What Does "Jit" Mean & Where Did It Come From?

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Content creator Shayan Faraz explains the meaning of the word “jit”

Co-authored by Bertha Isabel Crombet, PhD Reviewed by Shayan Faraz

Last Updated: October 29, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Meaning
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• Examples
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• Origin
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• Is “jit” offensive?
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• Video

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Have you ever heard “jit” in a hip-hop song and wondered what it means? As it turns out, the slang has been around much longer than Post Malone and Lil Yachty have been making music. Actually, “jit” has roots in the early 20th century and has been used in various ways since. We talked to content creator Shayan Faraz to learn more about this popular slang term, including what it means, how to use it, and whether or not it’s offensive.

“Jit” Slang Meaning

According to content creator Shayan Faraz, "Jit" can mean a young person or a kid, or it can be a term used casually between friends. "Jit" is synonymous with "kid,” “youngin,” or “punk.” It may have origins in 1930s jazz culture from the song "Jitter Bug" by Cab Calloway.

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Section 1 of 4:

What does “jit” mean in slang?

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1. 
   “Jit” describes a young, inexperienced person. According to Faraz, “The word [‘jit’] typically refers to a young person or a kid.” It may be considered synonymous with “kid,” “youngin,” or “punk.” Depending on the context, a jit can also be a child. The term “jit” has found its place in hip hop culture, referenced in songs like "Florida Jit" by Smokepurpp and "Jit" by 9lokkNine, among many others.

   • For example, in the song “Psycho” by Post Malone, the first verse reads: “Know that I been with the sh*** ever since a jit, ayy.”
   • The song “Timeless” by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti also uses “jit” in its lyrics: "Ever since I was a jit, I been legit."
   • Some sources offer a clever acronym: “juvenile in training.” However, this is a far less common definition and may have negative connotations in some circles.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Shayan Faraz (or Chum as he’s known online) is a content creator with over 35,000 followers on his TikTok page @chummertok. His videos analyze internet culture and viral trends.
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Use “Jit”

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1. 
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   Use “jit” in a friendly way to refer to someone young and inexperienced. If you’ve got younger siblings, cousins, or other family members, you can lovingly use “jit” to refer to them. If your teenage nephew can’t figure out how to boil elbow noodles to make mac and cheese without burning the pot, playfully calling him a “jit” seems like a funny and appropriate term of endearment. Here are some other examples of how to use “jit” in a sentence without getting under anyone’s skin:

   • “Don’t mind him, he doesn’t know anything about it, he’s just a jit.”
   • “I’ve known her since she was a jit and now she’s off to law school!”
   • “He hasn’t traveled much; he’s a jit.”
   • “It takes a lot of energy to keep up with these jits!”
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   Use “jit” casually with friends. Faraz says that the word “can be used as a term of endearment amongst friends in a casual context.” Faraz says the term is often used in phrases like:

   • “How you been, jit?”
   • “That’s my jit over there.”
   • “Listen jit, I need to tell you something.”
3. 3
   Use "jit" on social media in captions or hashtags. Whether you're posting an adorable photo of a younger sibling, a friend's child, or any other young person, you can use "jit" in the caption as a fun way to describe them. You can even use it to refer to yourself when posting a #ThrowbackThursday or a #FlashbackFriday. Feel free to add it as a hashtag as well. Here are some examples:

   • "Lol, I was such a little jit in 2005."
   • "Oh, to be young again! #whenIwasajit #blastfromthepast."
   • "My jit is legit." #proudmom."
   • "Babysat all my favorite jits this weekend! #coolaunt."
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Section 3 of 4:

Origin of “Jit”

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1. 
   “Jit” may have roots in the 1930s jazz scene. In 1934, jazz singer and icon Cab Calloway released a song titled “Jitter Bug,” in reference to the quick step style of dance which was all the rage at the time. The lyrics read, “Grab a cup and start to toss,/ You’re now drinking jitter sauce!/ Don’t you worry, you just mug,/ And then you’ll be a jitter bug!” Although Calloway may not have invented the term “jitterbug”, he is credited with introducing it into the American vernacular.

   • Some sources believe that the term’s original meaning and connotations have been diluted from referring to a person who dances the jitterbug to a jittery person to a young person, and then to a jittery young person who acts in a juvenile manner.
   • Other folks claim that “jit” grew in popularity in the 1970s to refer to a hyper and energetic young person.
   • Faraz says that “jit” as a slang word originated from AAVE (African American Vernacular English), and it’s “often used in Miami or other Southern U.S. cities.”

Section 4 of 4:

Is “jit” offensive?

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1. 
   Calling someone a “jit” can be offensive depending on the context. When speaking affectionately about a child, younger family member, or someone else with whom you’re close, calling them a “jit” can be akin to calling them “kiddo,” “rugrat,” or “whippersnapper.” Of course, if you call a stranger or acquaintance a “jit” with the intention of insulting their level of maturity or life experience, that can certainly be considered offensive.

   • It’s important to remember that “jit” is a slang term and only has a place in friendly, informal conversations. Keep “jit” out of school and the workplace!
   • Faraz agrees, saying, “Jit is mostly seen as casual slang in urban and online communities, but context matters for it to be considered offensive. It can be perceived as aggressive or belittling depending on the tone of the person saying it, and if there is a lack of rapport between the people interacting.”
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