECK IN: To enter protective custody
CHEEK: To secret contraband clenched between the buttocks
CHERRY: An inmate with a pure and immature appearance
CHICHA: Spanish slang for prison made wine
CHIP: To occasionally use intravenous drugs - not addicted
CHIVA: Spanish slang for heroin
CHOLA: Spanish slang for a female gang member
CHOLO: Spanish slang for a male gang member
CHOTA: Spanish slang for cops
CHRISTMAS TREE: A prison shank cut into the shape of an Christmas tree so as to prevent the victim from extracting it after being imbedded in the torso.
CLAIM JUMPERS: People who falsely claim to belong to the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang
CLEAN HOUSE: A process where Eme targets fellow Eme members for murder in an effort to rid the organization of non-productive Carnales.
CLICKED UP: To be a member of a criminal organization
CLOSE THE BOOKS: To prohibit any new members from being inducted into the Mexican Mafia
CODO: Spanish for “elbow.” Slang word for cheap.
COLD SHOT: A calculated, heartless action, carried out with no regard for others
COLD STORAGE: Solitary confinement
CON: A convicted criminal
CORTE: Spanish for “court”
CRANK: Amphetamines
CREW CHIEF: An individual who controls crew activities on the street for a made Eme member and his facilitator.
CREW: A single criminal enterprise controlled by a made Eme member.
CRIPOS: Spanish slang for crips
CRIPS: An African American street gang
CROAKER: A prison medical officer
CUAL QUIERA: Spanish slang for a woman who will sleep with anyone
CUARTITO: Spanish slang for a ¼ gram of heroin
CUERNO DE CHIVO: Spanish for “goat’s horn,” slang term for AK-47
CUETE: Spanish slang for gun
CULON: Spanish slang for asshole
CUT UP: To prepare drugs for sale by cutting into marketable pieces and packaging.
~D~
DC BLACKS: Inmates from the Washington DC area
DC BOYS: A Washington, D.C. African American prison gang.
DANCING: Fighting
DEBRIEF: A process where one who is affiliated with an organized crime group divests him/her of affiliation by detailing their involvement to law enforcement.
DIME: A 10-year sentence
DIME BAG: $10 worth of drugs
DOING STUFF: Using drugs
DOUBLE UP: To charge double the principle for a late payment on a drug debt.
DRIVE-BY: A gang shooting committed from a moving vehicle
DROP A KITE ON: A practice employed on protective custody prison yards where inmates write a note to prison administrators anonymously incriminating an inmate in an effort to have him removed from the prison yard.
DRY SNITCH: To provide incriminating information in a criminal matter to law enforcement, but refuse to testify.
DUCAT: A pass issued in prison allowing an inmate to go from point A to point B.
DUST: Kill
~E~
EFFECTIVO: Spanish slang for money
EMERO: Spanish slang for Eme member
EME: Spanish “M”, the 13th letter of the alphabet; nick name for Mexican Mafia
EMI: Abbreviated name of the Texas Mexican Mafia
ERE: Spanish slang for hypodermic needle
ESE TE: Spanish for S T; Used by Texas Syndicate prison gang
ESQUINERO: Spanish slang for one who controls a prison cell block.
ESTRELLA: Spanish for “star.” A phrase used by Sureños instead of the number 14.
~F~
FACILITATORS: Individuals who aid or assist in Eme criminal endeavors.
FARMERO: Spanish slang for a Nuestra Familia member
FARMERS: Nuestra Familia
FELL DOWN: Got stabbed
FINK: An informer
FISH: A new inmate
FIX: To inject drugs intravenously
FLAT: A prison shank made from flat metal stock
FLETCHA: A bolt made to shoot arrows from a prison bow gun
FLIP FLOPPER: An individual who is indecisive and often changes his position in organizational political matters.
FLIP: A slang phrase that denotes an individual cooperating with law enforcement.
FOG LINE: The suspension of routine prison activities due to heavy fog.
FRESH FISH: A newly arrived inmate
FTB: A faction of NLR that oppose influence by the AB. FTB stands for “fuck the brand.”
~G~
GALLO: Spanish for “rooster.” A common practice of Sureños; a shot-caller conducts roll call in which all Sureños must respond or face severe and violent discipline.
GANG MODULE: A housing location within county jail that houses validated Eme associates.
GET AT: To contact
GET DOWN: To fight with fists or weapons
GLADIATOR SCHOOL: Duell Vocational Institution at Tracey, California
GLOBO: Spanish for “balloon.” This word is often used to describe a balloon of heroin.
GOMBA: Spanish for “glue,” slang phrase for heroin
GOON SQUAD: A special team sent to control an inmate or a group of inmates
GRAMO: Spanish for “gram”
GRAY RULES: Rules that are frequently broken by Eme members, yet still punishable by death.
