Cyberpunk slang is the made-up street language used in the Cyberpunk tabletop games, Cyberpunk 2077, and Edgerunners. Words like choom (friend), preem (excellent), gonk (fool), nova (awesome), and delta (leave) give Night City its gritty, high-tech voice, blending futuristic street talk with borrowed words from several languages. Fans use it to talk like Night City locals.
Key Takeaways
- Cyberpunk slang is fictional street talk from the Cyberpunk tabletop games, the video game Cyberpunk 2077, and the anime Edgerunners.
- Core words include choom (friend), preem (great), gonk (fool), nova (awesome), delta (leave), and eddies (money).
- Many terms trace back to the original tabletop games by Mike Pondsmith, which came out before the video game.
- Most words are friendly or neutral. Gonk is the main insult.
- Today it lives mostly in fan communities, not everyday speech.
If you have played Cyberpunk 2077 or watched Edgerunners, you have heard the words. One character calls someone “choom.” Another says a car is “preem.” A third tells a friend to “delta” before the cops arrive. It sounds cool, but it also leaves many people asking what it all means.
That is why so many fans search for cyberpunk slang. They want a quick, trustworthy guide to the street talk of Night City. They also want to know which words are friendly and which could start a fight.
You will meet this slang in a few places. The biggest is the video game Cyberpunk 2077. It also shows up in the anime Edgerunners, in the Cyberpunk tabletop role-playing games, and in fan chats, forums, and cosplay groups. Many words started in the tabletop games long before the video game came out.
Is it still used? Yes, mostly inside the fandom. You will not hear “preem” at a coffee shop. But fans keep these words alive online and in their game sessions.
This guide covers the major terms, what they mean, where they came from, and how to use them. You will also find examples, a translator-style table, and answers to common questions.
What Does Cyberpunk Slang Mean?
It means the invented street vocabulary of the Cyberpunk universe. No single word covers it. The slang is a whole set of terms people use to talk about friends, money, jobs, technology, and danger in a dark, high-tech future.
The words fall into a few groups:
- People: choom (friend), gonk (fool), corpo (corporate worker), netrunner (hacker), fixer (job broker)
- Money and work: eddies (money), gig (job)
- Tech: chrome (cyberware), ripperdoc (back-alley cyberware doctor), braindance (recorded experiences)
- Actions: delta (leave), flatline (kill), zero (kill)
- Approval: preem and nova (both mean great)
Example: “That gig paid ten thousand eddies, choom. Preem work.” Translation: “That job paid well, friend. Excellent work.”
Quick Meaning Box
| Meaning | Simple Explanation |
| Genre word | “Cyberpunk” is a science fiction style about high tech and low living standards |
| Game vocabulary | Words made up or adapted for the Cyberpunk games |
| Street talk | The in-world speech of Night City’s gangers, mercs, and fixers |
| Fan language | Words fans borrow to joke and chat |
Pronunciation
Most of these words are easy to say. Here is a simple guide:
- Choom: CHOOM (rhymes with “room”)
- Preem: PREEM (rhymes with “dream”)
- Gonk: GONK
- Nova: NOH-vuh
- Delta: DEL-tuh
- Eddies: ED-eez
Where Does Cyberpunk Slang Come From?
It comes mainly from the Cyberpunk tabletop role-playing game created by Mike Pondsmith and published by R. Talsorian Games in 1988. The video game later borrowed and expanded the vocabulary.
The word “cyberpunk” itself is older. Bruce Bethke wrote a short story called “Cyberpunk” in 1983, and the term grew into a genre label. William Gibson’s novel Neuromancer (1984) became a landmark of that genre.
The games describe a street language called Cityspeak, which mixes English with words from other languages. The exact origin of many individual words is unclear. “Preem” clearly comes from “premium.” “Choom” sounds like “chum,” but a confirmed source is not known to us.
History of the Term
The slang grew in stages as the franchise grew.
- 1988: The first Cyberpunk tabletop game appears.
- 1990: Cyberpunk 2020 is released and becomes a favorite among role-players.
- 2013: A new tabletop edition arrives, set later in the timeline.
