newyork.localmean.com/dumb
Dumb
DUM
Local meaning
Very or extremely when placed before an adjective, as in dumb nice, dumb far, or dumb expensive.
The intensifier use of dumb strengthens the description that follows rather than commenting on intelligence. In New York conversation it can overlap with mad or OD, though each expression has its own rhythm and social distribution.
Example in context
- “That new spot is dumb far from the train.”
How it is used
Associated with New York and Northeast youth speech, with broader circulation through music and online language.
emphatic, casual
evaluation, distance, prices, food, reactions
Associated with New York and Northeast youth speech, with broader circulation through music and online language.
Dumb can still be an insult about intelligence in other sentence positions, so grammar and context matter.
Spelling and scope
Associated with New York and Northeast youth speech, with broader circulation through music and online language.
- Search forms
dumb nice meaningdumb slang verynew york dumb intensifier
LocalMean keeps common search spellings discoverable without claiming that every borough, community, or generation uses one written form.
Frequently asked questions
What does dumb good mean?
It means very good or extremely good in the intensifier pattern.
Is dumb always insulting?
No. Before another adjective it can function only as an intensifier, although the ordinary insulting sense still exists elsewhere.
Read next
All words →Evidence and further reading
These sources support the regional association, dictionary sense, or broader spread. The entry remains open to correction from New York speakers and qualified reviewers.
- 100+ Best New York Slang Words & NYC Slang that Locals UseGirl With The Passport
A New York-focused community overview used as supporting evidence for contemporary conversational forms such as good looks, my fault, you good, OD, and we out; claims are cross-checked against broader language sources.
- Geographic Variation in Slang SemanticsarXiv
Research showing that slang meanings and associations vary by geography and community.
- The Life Cycle of Internet SlangarXiv
Research on how slang spreads, changes, and becomes less locally exclusive online.