Slang dictionary
hunty
[huhn tee]
What does hunty mean?
Hunty, a blend of honey and cunt(y), is a sassy term of endearment used in the drag community.
Where does hunty come from?
As contemporary drag culture took shape in New York City in the 1990s, hunty was born among black and Latin LGBTQ+ members. It blends honey, a term of endearment, and cunt(y), a strong–but here, reclaimed–insult for a woman.
Like other drag slang such as snatched, beat, and read, hunty was popularized by the competition-based, drag queen-starring reality TV show Ru Paul’s Drag Race, which began airing in 2009. Urban Dictionary entered hunty not long after in 2011.
Hunty spread into popular culture, a favorite of singer Ariana Grande (who has used hunty in live performances and interviews) and Jeffree Star, who named a liquid lipstick after the term.
Examples of hunty
Who uses hunty?
Hunty at once throws shade and kisses, e.g. Ohhhhh hunty, you look good but you better fix that busted eyeliner wing. It can have a tone of sass, sarcasm, or condescension but, ultimately, it’s usually said in love. e.g. There’s no one else I’d rather be with, hunty.
HOW have I only just discovered @RuPaulsDragRace ?! I'm hooked #hunty
— Dr Sarah Andre White (@sarahandrewhite) March 30, 2018
I just taught Buzz the word Hunty and now he's going around calling everyone that. #hunty pic.twitter.com/7qX8jbFcYA
— Joanna Barbacoa (@JoannaBarbacoa) April 24, 2018
Ms. Lawrence Ms. Lawrence…hunty is doing the most!!!! Them lashes, that jacket, them shoes…everything!!! A mess!!! Smdh!!!
— Ms. Juris Doctor (@MzJD2011) January 24, 2011
Since Ru Paul’s Drag Race, hunty has become more mainstream, but keep in mind that use of it especially by white, cisgendered men runs the risk of cultural appropriation, in part because of its connection to cunt, a very offensive word.
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of hunty like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of hunty that will help our users expand their word mastery.