- December 10, 2020: CD Projekt Red releases Cyberpunk 2077. The slang reaches millions of video game players.
- 2020: Cyberpunk Red, a tabletop game, launches the same year.
- September 2022: Netflix releases Edgerunners, made by Studio Trigger with CD Projekt Red. It gave the slang a second wave of attention.
- September 2023: The Phantom Liberty expansion arrives for the game.
In short, cyberpunk slang went from a niche tabletop habit to a widely recognized fandom language.
How People Use It Today
Fans use these words mostly in gaming spaces. You will see them in Reddit threads, Discord servers, in-game chat, YouTube comments, and fan art captions. They also appear in cosplay events, tabletop sessions, and fan fiction.
Outside the fandom, the words are rare. People use them as a wink to other fans, like a secret handshake. Texting a friend “delta in five” only works if they know the game.
Cyberpunk Slang List
Here is a quick-scan list of the most common terms.
| Word | Meaning |
| Choom | Friend |
| Preem | Excellent, high quality |
| Gonk | Fool, idiot |
| Nova | Awesome, great |
| Delta | To leave, get out |
| Eddies | Money (short for Eurodollars) |
| Chrome | Cybernetic implants |
| Flatline | To kill or die |
| Zero | To kill |
| Corpo | Corporate employee |
| Netrunner | Hacker |
| Fixer | Middleman who finds jobs |
| Gig | A job or mission |
| Cyberpsycho | Someone mentally broken by too much cyberware |
| Ripperdoc | Back-alley cyberware surgeon |
| Braindance | Recorded experience people can replay |
Cyberpunk 2077 Slang Words
In the game, slang does two jobs. It makes Night City sound real, and it shows who belongs where. Gangers, mercs, and fixers all speak with this vocabulary.
Jackie Welles, V’s early partner, is a well-known example of a character who says “choom” often. Players also hear terms like eddies, chrome, gig, and netrunner in nearly every mission. Your choice of lifepath (Street Kid, Nomad, or Corpo) changes how you meet the world, but the street words stay the same.
Cyberpunk Slang Choom
Choom means friend or buddy. It is warm, casual, and usually affectionate.
You can use it like “pal” or “mate.” Some fans also stretch it into “choomba” or “choombatta” for a more playful tone. The exact origin is unclear, though it looks like a cousin of “chum.”
One thing worth knowing: in Hawaii, “choom” is also slang linked to smoking marijuana. That is a separate use. In the Cyberpunk world, it simply means friend.
Preem Cyberpunk Slang
Preem means excellent or top quality. It comes from “premium.”
Use it for gear, vehicles, plans, or people. “That’s a preem jacket” means “That’s a great jacket.” It is positive and safe in almost any fan setting.
Nova Cyberpunk Slang
Nova means awesome or exciting. It works as an energetic cheer.
The exact origin is unclear. It likely borrows the idea of a bright star suddenly flaring up, but that is a guess. Say “Nova!” when something impresses you. Preem is a calm “great.” Nova is a louder “wow.”
Delta Cyberpunk Slang
Delta means to leave quickly. “Let’s delta” means “Let’s get out of here.”
The origin is unclear. Fans use it for any exit, from a gunfight to a boring party. It acts like a verb, so “I’m going to delta” works fine.
Cyberpunk Slang for Kill
The most common words for kill are flatline and zero.
“Flatline” comes from the flat line on a heart monitor when a heartbeat stops. Neuromancer also uses it in its character “Dixie Flatline.” “Zero” works like “take out,” as in “Zero him before he calls backup.”
These words are dark, so keep them inside games and fiction.
Cyberpunk Slang Translator
No official translator exists. Fan-made tools do the job, but you can do it yourself with this chart.
| English | Cyberpunk Slang |
| Friend | Choom |
| Great | Preem or nova |
| Idiot | Gonk |
| Money | Eddies |
| Leave | Delta |
| Kill | Flatline or zero |
| Job | Gig |
| Hacker | Netrunner |
| Cyber implants | Chrome |
Try it: “Hey friend, great job. Let’s leave before the guards come” becomes “Hey choom, preem work. Let’s delta before the guards come.”
