Gyal
Means "girl" or "woman" — used constantly across Toronto's Caribbean-influenced slang, either neutrally or romantically depending on context.
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How it's used
This is relationship vocabulary — how people in the GTA refer to friends, crews, and showing respect.
“That gyal's from Brampton, she's mad cool.”
Where it comes from
Origin: Jamaican Patois for "girl," carried into Toronto slang through the city's Jamaican and wider Caribbean population. It's one of many Toronto terms that trace back to Jamaican Patois, brought into the city through Toronto's Caribbean communities. Read the fuller story in our history of Toronto slang.
Sources
Specific source for this entry: Jamaicans.com — "Jamaica's Influence on Toronto Slang and Youth Culture". General research sources for the whole dictionary are listed in SOURCES.md.
This word is a possible Torontle answer — the Wordle-style game built from this dictionary.
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