FCyberpunk slang usually means the street language heard across Night City in Cyberpunk 2077 and the wider Cyberpunk universe. Words such as choom, gonk, preem, nova, eddies, delta, chrome, and klep make everyday conversations sound different from normal modern English.
Some of these words are true fictional slang, while others are shortened words, job titles, technology terms, or older expressions given a special meaning in the Cyberpunk setting. That difference matters because not every unfamiliar word spoken in Night City is technically slang. The vocabulary also developed across the tabletop games and Cyberpunk 2077, so a few meanings can change depending on the era.
Quick Answer: Common Cyberpunk Slang
| Term | Simple Meaning | Tone or Use |
|---|---|---|
| Choom / Choomba | Friend, buddy, pal | Friendly or casual |
| Gonk | Idiot, fool | Insulting |
| Preem | Excellent, high quality | Positive |
| Nova | Cool, amazing | Positive |
| Eddies | Money, specifically Eurodollars | Everyday |
| Delta | Leave or get out | Often urgent |
| Chrome | Cyberware or cybernetic enhancements | Neutral |
| Klep | Steal | Criminal/street slang |
| Flatline | Die or be killed | Violent |
| Zero | Kill | Violent |
| Corpo | Corporate employee or corporate type | Often negative |
| Detes | Details | Casual shorthand |
These are among the words most likely to confuse someone entering Night City for the first time. Several appear repeatedly in Cyberpunk-related games and material.
What Is Cyberpunk Slang?
Cyberpunk slang is the informal vocabulary used by people living in the fictional high-tech, street-level world of Cyberpunk. In Cyberpunk 2077, that means the language spoken by mercenaries, fixers, gang members, corporate workers, netrunners, nomads, and ordinary residents of Night City.
The language helps make the setting feel as though decades have passed between our world and theirs. People do not simply say “friend,” “money,” “excellent,” or “leave.” They might say choom, eddies, preem, and delta instead.
The tabletop side of the Cyberpunk universe even treats Streetslang as a recognizable language skill. In Cyberpunk RED, it functions as a shared form of communication among people from different backgrounds.
That does not mean Cyberpunk slang is a real modern American dialect. Fans may jokingly use terms such as choom, gonk, or corpo in real conversations, but most people outside Cyberpunk communities will not automatically know what they mean.
Popular Cyberpunk Slang Words and Their Meanings
Choom and Choomba
Choom means a friend, buddy, pal, or person you are familiar with.
“Choomba” is a related form and carries much the same idea.
Example:
“Relax, choom. I’ve got this.”
It is one of the most recognizable pieces of Cyberpunk slang. The word can sound warm between friends, but context still matters.
Someone saying:
“Good to see you, choom.”
sounds friendly.
Someone saying:
“You got a problem, choom?”
may be using the exact same word while preparing for a fight.
That makes choom similar to words such as “buddy” in modern English. “Buddy” can be affectionate or confrontational depending on the speaker.
Neither choom nor choomba should automatically be treated as a male or female form.
Gonk
A gonk is an idiot, fool, or person doing something stupid.
Example:
“Only a gonk would try that without backup.”
The related expression gonkbrain or gonk-brained makes the insult stronger.
Calling someone a gonk is usually negative, although friends may use it jokingly with each other.
Preem
Preem means excellent, premium, impressive, or high quality.
It is closely connected to the word “premium.”
Example:
“That new cyberware is preem.”
Preem works particularly well when describing the quality of something: equipment, clothes, technology, vehicles, weapons, or a successful job.
Nova
Nova means great, amazing, cool, or impressive.
Example:
“That concert was nova.”
Nova and preem overlap, but they do not always feel identical.
A useful way to read them is:
- Preem often praises quality.
- Nova often expresses general excitement or approval.
So a character might describe a high-end implant as preem chrome and then call the experience of using it nova.
The distinction is flexible rather than a strict grammar rule.
Eddies
Eddies means money.
More specifically, it refers to Eurodollars, the currency commonly represented as €$ in the Cyberpunk universe.
Example:
“How many eddies are we getting for this job?”
You may also see the singular eddy.
It works much like “bucks” or “cash” in everyday speech.
Delta
To delta means to leave, get moving, or get out of a place.
Example:
“Security is coming. We need to delta.”
The word often feels stronger than a relaxed “leave.” It commonly appears when characters need to move quickly or escape trouble.
“Let’s delta” therefore sounds closer to “Let’s get out of here” than “I think I’ll go home now.”
Detes
Detes is simply a shortened form of details.
Example:
“Send me the detes before the meet.”