Cyberpunk Edgerunners Slang
The anime uses much of the same vocabulary as the game, including choom, eddies, chrome, netrunner, and cyberpsycho. The slang feels natural because the story follows street kids living near the edge of society.
If you liked Edgerunners, you already know more of this language than you think. Cyberpsycho is a good example: it describes people who lose control after too many implants.
Cyberpunk 2020 Slang
Cyberpunk 2020 is the tabletop game that put much of this vocabulary on paper. Many words fans know from the video game, such as preem, gonk, and chrome, appear in the tabletop tradition.
The tabletop slang helps players role-play. A Game Master might drop “preem” to set the mood. If you want authentic-sounding sessions, these words are an easy way to start.
Examples in Everyday Conversation
- A: “Thanks for covering me, choom.” B: “Anytime. You’d do the same.”
- A: “How’s the new bike?” B: “Preem. Fastest thing I’ve ever ridden.”
- A: “I forgot my headset again.” B: “You’re such a gonk sometimes.” A: “Fair.”
- A: “Cops are coming.” B: “Time to delta.”
- A: “Did you see that boss fight?” B: “Nova. I replayed it twice.”
- A: “How much for the gig?” B: “Five thousand eddies.” A: “Done.”
- A: “That ripperdoc upgraded my arm.” B: “Nice chrome!”
- A: “Is the final boss tough?” B: “He’ll flatline you if you rush.”
- A: “Who’s that guy in the suit?” B: “A corpo. Don’t trust him.”
- A: “Weekend plans?” B: “Edgerunners marathon, choom. Join me?”
Text Message Examples
- “Game night at 8, choom?”
- “That new patch is preem.”
- “Sorry I’m late. Total gonk move, I know.”
- “Running low on eddies this month 😅”
- “Delta from work in 10. Want to grab food?”
- “Just finished a long gig run. So tired.”
- “Your cosplay is nova!!”
- “Tell your brother to stop flatlining my character 😂”
- “Got new chrome for my build. Look at this.”
- “Thanks for the help, choom. Owe you one.”
Social Media Caption Examples
- Instagram: “Night City mood. Preem lights, zero sleep.”
- TikTok: “POV: you finally beat the final mission. Nova.”
- X: “Rewatched Edgerunners. Still hits hard, choom.”
- Threads: “Hot take: the best part of Night City is the slang.”
- Facebook: “Cosplay finished! Months of work, all of it preem.”
- Instagram: “Chrome arm, neon sky. Ready for the next gig.”
- TikTok: “Teaching my friends to say delta instead of bye.”
- X: “Spent all my eddies on one jacket. No regrets.”
- Threads: “Anyone else still replaying Phantom Liberty?”
- Facebook: “Game room upgrade: LED strips, a big screen, and a preem chair.”
Is It Positive or Negative?
Mostly positive or neutral. Choom, preem, and nova are friendly. Delta, eddies, and gig are neutral. Flatline and zero are violent, but only in a fictional sense.
The one insulting word is gonk. Among close friends it can be a joke. Aimed at a stranger, it can sound rude. Tone and context matter.
Who Uses This Slang?
Mostly gamers, anime fans, tabletop role-players, and cosplayers. Many are teens and adults who grew up with the games or came in through Edgerunners. Casual players pick up a few words just by playing.
This is fandom language, not regional dialect. Where you live does not matter. What matters is whether you know the story.
Similar Slang Words
| Slang | Meaning |
| Chum | Old-fashioned word for a friend |
| Homie | Close friend |
| Bro | Friend, brother |
| Fam | Close friend or group |
| Dope | Great, impressive |
| Lit | Exciting, fun |
| Peace out | Goodbye, leaving |
Opposite Words
The games do not give one official opposite for each word, so plain English fills the gap.
- Choom: enemy, rival, foe
- Preem or nova: lousy, junk, trash
- Gonk: genius, sharp mind
- Delta: stay, hold position
- Flatline: revive, save
Common Mistakes
- Mixing up meanings. “Chrome” means cyberware, not car parts, in this setting.
- Misspelling choom as “chum” or “choome.”
