-izzle

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪzÉ™l/

Origin

Popularized by rap artist Snoop Dogg, from a style of cant (esoteric slang) used by African American pimps and jive hustlers of the 1970s. The “-iz, -izzle, -izzo, -ilz” speak, similar in some ways to Pig Latin, was developed by African Americans around the period of the Harlem Renaissance, with hotspots of the speak in Oakland, New York City, and Philadelphia. It was partially developed as young African American girls improvised chants and nursery rhymes while jumping rope, with the -iz dialect serving to add syllables when necessary to maintain the rhythm. A similar -iz dialect has also been used by carnies (carnival workers).

Full definition of -izzle

Suffix

1. (slang) A slang suffix to form hip-hop-sounding words, which replaces the word with the first sound of the word followed by -izzle.
• 2004, Hollywood Reporter, British judge: nizzle-shizzling not an offenseA bewigged British judge ruled on Thursday that the lyrics of a rap record urging the listener to “shizzle my nizzle” and referring to a “mish mish man” did not constitute an offense.
• February 15 2005, , ShortcutsSnoop Dogg has always had a refreshing take on British culture. When he met Rod Hull and Emu on The Word, for instance, he took exception to the overindulged bird’s lunge at his genitals (or “lizzle at his gizzle”, to use Snoop’s parlance). After a short struggle, the rapper’s foot rested on the bird-handler’s neck. If only Parky had been so proactive.

Derived terms

• fo shizzle
• nizzle
• shizzle