It is one of the easier Night City expressions to understand because its connection to modern English is obvious.
Biz
Biz means business.
Depending on context, that business may involve perfectly normal work or a much less legal job.
Example:
“We’ve got biz downtown tonight.”
It is short, casual, and suited to the fast speech used throughout Night City.
Money, Crime, and Street Slang
Night City has its own vocabulary for jobs, weapons, theft, and violence.
Klep
Klep means to steal or take something illegally.
Example:
“Somebody tried to klep my bike.”
You may also encounter forms such as klepped, meaning stolen.
The word clearly echoes kleptomania and related words involving stealing.
Flatline
To flatline means to die or, when used transitively, to kill someone.
Example:
“That merc nearly got flatlined.”
The expression comes from the familiar image of a medical monitor showing a flat line after vital signs stop, but Cyberpunk uses it freely as street language for death.
Zero
To zero someone means to kill them.
Example:
“They sent a crew to zero the target.”
It is violent language and normally appears in combat, gang, criminal, or mercenary contexts.
Iron
Iron can mean a gun or firearm.
Example:
“Keep your iron ready.”
This expression is not unique to Cyberpunk fiction, but it fits naturally into Night City street language.
Huscle
Huscle refers to hired muscle: someone brought in because of their physical strength or fighting ability.
Example:
“They hired extra huscle for security.”
It blends the idea of being “hired” with “muscle.”
Technology and Cyberware Language
Some of the most famous Cyberpunk terms are better described as world-specific jargon than pure slang.
That difference helps new players because words such as braindance and netrunner refer to actual things or roles within the setting. They are not simply alternative ways of saying ordinary words.
| Term | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Choom | Slang | Friend |
| Gonk | Slang | Idiot |
| Preem | Slang | Excellent |
| Eddies | Slang | Money |
| Braindance | Technology term | Recorded sensory experience |
| Netrunner | Role | Specialized hacker |
| Ripperdoc | Profession | Cyberware-focused medical specialist |
| Cyberware | Technology term | Cybernetic body modification |
| Chrome | Slang/jargon | Cyberware |
| Fixer | Role | Person who arranges jobs and connections |
Chrome
Chrome is a casual term for cyberware and cybernetic modification.
Example:
“That merc is packed with chrome.”
A person described as heavily chromed or chromed out has a large amount of cyberware.
Cyberware
Cyberware means technological equipment implanted into or integrated with the human body.
It can include replacement limbs, enhanced eyes, nervous-system equipment, combat implants, and other modifications.
Cyberware is more of a technical category than a slang word.
Ripperdoc
A ripperdoc is a medical specialist who installs, removes, repairs, or deals with cyberware.
The term is a professional label within the setting rather than a simple insult or casual expression.
Netrunner
A netrunner is a specialized hacker capable of interacting with and attacking digital systems.
Again, this is mainly a role or occupation.
If somebody says:
“We need a netrunner for this job,”
they are requesting a person with a particular set of skills, not simply using a fancy synonym for “computer user.”
Braindance or BD
A braindance, often shortened to BD, is recorded sensory and emotional experience that another person can play back.
The technology allows someone to experience far more than ordinary video.
Example:
“He found the evidence inside a braindance.”
Scroll or Scrolling
In braindance language, scrolling means recording an experience.
A character might therefore talk about somebody who scrolled a BD.
Also Read: What Does BTA Mean? Slang, Texting, and Social Uses
Virtu
A virtu refers to a raw or unedited braindance recording.
It belongs more to braindance jargon than everyday slang.
These technology-heavy terms are a major reason Cyberpunk dialogue can feel difficult at first: a single conversation may mix ordinary English, street slang, job titles, and fictional technology vocabulary.
Corpo, Fixer, Merc, and Other Night City Labels
Corpo
A corpo is someone connected with a major corporation, particularly a corporate employee or person shaped by corporate culture.
Example:
“Don’t trust that corpo.”
The word often carries a negative or suspicious tone because powerful corporations play such a large role in Night City.
Corpo rat is more openly insulting.
Outside the fictional setting, some Cyberpunk fans also use “corpo” jokingly when talking about large companies or corporate behavior. That does not make it standard business English.
Fixer
A fixer arranges opportunities, information, introductions, contracts, and jobs.
In Night City, fixers frequently connect clients with mercenaries.
Example:
“My fixer has another gig.”
Because fixer already exists in real English, new players may understand the general idea even before learning its specific role in Cyberpunk.
Merc
Merc is short for mercenary.
Example:
“They need a merc who can handle the job quietly.”
This is ordinary abbreviation as much as Cyberpunk vocabulary.
