Slang dictionary
skrrt
[skurt]
What does skrrt mean?
Whether you’re singing along to trap rappers or making a quick getaway, skrrt is onomatopoeia for the sound of tires screeching. It’s especially used as an excited interjection in trap music and by fans of the genre.
Related words:
- 21, 21, 21
- brrt
- issa
- okrrt
- trap music
Where does skrrt come from?
Since the 1990s, speakers especially in black communities have been using the sound skrrt as a reference to a fast-moving car, mimicking the sound the tires make when they squeal on the pavement after sudden acceleration.
If👏you👏dont👏say👏skrrt👏skrrt👏when👏you👏take👏a👏sharp👏turn👏you👏should👏not👏be👏allowed👏to👏have👏a👏drivers👏liscense
— will weiner (@WillWeiner) June 1, 2018
According to some internet theorists, skrrt is also the sound of a fork scraping against the side of a pot during the drug-cooking process. These theories are largely unsubstantiated.
The term has become popular since the end of 2015, coinciding with the rise in trap music, which often includes the word as an ad lib. In hip-hop, an ad lib refers to a signature vocal filler, like when Kanye West peppers songs with Yuh! or Kendrick Lamar with Let’s get it! Some trap songs even use skrrt in song titles, such as 21 Savage’s 2015 “Skrrt Skrrt.” The word has become so associated with this genre—whose lyrics are concerned with drug-dealing and quick getaways—that entire playlists have been dedicated to songs that feature skrrt‘s.
Examples of skrrt
Who uses skrrt?
Many users use skrrt in its original reference to the sound of tires, though often just when talking about a speeding car rather than one specifically being used for a getaway.
Lemme skrrt skrrt to your dm’s girl 😏 pic.twitter.com/VVhlw3mwkF
— 𓂀 (@wowitsyan) May 27, 2018
Turns out, you can skrrt (or, for emphasis, skrrt skrrt) on anything with wheels, not just cars. Just take Jaden Smith’s word for it, if he slows down enough to tell you about it while buzzing by on his suitcase scooter.
It’s most common, though, to see skrrt used as a generic, high-energy interjection in songs by Southern trap or “mumble rap” artists (such as Migos) and in reference to or parody of their music.
She had a big heart so I called her big heart (skrrt skrrt)
— Darumpleforeskin (@DaRumple4Skin) June 4, 2018
In that vein, speakers often include skrrt as a general way to convey excitement, confidence, or swagger.
birthday month & pride month skrrt skrrt👺✨🎉👀
— jordyn (@jordynkills) June 1, 2018
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of skrrt 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 skrrt that will help our users expand their word mastery.