- Treating gonk as harmless. It is an insult.
- Thinking it is real street slang. It is fiction, even if fans use it in real life.
- Confusing “eddies” with “eddy currents.” Eddies is simply money.
- Using it with people who do not know the game. They may not understand.
When NOT to Use It
Skip it in professional emails, school essays, job interviews, and business meetings. These words are fandom jokes and may confuse readers or sound unserious. In formal writing, use plain English: “friend,” “money,” “leave,” “job.”
Avoid it with strangers, too. A joke about “zeroing” someone can sound threatening if they do not know the reference.
Fun Facts
- The word “cyberpunk” came from Bruce Bethke’s 1983 short story.
- Neuromancer by William Gibson came out in 1984.
- Mike Pondsmith created the tabletop game that started the franchise.
- Cyberpunk 2077 launched on December 10, 2020.
- Edgerunners premiered in September 2022 on Netflix.
- The Phantom Liberty expansion arrived in September 2023.
- The games use a street language called Cityspeak.
- In Hawaii, “choom” has a separate slang meaning tied to marijuana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What slang do they use in cyberpunk?
The franchise uses Cityspeak, a street language that blends English with words from other languages. It grew out of the tabletop games, where Night City’s mix of cultures shaped how people speak.
Gangers, corpos, and nomads each sound a little different. The videogame lets you hear this vocabulary from many characters, so you pick up the vibe quickly. If you want a deeper look, listen to NPC chatter and radio banter in the game.
Is choom a slur in cyberpunk?
No. Choom is a friendly word that means buddy or friend. No evidence shows it has ever been used as a slur in the franchise.
The only possible mix-up is outside the game: some people link “choom” to marijuana slang from Hawaii. If you say it to a fellow fan, they will hear “friend.” If you say it to someone outside the fandom, they may simply ask what it means.
What is a gonk cyberpunk?
A gonk is a fool or an idiot. It is a mild insult, often used for someone who makes a silly or reckless choice. Between friends it can be a joke, like calling someone a goofball. Aimed at a stranger, it can sound rude. The origin of the word is unclear, but it fits the style of Night City’s blunt, funny street talk.
How do you say “cool” in cyberpunk?
Use “preem” or “nova.” The difference is mood. Preem sounds calm and approving, like “excellent quality.” Nova sounds excited, like “wow, that’s amazing.” Pick preem for gear and plans. Pick nova for big moments.
You can also say “choice” in plain English, but fans prefer the in-universe words. Pair them with “choom” for extra flavor, as in “Preem work, choom.”
What are some popular Cyberpunk 2077 catchphrases?
Fans often quote “Wake up, Samurai,” a famous line tied to Johnny Silverhand. Other favorites are “choom,” “preem,” and “gig” in everyday chat.
These short phrases work like fan shorthand. People use them in memes, cosplay captions, and game reviews. If you want to join in, start with the simple ones and let the references build as you learn the story.
How do you say “cool” in a slang way?
Outside Cyberpunk, everyday slang for cool includes “dope,” “lit,” “fire,” “sick,” and “rad.” Each belongs to a different era or community.
“Rad” feels retro, “lit” feels recent, and “dope” has lasted for decades. Choose the word that matches your audience and your tone. If you are talking to a Cyberpunk fan, “preem” is a fun upgrade. For a general crowd, “dope” is safe.
Final Thoughts
Cyberpunk slang is a small language with a big personality. It lets fans talk like they live in Night City, whether they are joking with friends or role-playing at a tabletop session.
A few key words carry most of the weight: choom for friend, preem and nova for great, gonk for fool, delta for leave, and eddies for money.
You do not need to memorize everything. Start with two or three words you like and use them in the right spot. Keep them in fan spaces, and save plain English for school, work, and formal writing.
The best part is that this language keeps growing. Each new game update, anime, and tabletop book gives fans fresh ways to play with words.
So the next time someone says “time to delta,” you will know exactly what they mean. Now go enjoy the neon, choom.
Daniel Reed creates informative content focused on vocabulary, trending expressions, and language comparisons. His practical writing helps readers discover new insights on slangwordz.com