GREEN LIGHT: To mark an entire gang for death. The green light can also be applied to single individuals.
GROOM: An educational process that an Eme member undertakes before putting a prospective member up for membership into the organization.
GROWING DAISIES: Dead
~H~
HACK: A prison correctional officer
HARD CANDY: A phrase to describe an assault with intent to kill.
HARD RULES: Rule that if broken are punishable by death
HAVE A TAIL: To be on parole or probation
HIGH POWER: A unit in county jail that houses Eme members and Eme associates
HIT LIST: A list of individuals to be murdered
HOOP: To secret contraband in the rectum
HORN: To inhale drugs through the nostrils
HOT SHOT: An intentional overdose of intravenous drugs or lacing the drugs to be injected with a poisonous substance
HUILA: Spanish slang for “kite/note”
HUMPS: Prison slang term for Camel non-filter cigarettes
HUNG UP THE GLOVES: To defect from an organization or enter into protective custody
~I~
IGI: Institutional Gang Investigator
IN THE HAT: To be on the hit list
IXTAC: Nahuatl word for “white.” Ixtac is often used to describe an AB or NLR member.
IYP: Integrated yard program at Corcoran State Prison
~J~
JACK: Home-made alcoholic beverage
JOTO: Spanish for homosexual
JUGETES: Spanish for “toys.” Code phrase for guns or prison shanks
JUICE: Influence or power within the organization
JUMP IN: A physical beating required by one or more gang members to initiate a new member.
JUMP-STEADY: Home-made alcoholic beverage
JUNGLE: Recreation yard
JUNTA: Spanish for “meeting”
~K~
KANPOL: Nahuatl word for “southerner”
KEISTER: To secret contraband into the rectum
KICKING: To withdraw from an addictive substance
KITTY: A term to describe collective proceeds from Eme extortion.
KITTY-SCAM: An extortion technique in jails where inmate commissary is taxed and later sold back to inmates for cash.
~L~
L.O.P.: Loss of privileges
LA BUENA: Spanish for “the good stuff”
LA CAUSA: Spanish for “the cause”
LA CLICA: Spanish slang for the Eme
LA COSA NOSTRA: Italian for “our thing.” Italian mafia.
LA EME: Spanish for the letter “M.” La Eme is the alternate name for the Mexican Mafia.
LA GENTE: Spanish for “the people”
LA LISTA: Spanish for “the list.” La lista is the hit list.
LA MARIPOSA: Spanish for “the butterfly.” La Mariposa is an alternative name for the Eme.
LA RAZA: Spanish for “the People”
LA VIDA LOCA: Spanish for “the crazy life”
LACTOSE: A cutting agent for heroin
LAY OVER: To stay at a jail facility for a short period of time while in transit to another jail.
LECHUGAS: (Spanish for vegetables) Members of the unrecognized Arizona faction of the Eme.
LEMAC: Prison slang for a Camel non-filter cigarette; Lemac is Camel spelled backward.
LEVANTAR POLVO: Spanish for “raise dust.” Levantar polvo is a slang term used to describe trouble starting or problem starting.
LIBRE: Spanish for “free.” Libre is used to describe the streets.
LIÑA: Spanish for “line.” Lina is used to describe the general population in prison or mainline.
LIP: To secrete contraband under the lip.
LLANTA: Spanish for “tire.” Derogatory term to describe blacks.
LLAVERO: Spanish for “key holder.” Llavero is used to describe a shot-caller or person with authority on a crew.
LLEÑO: Spanish slang for “joint.”
LOCK DOWN: To temporarily suspend normal prison operations.
LOCKER KNOCKER: An inmate who steals from other inmates
LOCK UP: To enter into protective custody
LODO: Spanish for “mud.” Lodo is used to describe heroin.
LONCHE: Spanish slang for “lunch.”
LOS CARNALES: Spanish slang for “brothers.” Los Carnales is used to describe members of the Mexican Mafia.
LUZ: Spanish for “light.” Luz is used to describe someone being on the hit list.
~M~
MADE THE OLYMPIC DIVING TEAM: This phrase is used to indicate that another person has entered into protective custody.
MADE: To be made a member of the Eme
MAFIOSO: Spanish for Mafia member
MAIL DROP: An address where inmates can send correspondence with the expectancy the correspondence will be re-mailed to another person or prison circumventing prison administrative scrutiny.
MAIL OUT: A common practice in prison where drugs are given on credit, but the person owing must have his family mail a money order to an address provided by the debtor. Payment must be made within two weeks or the principle debt doubles.
MAIN STREET: General population
MAITL: Nahuatl for “hand.” Maitl is used to describe an Eme member.
MAKING YOUR BONES: The act of killing someone on the order of a gang in order to qualify for admission to that gang
MALIA: Spanish slang for “drug user.”
