trill
1Origin of trill
1Words nearby trill
Other definitions for trill (2 of 2)
Origin of trill
2ABOUT THIS WORD
What else does trill mean?
Where does trill come from?
Well before the slang trill, English had many meanings for it, most notably for a “tremulous” sound in music (1600s) or for the vibrating sound of an R in languages like Spanish (1800s).
The slang trill is unrelated, blending the words true and real. Being trill means being authentic and working hard for your aspirations. In hip-hop culture, being trill is a testament that one is tough and can bounce back—and never forgetting one’s humble roots with success, wealth, and fame.
The hip-hop duo UGK was one of the first to use the slang trill on their 1992 EP The Southern Way. On his 2005 track “Trill,” rapper Paul Wall gave us a straight-up definition:
Trill is when you never fake, trill is when you real
Chasin’ after dollar bills, gotta get it how you live
Trill is when you hustle so you go out there and get it
Doin’ whatever you gotta do to make a meal ticket
Trill has also notably been used by larger-than-life rappers from Master P to Lil Wayne to ASAP Rocky. It’s even hit its full street reach as the name of popular streetwear brand, Been Trill.
In the 2000s, trill further expanded in slang as a nickname for the hood, where things are real.
How is trill used in real life?
Alongside siblings such as vibrato and crescendo, musicians know and use trill. As do writers describing the sound, say, some birds make or how Spanish speakers trill their Rs.
Trill trill trill England 👏🙌👍 pic.twitter.com/qF75aANujM
— Jason 💚 Pam 💙 Darlene 💛 Randy 💚 (@JasonBudgie) June 18, 2018
Then, there’s the newer sense of trill, used in slang and hip hop to boast realness before any phony haters.
Note
This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.
How to use trill in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for trill (1 of 2)
- the articulation of an (r) sound produced by holding the tip of the tongue close to the alveolar ridge, allowing the tongue to make a succession of taps against the ridge
- the production of a similar effect using the uvula against the back of the tongue