Fo Sho – Meaning, Origin and Usage

Are you looking for a slang saying to act as a confirmation statement of agreement? You could say "fo sho" when your friends ask you if you're coming along for a ride to the store. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.

Meaning

The expression "fo sho" is a confirmation statement that is a slang term for "for sure." The phrase became a popular replacement for "for sure" in the 2000s, after the rise of rapper Snoop Dogg and his effect on hip-hop culture.

Rappers on the west coast would adopt some of Snoop's sayings, and many of them made it into the cultural mainstream. "Fo sho" is a way of telling someone that you fully agree with them and are ready to take action.

It's different from other slang sayings like "I feel you." I feel you are also a confirmation statement, but it's more suitable for situations where you're trying to show empathy towards what the other person is saying.

Example Usage

“Hey, my man, we’re going to win this game fo sho. There’s no chance they make a comeback with this little time left in the game.”

“Fo sho we’re going to the concert this weekend. I have the tickets, and my parents say we can take the car. Nothing is stopping us now.”

“We’re going to get it for sho. There’s no way they let us off the hook for this one.”

“Oh, I hear you. Fo sho. You know that I’m always ready to roll with you guys whenever you need me. I’m in it for the family.”

“Fo sho, don’t you know. We’re all here waiting for you to show up, and you’re three hours late. That’s no way to treat your friends.”

“Oh fo sho baby, I know what you’re talking about now. You mean the big black box in the garage with the cobwebs and dust all over it.”

“We are in there fo sho. There is no way they can pull out of this now. We have the upper hand with this one. I know it.”

Origin

The origin of the expression “fo sho isn’t as recent as you might think. Most people attribute its emergence in language to the rapper, Snoop Dogg, and his unique brand of colloquial slang. Despite the aging rapper being one of the oldest names in the rap game, “fo sho” has been in use far longer than Snoop has been alive.

The earliest appearance of “fo sho” in language traces back to 1871, in an excerpt from the poem titled, “Mahs' Lewis's Ride,” published in the May issue of Appletons' Journal in 1871.

“Dem's whah de woun's wah, fo' sho.”

The use of the expression as a replacement for “for sure” goes back to the Mississippi dialect where the “r” has prevocalic positioning during pronunciation. Many people attribute these dialects to poor African American communities in Southern states.

Phrases Similar to Fo Sho

  • For real.
  • True true.

Phrases Opposite to Fo Sho

  • No way.
  • Not a chance.
  • Get lost.

What is the Correct Saying?

  • Fo sho.

Ways People May Say Fo Sho Incorrectly

The phrase “fo sho” is a statement you use to agree with what other people are saying. Using it to describe the quantity of “four” of anything is incorrect.

Acceptable Ways to Phrase Fo Sho

You can use “fo sho” as a confirmation statement when you agree with someone. The saying means “for sure,” and it’s a way of saying that you are on the same page as someone else. It’s street slang, so it’s only suitable for use in social situations.

You could use it with your partner when they ask you to run upstairs and grab a blanket. You could use it when someone asks you if you’re ready to go on a road trip. It’s a versatile saying and suits any occasion where you’re looking to agree with someone.

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