MALIAS: Spanish for “sick.” Malias is used to describe heroin withdrawals.
MANITOL: A cutting agent used to cut cocaine.
MAQUINA: Spanish for Machine. Maquina is a term used to describe the daily exercise routine that Sureños mandatorily participate in.
MARICON: Spanish for “homosexual.”
MARRANO: Spanish for “pig.” Marrano is used to describe cops.
MARRIED: To be a member of the Eme
MATERIAL: A phrase used to describe an individual as possessing qualities meritorious of membership in the Mexican Mafia.
MAYATE: Spanish slang for “Black.”
MERCA: Spanish slang for “merchandise.”
MEXIKANEMI: Name of the unrecognized Texas faction of the Mexican Mafia.
MIQUI: Nahuatl word for kill.
MISS: To unintentionally inject drugs subcutaneously.
MOBBED UP: To be a member of the Eme
MULE: A person who smuggles drugs or contraband into a prison
~N~
NADA: Spanish for “nothing.” Nada is the word used by Sureños instead of saying the number 14.
NAZI LOW RIDERS (NLR): A white supremacist prison gang
NEGRA: Spanish for Black. Negra is used to describe heroin.
NESTERS: Nuestra Familia
NEW FLOWERS: A prison gang comprised of former NF members who are in protective custody.
NO ACCOUNT: A person who is unproductive, usually an Eme member who does not contribute to the organization.
NO GOOD: A person who is in bad standing and marked for death.
NOD: To be under the influence of opiates.
NORTEÑO: Spanish for Northerner
NORTHERN STRUCTURE: A prison gang comprised of northern Hispanics.
NUESTRA FAMILIA: Spanish for “our family,” the Nuestra Familia is a California prison gang and the chief rivals of the Mexican Mafia.
~O~
ONSA: Spanish for “ounce.”
OPEN THE BOOKS: To open up the organization for new memberships.
OSOMATLI: Nahuatl word for “monkey.” Osomatli is a derogatory phrase used to describe blacks.
OTC: Out to court
OUT-COUNT: To count an inmate whose whereabouts are accounted for but not in his/her assigned cell.
~P~
PAISA: Spanish for “Mexican national.”
PALABRA: Spanish for “word.”
PAPEL: Spanish for “paper.” A papel is a small bindle of drugs typically sold in prison.
PAPER WORK: Official court or administrative documents such as transcripts, probation reports, police reports, prison chromos, etc.
PAPOLOTE: Spanish for “kite.” A papolote is a prison note.
PC: Protective Custody
PC UP: To enter into protective custody.
PECKERWOOD: Usually used by Blacks to describe white inmates
PEDASO: Spanish for “piece.” A pedaso is a prison shank.
PEGADA: Spanish for “hit.”
PERICO: Spanish for “parrot.” Perico is a slang term used to describe cocaine or cops.
PERRY COMO: A prison slang phrase used to describe a person who is paranoid.
PERRY: A prison slang phrase used to describe a person who is paranoid.
PERSONAL: A personal is a hit requested personally by a Mexican Mafia member.
PESCADO: Spanish for “fish.” In prison a fish is a newcomer.
PICO HIELO: Spanish for “ice pick.”
PIG STICKER: A knife
PINTA: Spanish slang for prison
PISERO: Spanish slang for a person who controls a floor in the county jail.
PISTO: Spanish slang for beer or pruno
PIT: To secrete contraband under the arm pit
PLACA: Spanish slang for cop
PLACASO: Spanish slang for nickname
PLATA: Spanish for “silver.” Plata is used to describe money.
PLUMA: Spanish for pen
POLITICKING: Campaigning to discredit another member in an effort to have him killed.
POLVO: Spanish for “powder.” Polvo is used to describe powder heroin or cocaine.
POPPED: Arrested
PRUNO: Prison-manufactured alcoholic beverages
PULL A TRAIN: A practice in the gang subculture where women have sex with multiple partners.
PUNK: A term used to describe a coward or homosexual
PURA: Spanish for “pure.”
PUSH AND PULL: A phrase used to describe a medical hypodermic needle
~Q~
QUEBRADA: Spanish for “break.” Quebrada is often used to describe when a person gets a pass for a perceived act of misbehavior otherwise punishable by a beating or stabbing.
~R~
REGLAS: Spanish for “rules” that a Mafia member must follow upon induction to the Eme. Violation of the reglas is punishable by death.
REGULATE: A beating administered by 13 Sureños for 13 seconds.
REP: A representative of the Eme but not a member
RESIDENT: A Hispanic inmate who is not a gang member but still supports Sureño racial violence.
ROD: A prison stabbing device similar to an ice pick.
ROLLED IT UP: A phrase used to describe an inmate who has entered into protective custody.
