Published • Vintage Slang • 1990s

Phat: Compliment or Controversy? A ’90s Look Back

Summary: Hip‑hop vernacular turned ‘phat’ into high praise—often glossed as Pretty Hot And Tempting.

In this post:
  • What “phat” means and where it came from
  • How people used it in the 1990s
  • Modern equivalents and pop-culture examples
  • Related slang to explore next

What does “phat” mean?

“Phat” meant excellent, stylish, or high‑status—especially in music and fashion talk.

How it was used in the 1990s

“That beat is phat,” “Those kicks are phat.”

Modern equivalents

dope
fresh
fire