Solo
A Solo is a combat-focused professional or mercenary role within the Cyberpunk setting.
It should not automatically be interpreted as meaning someone who simply works alone.
Rockerboy and Rockergirl
A Rockerboy or Rockergirl is more than an ordinary musician. In Cyberpunk, the role is associated with performers who use music, fame, and personal influence to move or inspire people.
This is another example of lore terminology that readers may incorrectly classify as slang.
Input and Output: Why Their Meaning Can Be Confusing
Input and output are relationship terms in the Cyberpunk universe, but they deserve special care because their usage has changed across different periods of the franchise.
In Cyberpunk 2077, input is generally used for a boyfriend or male romantic partner, while output is generally used for a girlfriend or female romantic partner.
Older tabletop material used the pair differently, and later Cyberpunk material has also treated them more broadly. Because of that history, treating one fixed definition as universal across every Cyberpunk edition can create confusion.
For someone trying to understand Cyberpunk 2077 dialogue, the safest approach is to read input and output as romantic-partner slang and use the surrounding conversation to determine exactly who is being discussed.
This is one place where context and edition matter more than memorizing a single glossary definition.
Also Read: Tuff Meaning Slang: What Tuff Means in Text & Online
How Cyberpunk Slang Works in Real Conversations
Knowing a dictionary meaning helps, but tone often gives you more information.
Consider these examples.
Friendly
“Good work, choom. That was preem.”
Meaning: Good job, friend. That was excellent.
Urgent
“NCPD is coming. Delta!”
Meaning: Leave immediately.
Insult
“What kind of gonk leaves his iron in the car?”
Meaning: What kind of idiot leaves his gun in the car?
Money
“Ten thousand eddies and the job is yours.”
Meaning: The payment is 10,000 Eurodollars.
Technology
“That choom spent every last eddy on chrome.”
Meaning: That person spent all their money on cyberware.
Crime
“Some gonk klepped my gear.”
Meaning: An idiot stole my equipment.
These examples also show why translating every Cyberpunk term word-for-word can make dialogue sound strange.
“Choom” is technically a friend-like term, but replacing every appearance with “friend” will not always preserve the tone.
Likewise, “delta” can mean “leave,” but a shouted “Delta!” feels much closer to:
“Get out!”
How Tone Changes Cyberpunk Slang
The same word can carry a different emotional meaning depending on the situation.
Choom Can Be Friendly or Confrontational
“You’re a good choom.”
is affectionate.
“Listen here, choom.”
may be a warning.
The relationship between the speakers is more important than the literal definition.
Gonk Can Be Serious or Playful
Calling a stranger a gonk is an insult.
Calling your friend a gonk after they make a silly mistake may be teasing.
Corpo Usually Carries Attitude
Corpo can function as a factual label, but characters often use it with distrust, mockery, or resentment.
“Corporate employee” and “corpo” may refer to a similar person, yet they do not carry exactly the same emotional weight.
Delta Often Signals Pressure
The basic meaning is “leave,” but its strongest use is when somebody wants action rather than discussion.
This is why reading the situation often works better than trying to translate Night City dialogue mechanically.
Cyberpunk Slang vs Normal American Slang
One common mistake is assuming Cyberpunk characters are simply speaking modern American slang.
They are not.
The dialogue mixes several types of vocabulary:
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Fictional street slang | Choom, gonk, preem |
| Shortened English | Detes, biz, merc |
| Reworked familiar words | Chrome, flatline, iron |
| Setting-specific roles | Netrunner, Solo, fixer |
| Fictional technology | Braindance, cyberware |
| Money language | Eddy, eddies |
| Relationship slang | Input, output |
This mixture is part of what gives Night City its voice.
It also explains why some words sound immediately understandable while others seem completely invented.
A non-player hearing “merc,” “biz,” or “flatline” may guess the meaning.
Hearing “choom,” “preem,” or “eddies” provides fewer clues.
Can You Use Cyberpunk Slang in Real Life?
Yes, but mainly when the people around you know the reference.
Terms such as choom, gonk, preem, nova, and corpo are sometimes used jokingly among Cyberpunk fans. Online communities also carry fictional vocabulary outside the games themselves.
For example:
“That PC setup is preem.”
or:
“Don’t be a gonk.”
will probably make sense to another Cyberpunk fan.
In an ordinary workplace meeting, school assignment, formal email, or conversation with someone unfamiliar with the franchise, the same expressions may simply cause confusion.
Corpo is another interesting case. A fan might use it jokingly for a large company or highly corporate employee, but the word can sound insulting or dismissive depending on context.