RUN A MAKE: To locate and check the credentials of an inmate
RUNNER: A person who does favors for prisoners, such as, smuggle drugs into the institution and relaying messages, etc.
RUSH: The euphoric feeling after injecting drugs intravenously
RUTINA: Spanish for “routine.” A mandatory exercise regimen required daily by all Sureños in jail.
~S~
SANDWICH: To stab an individual using two or more assailants thereby sandwiching the target.
SANGRES: Spanish for “bloods.” Sangres are an African American street gang.
SAVANAS: Spanish for “sheets.” Savanas is a term used to describe whites.
SCHOOL: To educate or teach an inmate the ways of jail and La Causa.
SCREW: A correctional officer
SECRETARY: An individual (typically a female) who acts as a communications conduit for Eme members and Sureños.
SELF PC: To refuse to go to yard or come out of your cell but not enter protective custody.
SHIFT GEARS: To jerk a knife around in circular motions while it is embedded in the torso of the target in an effort to cause massive trauma and death.
SHOOT DOWN: To veto a proposed membership of a prospect
SHORT: Close to a parole date
SKIN HEADS: A white supremacist group
SKIN POP: To inject drugs subcutaneously
SKIN: To secrete contraband under the foreskin
SLAM: To inject drugs intravenously
SNM: Sindicato de Nuevo Mexico
SNY: Sensitive needs yard
SOBRINO: Spanish for “nephew.” A term utilized to describe an individual who is on the crew of a Carnal.
SOFTIE: A term utilized to describe a weak individual
SOLDADO: Spanish for “soldier”
SOPLON: Spanish for “informant”
SPONSOR: To recommend an individual for induction into the Mexican Mafia.
SPOON: A balloon of heroin
STANDING COUNT: A counting of inmates in which standing is required to ensure that all inmates are alive.
STG: Security threat group
SUREÑO: Spanish for “southerner”
~T~
TAG BANGER: A tagging crew member who also participates in violent acts.
TAGGER: An individual who defaces public and private property through graffiti.
TAILOR MADE: A term used in prison to describe store bought cigarettes.
TAKE A DIVE: To defect from an organization.
TAKE OUT: To kill
TANGO: Spanish slang for hat
TECATO: Spanish slang for hype
TECPATL: Nahuatl word for “Spear.” The word tecpatl is often used in prison to describe a shank.
THE GREY GOOSE: The prison transportation bus
THE PATCH: The symbol of the Texas Mexican Mafia
THE PROGRAM: The Federal Witness Program, (aka. Wit-sec.)
THE SHELF: Death row at San Quentin
THE TIP: The Mexican Mafia
THROUGH: To be marked for death
TIE OFF: To place a tourniquet on the arm for intravenous drug use
TIENDA: Spanish for “store”
TIER REP: A Sureño designated as the leader of all gang members on a specific tier in a housing facility.
TIO: Spanish for “uncle.” Tio is often used in prison and jail correspondence to indicate that the person being called “tio” is in fact a Mafia member.
TLILI: Nahuatl word for “black.” Tlili is used in a derogatory manner to identify African Americans.
TO HAVE THE KEYS: To be in a position of leadership
TOMAHAWK: A jail/prison manufactured slashing type weapon constructed from razor blades and melted plastic stock.
TORCIDO: Spanish slang for “incarcerated”
TRACATERO: Spanish slang for “drug dealer”
TRAGO: Spanish for “drink”
TRAMADOS: Spanish slang for “pants”
TRANCO: Spanish slang for “to enter pc”
TRIPPED: Stabbed or stuck
TRUCHA: Spanish slang for “trustee or “look out”
TS: Texas Syndicate
TUCK: To secrete contraband within folds of fat
TURF ENCROACHMENT: To infringe upon another Eme members turf.
TURF: Gang territory
TURN OUT: To force an individual into homosexual activity
TURN: To cooperate with law enforcement
TUSA: Nahuatl word for “rat”
TWO FOR ONE: A common practice in prison where drugs are provided on credit with the expectancy that the principle debt will be paid back double the value of the drugs.
~U~
UBN: United Blood Nation; African American prison gang.
~V~
VALIDATE: To classify an inmate or suspect as a street gang member or associate of a prison gang.
VANGUARDS: An African American prison gang.
VETERANO: Spanish for “veteran”
VICIOSO: Spanish for “an individual who uses drugs”
VIDRIO: Spanish for “glass.” Vidrio is a slang term used to describe meth.
~W~
WACKED: High on drugs
WALK IN: To allow membership into a gang without initiation
WALK THE LINE: To be an inmate on the general prison population
WEARING THE BRAND: Wearing the gang’s tattoo
~Z~
ZAPATO: Spanish for “shoe.” Zapato is a slang term used to describe the “SHU” or Security Housing Unit.
