What Does “Dayroom” Mean? NYC Slang Term Explained

Learn how to use this New York slang and how it got started

Co-authored by Katie Styzek and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: December 11, 2025 Fact Checked

Meaning

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Origins

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If You’re Called “Dayroom”

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Other NYC Slang

Has someone called you “mad dayroom” and you’re not sure what to make of it? Even though “dayroom” isn’t a new term, it’s making its rounds online and growing in popularity on TikTok. If you’re still not sure what it means, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading to learn the slang meaning, how it started, and other common NYC slang terms to add to your vocab!

Dayroom Slang Meaning Explained

“Dayroom” is an adjective that means “fake” or “lame" that's used to describe someone acting differently around you than they normally would. For example, you could say, “They ignored my question, they’re so dayroom.” The term originated in New York City as jail slang, but became popular once it spread on TikTok.

Section 1 of 4:

What does “dayroom” mean in slang?

“Dayroom” means someone is acting weird, fake, or different than normal. “Dayroom” takes the place of an adjective to describe someone in a sentence. If a person you know behaves oddly or in a way you don’t like, then they’re dayroom.^{[1]
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- Example: I don’t know why she ignored me; she’s dayroom right now.
- Example: Don’t be so dayroom, you’re bringing the vibe down!
- Example: I’ve never seen him act like this. He is being mad dayroom.

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Where did the term “dayroom” come from?

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The term may refer to a dayroom in a jail. A dayroom is the communal area where inmates spend time together out of their cells, so the slang term may reference how they act differently once they’re around other people. While the full origins of the slang term are unclear, many people agree that the term started as jail slang.
- TikTok user @yungstar63tfys explains in his video that you don’t want to be called “dayroom” because it references inmates who are not able to spend time outside with others because they’re doing things like snitching.
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“Dayroom” started in New York City but blew up on TikTok. The term “dayroom” has been around for a while, but it’s mostly been localized in the NYC area. When New Yorkers started using the term on TikTok, it started to catch on with users across the globe who wanted to add it to their vocabulary.
- In a TikTok video from user @kitkatintheclassroom, one of her students explains that he doesn’t know where “dayroom” came from, but he’s been using it since second grade.
- Some comments from New Yorkers online say, “If you have to ask what dayroom means, then I know you’re not really from NYC.”

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What to Do If You’re Called “Dayroom”

If someone you’re not super close with calls you dayroom, don’t make it a big deal. Most of the time, people are saying “dayroom” as a joke, so just laughing it off and continuing with the conversation will help move past the moment.
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Explain why you’re acting differently. If something is bothering you or affecting how you act around your friends, take a second to apologize and tell them what’s up. Even if they’re calling you dayroom as a joke, letting them know there’s something deeper affecting your mood can give them a little clarity into how you’re feeling.
- Example: You could say, “Yeah, you know I am being a little dayroom right now, but I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”
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Tell the person to stop if they hurt your feelings. If people keep calling you dayroom and it’s making you upset, professional counselor Katie Styzek says to “tell the person making fun of you at that moment to please stop” if you feel comfortable doing it. Take a minute to gather your thoughts so you can really explain why it hurt you.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Katie Styzek
Professional Counselor

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- If someone keeps calling you dayroom or other names, Styzek recommends telling an adult, like a parent or teacher, about what’s happening.^{[3]
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  Katie Styzek
  Professional Counselor
  
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Section 4 of 4:

Other New York Slang Terms

Many other slang terms got their start in New York City. While dayroom is one of the more popular New York slang terms, a lot of words come from the region or even specific boroughs. If you want to sound like a native New Yorker, start adding some of these terms into your vocabulary.
- Brick: another way to say “It’s cold outside”
- Buggin’: acting annoying or freaking out
- Dead*ss: another way to say “seriously”
- Jakes: another name for police
- Mad: “a lot” or “very”
- Ocky: a friendly way to address bodega workers
- Say less: a variation of “I understand” or “I get it”
- Son: a close friend or acquaintance
- Yerr: an alternate way to say “what’s up?”
- Yooz: the plural form of “you,” such as “yooz guys”