valley girl
Like, totally speaking
A valley girl is a young woman, typically from the San Fernando Valley in Southern California, associated with a distinctive speech pattern and superficial, materialistic attitudes.
The stereotype emerged in the early 1980s and features vocal fry, uptalk (rising intonation at sentence ends), and filler words like "like," "totally," and "oh my God." She sounds like such a valley girl when she talks.
The term often carries mildly dismissive connotations, suggesting someone airheaded or obsessed with shopping and appearances.
Statement-ending pitch rise
- vocal fryCreaky lowest voice register
- likeComparable to, or enjoy
- totallyTo the full extent
- oh my godCasual shock exclamation
gag me · fer sure · gnarly · rad · bitchin · grody · tubular · whatever
Foolish, flighty person
- ditzySilly and scattered
- cluelessLacking any understanding
- shallowWithout much depth
- vapidDull, without depth
spoiled · materialistic · mallrat · blonde · superficial · peppy · gossipy · self-absorbed
Acquiring goods at retailers
- mallEnclosed shopping center
- GalleriaBranded shopping venue
- boutiqueSmall specialized retail shop
- brandsCommercial product names
credit card · designer · trendy · spending · retail therapy · status · luxury · splurge
Los Angeles community
- TarzanaSan Fernando Valley district
- CalabasasAffluent Southern California city
- BurbankLos Angeles suburb with studios
- GlendaleCity in multiple states
Pasadena · Topanga · Galleria · Los Angeles · Hollywood · Beverly Hills · Westwood · Pacific Palisades
Enclosed shopping center
- MTVYouth-oriented video network
- scrunchiesFabric-covered hair bands
- legwarmersKnitted calf coverings
- neonInert illuminating element
VHS · cassette · mixtape · aerobics · arcade · boombox · roller-skates · wham
Very brief skirt
- legwarmersKnitted calf coverings
- scrunchiesFabric-covered hair bands
- jelly shoesTransparent plastic footwear
- off-the-shoulderNeckline baring upper arms
oversized sweaters · bangles · hoop earrings · spandex · neon colors · high-tops · crimped hair · lip gloss
uptalk
Statement-ending pitch rise
oh my god · gag me · fer sure · gnarly · rad · bitchin · grody · tubular · whatever · as if
airhead
Foolish, flighty person
vapid · spoiled · materialistic · mallrat · blonde · superficial · peppy · gossipy · self-absorbed · flaky
shopping
Acquiring goods at retailers
brands · credit card · designer · trendy · spending · retail therapy · status · luxury · splurge · allowance
Encino
Los Angeles community
- TarzanaSan Fernando Valley district
- CalabasasAffluent Southern California city
- BurbankLos Angeles suburb with studios
Glendale · Pasadena · Topanga · Galleria · Los Angeles · Hollywood · Beverly Hills · Westwood · Pacific Palisades · suburban
mall
Enclosed shopping center
- MTVYouth-oriented video network
- scrunchiesFabric-covered hair bands
- legwarmersKnitted calf coverings
neon · VHS · cassette · mixtape · aerobics · arcade · boombox · roller-skates · wham · fast times
miniskirt
Very brief skirt
- legwarmersKnitted calf coverings
- scrunchiesFabric-covered hair bands
- jelly shoesTransparent plastic footwear
off-the-shoulder · oversized sweaters · bangles · hoop earrings · spandex · neon colors · high-tops · crimped hair · lip gloss
- 80sbig hair, mullets, shoulder pads, new wave, synth-pop
- jargonjargon, lingo, legal jargon, slang, buzz words
- Slang Typeship hop slang, prison slang, leetspeak, stan culture
- speechspeech, speaking, talk, diction, conversation
- accentsBritish accent, Australian accent, New England accent, New York accent, Boston accent
- CaliforniaLos Angeles, San Francisco, Hollywood, San Diego, Yosemite
valley girlpunk rocker
Aggressive antiestablishment musician
Southern belle · surfer dude · hippie · riot grrrl · beatnik
valley girlintellectual
Concerning thought and reason
scholar · bluestocking · bookworm · nerd · academic