What Does “Hunty” Mean? (And Where Does It Come From?)

What does “hunty” mean?

“Hunty” is a term of endearment used by the drag community. It’s also a portmanteau—a combination of “honey” and “c*nt(y).” “Honey” is already a popular term of endearment used by many people from various backgrounds. Although “c*nt” can be a derogatory or vulgar word in many contexts, among the drag community, “c*nty” is actually a compliment! Thus, “hunty” is often used to address close friends and people you really like. By itself, “c*nty” is a slang term for cool, amazing, or very good (particularly among the drag community). In other words, “hunty” as a term of endearment typically implies that someone is totally fierce and fantastic!

Where does “hunty” come from?

“Hunty” originated in the New York drag scene of the 1990s. Like many of the most common drag slang terms today, Black and Latinx members of the LGBTQ+ community are responsible for creating “hunty.” It stems back to the contemporary drag culture of the 1990s, particularly in New York City—although the reality competition show RuPaul’s Drag Race (which stars drag queen contestants) later popularized it among mainstream audiences. RuPaul’s Drag Race began airing in 2009. By 2011, Urban Dictionary had an entry for “hunty.”

Hunty became part of the pop culture lexicon in the late 2010s. As RuPaul’s Drag Race gained popularity and people caught on to the slang featured there, many online users began using “hunty,” including various celebrities and influencers. For instance, pop star Ariana Grande has used the phrase “hunty” many times at various concerts and interviews. Nowadays, “hunty” is more mainstream. In other words, drag queens and LGBTQ+ people aren’t the only ones using it anymore!

How “Hunty” is Used

To affectionately hype someone up At the end of the day, “hunty” is mainly meant to be said with love and warmth. Use it to call out to friends, especially when they do something cool, they’re at peak levels of “fabulous,” or you’re just feeling particularly fond of them. “Looking fierce, hunty!” “Omg, hunty, you totally slayed at karaoke!” “There’s no one I’d rather spend time with, hunty. Let’s do this!!”

To sarcastically or condescendingly address someone The meaning of “hunty” really comes down to how you say it (and the context in which you say it). So, if you use a sassy, sarcastic tone and say something shady, like, “Uh-oh, hunty, your makeup is looking busted,” then “hunty” becomes more of a mocking term than one of genuine endearment. (You can use a plain “honey” in the same way, too.) “You better sashay away, hunty!” “My boss really just asked me to do something for him!! Sorry, hunty, my shift ended 5 minutes ago ????” “Hunty, please.”

Is it okay to say “hunty”?

It’s OK to say “hunty” sometimes, but it can be seen as cultural appropriation. Hunty isn’t supposed to be an offensive word, but depending on who you are and where you’re using it, it may not always be an appropriate choice. As we’ve discussed, “hunty” is a slang term from drag culture, particularly African American and Latinx drag culture. Using it as a cisgender and straight white person (particularly men) could come across as cultural appropriation. However, if you’re a genuine drag fan and use it with the knowledge that it belongs to the culture, chances are that saying “hunty” is fine! Ultimately, there aren’t set rules for when and where to use “hunty,” so use your best judgment. If you’re with a group of friends and other people are throwing the word around, you’re most likely fine to use it, too. Since it’s slang, it’s not something you’d use in formal settings (at work, for example).

Other Popular Terms from Drag Culture

Reading No, this drag term doesn’t refer to reading a book, but instead, reading someone like a book. When you “read” someone, you’re studying them and drawing conclusions or interpreting details about them, usually in a way that’s a little exaggerated (and shady, or insulting). So, “reading” is basically a type of playful verbal attack from one queen to another! For instance, there’s a popular RuPaul’s Drag Race challenge in which the contestants take turns “reading” each other, and the queen with the best reads wins.

Eleganza “Eleganza” is Italian for “elegant.” The idea behind the drag term is, essentially, that it just sounds fancier in its Italian form. So, drag queens with lots of style and elegance are described as having “eleganza.” RuPaul’s Drag Race even features the runway challenge “Eleganza Extravaganza,” in which queens must show off their best glamorous, high-fashion looks.

Death drop A “death drop” is a dance move! It involves falling backward and very suddenly dropping down into a sitting or lying position with arms spread, one leg extended straight out, and the other bent. You’ll often see drag queens pull “death drops” during dance or lip-syncing performances to add to the drama of it (possibly at a climactic point of the song). For example, during death drops are common during “Lip-Sync for Your Life” performances on RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Drag mother A “drag mother” is an experienced drag queen who shows a newcomer the ropes, teaching them about being a drag queen and essential things to know. For instance, a drag mother might teach a fledgling queen how to sew, create a drag look, use padding, and even perform in drag. “Drag daughters” sometimes adopt monikers with a family or “house” name connected to their drag mother! RuPaul’s Drag Race features many members of drag families. For example, the drag queen Alyssa Edwards appeared on the show, as did several of her drag daughters—including Shangela, Laganja Estranja, and Plastique Tiara.

Related Slang Terms of Endearment

Finally, let’s take a look at other terms of endearment that you might hear in place of “hunty” (or in similar situations, when talking to friends or loved ones). Many of the examples below are also slang terms, although not necessarily drag culture slang. See if any of them are familiar, or are words you might want to add to your own vocabulary! Honey - A term of endearment similar to “darling” or “sweetheart” Henny - An alternate slang pronunciation of “honey” popularized by drag queens Boo - A term of endearment like “babe” Bae - A substitute for “babe” or “baby” (addressing a significant other); it means “before anyone else” Hun - A shortened form of “honey” Gurl - Girl BFF - Best friends forever Biffles - Best friends for life (BFFL)