“Condragulations” & More Drag Slang Terms

Hallelooooo. After all these years, did you ever figure out what mama RuPaul and the rest of her fabulous Queens are saying? Well, fear not. Because hopefully this quick guide can help you learn what these colorful drag terms are all about.

Quick info: tracing the history and origins of drag and queer slang is a bit complicated, but it is important to remember that these expressions have been used in the queer communities for a very long time, shaping society and culture as a form of self-expression. And this type of Queen’s English (not the British monarchy, but Queen as in Drag Queen) is sparkly, witty, charming, and ever-changing.

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Drag Slang Dictionary

• kiki: when queens catch up together to gossip or hang out
• snatched: to have everything together; to be perfect or on point
• shade: a sneaky or clever insult; a negative comment
• gagging: a stunned reaction to something beautiful, perfect, or fabulous
• cooking/baking: to let face powder set in to achieve a flawless finish
• beat: to apply makeup perfectly
• hunty: a term of endearment (a mix of "honey" and another word)
• serve: to present a stunning and perfect lewk (look)
• ate: to do something very well; to have successfully "served"
• shantay you stay: what RuPaul tells a queen who is safe from elimination
• sashay, away: what RuPaul tells a queen who is being eliminated
• tea/T: gossip or the truth
• fish: refers to a queen who looks exceptionally feminine
• sickening: a look that is amazing, flawless, or incredible
• condragulations: the drag way of saying “congratulations”
• werk: an enthusiastic way of saying "work it"
• okurrr: a sassy, trilled version of "okay"
• eleganza: high-level elegance and style