DEBO

What Does Debo Mean in a Text?

Debo means "to steal" and "owned" (as in "dominated, totally beaten or outdone." It is a popular misspelling of the name of the character "Deebo", played by Tommy 'Tiny' Lister Jr. in the 1995 movie Friday and the 2000 sequel Next Friday.

In the movies, Debo bullies the principal character (played by rapper Ice Cube). The actions of Debo led to his name being adopted to refer to stealing, or to "owning" a person (i.e., totally beating or outdoing them). For example:

Ali: The cops caught Lee Debo-ing batteries.
Lou: Oh no! What happened?
Ali: They charged him!

Gamer 1: Good game. I nearly had you there.
Gamer 2: No way! I totally Deboed you!

"Tiny" Lister was previously a professional wrestler. He appeared in a variety of movies as well as TV series and music videos. He died on 10 December 2020, at the age of 62. Here are a few clips of him in his most popular role:

The Best Of Debo

Video Summarizing Debo

Here's a short video explaining how to use Debo:

Image for Debo

When I write Debo, I mean this:

Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr. as Debo/Deebo.

Summary of Key Points

First Definition of Debo

"To steal" is a common definition for Debo on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

Debo
Definition:	To Steal
Type:	Slang Word
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Second Definition of Debo

"Owned" (as in "totally beaten or outdone") is another common definition for Debo.

Debo
Definition:	Owned
Type:	Slang Word
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at Debo

image for academic look, showing a teacher with a mortar board

Debo is a slang word and a neologism. Slang refers to words, phrases and uses of language that are regarded as very informal and which are often restricted to a special context or a particular group of users. A neologism is a newly coined word or phrase that has recently come into use or has been created to describe a new concept, idea, or phenomenon. Neologisms can be created in any language and can take different forms, such as:

A new meaning for an existing word (e.g., cloud, mood).
A completely new word (e.g., fomo, selfie).
A new combination of existing words, or words with prefixes or suffixes (e.g., cloutrage, digital-detox).

Neologisms are often the result of changes in technology, culture, or social norms, and they can be found in fields such as science, technology, politics, and popular culture. Some neologisms become widely used and enter mainstream vocabulary, while others remain obscure or limited to specific communities or contexts.

Example of Debo Used in a Text

Debo

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