Nabe

Well no, we didn't actually learn a new word because we have already discarded it as we will never use it.

Somewhere in the dark recesses of my mind I hear it being used not to refer to neighborhood+ but to +neighbors.

"Guess what, we're getting new nabes!"

And Google comes up with some good evidence:

"A Community Safety Meeting, Famous New Nabes and a Missing Cat"

http://www.thenabe.me/blog/2013/06/11/the-day-a-community-safety-meeting-famous-new-nabes-and-a-missing-cat/

"We have new nabes with a three kids."

http://www.youbemom.com/forum/permalink/4303725/we-have-new-nabes-with-a-three-kids-one-of-which-is-my-8-yo-dds-age-we

Edited by: 889

I'm not a native New Yorker but I've lived here in NY for many years. I don't think I've ever heard the word nabe as in short for neighborhood before ("hood" is the standard slang, AFAIK). I have heard nabe for neighbor though; just once or twice and I wouldn't say it's common.

I grew up in New York, but left some time before palindroma got there, indeed some time before palindroma was born.

I know "nabe" as "neighborhood", and also "the nabes" as "neighborhood theaters", I.e. cinemas other than the first-run houses in Manhattan below 59th Street or so. "It's at the Beacon, but it's been there a while. It will probably be at the nabes in a week or so." I don't think neighborhood theaters in the 1930s - 1970s sense exist anymore.

I once heard my brother refer to neighbours as "nabes", but he's always making up words.

I thought you were talking about nabe, the Japanese hot pot.

Thanks for the new replies. Those comments about nabe being used for neighbor have been very interesting. It would seem from the replies on this thread that nabe is more used for neighbor than for neighborhood although we would need much more data to know if that's really the case... Anyway, what seems clear is that nabe is (very) rarely used regardless of which of its meanings we are talking about.

Well no, we didn't actually learn a new word because we have already discarded it as we will never use it.

...but if you hear/read it again, you'll know its meaning(s). :)

This is a great it-must-be-New York usage citation:

"Make some ASAP for your doorman, your nabes, your shrink, whatever."

http://apronanxiety.com/page/11

I live in New York. I've heard "nabe" for "neighborhood" ( never for "neighbor"), but I would not say it is very common. "Neighborhood" is more common, or "hood" (with certain connotations). And I think it's more prevalent in text or online speak than in face to face conversation. ("CU at 9. Will pick up wine in the nabe.")

Thanks shilgia for the new info and details you provided.