Cyberpunk slang works best as fandom language rather than a replacement for normal English.
Is Cyberpunk Slang Offensive or Rude?
Most Cyberpunk slang is not inherently offensive, but several terms can be insulting or inappropriate depending on how they are used.
Choom, preem, nova, eddies, and detes are generally harmless.
Gonk is an insult, though usually a fictional one.
Corpo rat is intentionally insulting.
Flatline and zero refer to killing or death, making them unsuitable for some situations.
Terms involving sex work, criminal activity, or relationships can also carry meanings that are inappropriate in formal conversations.
The safest rule is simple: understand the difference between fictional meaning and social impact.
A word can be harmless inside a game while still sounding strange, aggressive, or disrespectful when directed at a real person.
Also Read: SYFM Meaning Slang: What Does SYFM Mean?
Where Cyberpunk Slang Came From
Night City’s vocabulary did not begin with Cyberpunk 2077.
The Cyberpunk setting existed in tabletop role-playing games long before the video game, and street terminology became part of the world’s identity. Later versions continued and changed parts of that vocabulary.
Cyberpunk RED, for example, explicitly includes Streetslang as part of its language system, showing that this way of speaking is more than random futuristic decoration. It represents a shared street-level form of communication inside the setting.
That history also explains why some terminology feels older than Cyberpunk 2077 itself and why definitions may differ between fictional eras.
The language evolves along with Night City.
The Most Useful Cyberpunk Slang to Remember
You do not need to memorize a giant dictionary to follow most conversations.
A small group of words gives you a strong starting point:
Choom = friend
Gonk = idiot
Preem = excellent
Nova = great or cool
Eddies = money
Delta = leave quickly
Chrome = cyberware
Klep = steal
Flatline = die or kill
Corpo = corporate person
Detes = details
Biz = business
Once those become familiar, much of Night City’s dialogue becomes easier to read through context.
The biggest trick is not memorizing every unusual noun. It is recognizing whether you are hearing slang, a job title, technology jargon, or a Cyberpunk-specific concept.
That distinction makes the vocabulary far less confusing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does cyberpunk slang mean?
Cyberpunk slang is informal language associated with futuristic, technology-heavy cyberpunk settings. For the search term “cyberpunk slang,” people commonly mean the Streetslang used in Cyberpunk 2077 and the wider Night City universe, including words such as choom, gonk, preem, nova, eddies, and delta.
What does choom mean in Cyberpunk?
Choom means friend, buddy, or pal. It is one of Night City’s best-known slang words. It is normally casual and can be affectionate between friends, although tone can make it confrontational in the same way that “buddy” sometimes sounds aggressive in modern English.
What does gonk mean in Cyberpunk?
A gonk is an idiot, fool, or stupid person. It is normally an insult. Friends may sometimes use it jokingly, but calling a stranger a gonk would usually sound disrespectful rather than friendly.
What does preem mean in Cyberpunk?
Preem means excellent, impressive, high quality, or premium. A character may describe good cyberware, equipment, clothes, vehicles, or other desirable things as preem. It comes naturally from the idea of something being premium.
What does nova mean in Cyberpunk slang?
Nova expresses strong approval and can mean cool, amazing, great, or awesome. It overlaps with preem, although nova often works as broader praise while preem frequently describes something as being high quality.
What are eddies in Cyberpunk?
Eddies are Eurodollars, the money used throughout the Cyberpunk setting. Characters use “eddies” much like people use “bucks” or “cash” in everyday English. The singular form is eddy.
What does delta mean in Cyberpunk?
To delta means to leave, move out, or get away. It often carries urgency. If a character shouts “Delta!” during trouble, the intended meaning is closer to “Get out of here!” than a calm request to leave.
Is Cyberpunk slang real slang?
Some individual words have connections to existing English, but much of the recognizable Night City vocabulary belongs to the fictional Cyberpunk setting. Fans sometimes use terms such as choom, gonk, preem, and corpo in real life, but they are not standard everyday American English.
Conclusion
Cyberpunk slang gives Night City a language of its own. The most useful words to remember are simple: choom means friend, gonk means idiot, preem and nova express approval, eddies means money, delta means leave, and chrome refers to cyberware.
The deeper trick is recognizing that Night City dialogue mixes slang with technology terms, professions, criminal language, and fictional worldbuilding. Words such as braindance, netrunner, and ripperdoc are important Cyberpunk vocabulary, but they do a different job from casual slang like choom or gonk. Once you make that distinction and use the surrounding conversation for clues, the language becomes much easier to follow.
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