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I learn that 'diss' is a shortened version of "disrespect" Urban Dictionary: diss

For example, try to diss me, man.

What's the opposite of it?
I searched 'spect' as shorthand for 'respect'.
Nevertheless, it does not feel as strong and smart as 'diss'

Note:
'Diss' is a extremely popular in China as cyberspeak for joking with each other.

Lars Mekes
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Wizard
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9 Answers9

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My first thought was to give someone props:

  • give props to (one)
    To praise one and show them respect. Thank you, but I have to give props to Jeanne, who organized this entire event for us.
    (TFD)

  • props
    noun, ( usually used with a singular verb) Slang.

    1. proper or due respect or recognition; credit:
      I give him props for putting up with annoying customers.

    (Dictionary.com)

That's well-known here in the US. There's a relevant post on ELU: What's the etymology of “props”?

Notice that props itself is not used as a verb in this sense. We don't *prop or *props someone to mean that we praise them.

Em.
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18

Kudos is originally used to praise and honor someones achievements, but is also used to show respect in popular culture nowadays.

For example, you could congratulate your friend on passing a test by saying:

Kudos to you for passing that test! That is quite a feat.

Be mindful that kudos is a singular form, even though it looks like a plural.

Andrew
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Lars Mekes
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    I always thought it was one of those nouns that is always plural, like pajamas or cahoots. You can't give someone a single kudo, only two or more (even if they deserve only one). – Andrew Feb 02 '18 at 08:33
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    @andrew: kudos (from the Greek κῦδος - fame or glory) is uncountable. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/kudos – JavaLatte Feb 02 '18 at 13:24
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    The meaning is right, but the social context is quite different. That is, the kind of situations in which you'd say "diss" are not the ones you'd say "kudos." – yshavit Feb 02 '18 at 17:20
  • @Andrew or chinos. https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2016/03/18 – user2752467 Feb 02 '18 at 21:36
  • Kudos used to be more commonplace on the internet than it is nowadays, and was definitely used to in situations where respect would have worked as well. – Lars Mekes Feb 05 '18 at 06:57
  • Some web forums have created the horrible, horrible back-formation kudo, meaning an upvote or 'like' for a post. Eeuurgh. – nekomatic Feb 05 '18 at 11:58
15

Big-up or Big-ups is used to acknowledge respect

hairmot
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13

The term diss is certainly slang. All dictionaries that I checked list it as such. So, the opposite of it should probably also be a slang word. Thus, one possible antonym of the word diss that you might consider would be the term respek (see definition #4 in Urban Dictionary) which was popularized in the early 2000s by the satirical fictional character Ali G portrayed by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. And it can definitely be used as an inside term (a term that's typically understood only by people who know certain facts and context).

Examples:

Stop dissing me, man. Instead, show me some respek.

— I nailed his ass five times in a row in Warcraft today.
— Total respek, man!

Ali G talks about how respek is important (don't forget it's comedy): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqtg_JFGh6I

J.R.
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Michael Rybkin
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  • Respek is not found Cambridge, Oxford, or Meriam-Webster Dictionary. It is therefore not a valid word, IMO. – Mohd Zulkanien Sarbini Feb 02 '18 at 13:07
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    And what does that mean? It can't be used? A lot of slang terms are not found in dictionaries. – Michael Rybkin Feb 02 '18 at 13:10
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    Also, I don't think it's a slang; it's just an eye-dialect (if not merely a misspelling) of 'respect', IMO. – Mohd Zulkanien Sarbini Feb 02 '18 at 13:19
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    But the question is can respek be considered the opposite of diss? I certainly think it can. Everything else is details. – Michael Rybkin Feb 02 '18 at 13:24
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    Like most slang, there will be a group of people that know it well. Respek, (with a certain emphasis, and use as a one word sentence), was a common word in Caribbean communities of a certain age in the UK. It is probably where Ali-G got it from, and it certainly answers the original question! – Paddy3118 Feb 02 '18 at 13:46
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    @user178049 Dictionaries are not the definers of language, they are the references of language - new words enter the dictionary all the time. "Hangry" only entered this year for instance. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42870791 – Obsidian Phoenix Feb 02 '18 at 14:04
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    @user178049 - I think that's a pretty shabby litmus test for determining what is or isn't a "valid word". I remember when d'oh wasn't in the dictionary – but it's there now. Same with qubit. – J.R. Feb 02 '18 at 18:05
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    @J.R. It's interesting that this came up, because just recently MariLou updated her "swag" answer to let us know that OED added an entry for "swag". If a word has to have a dictionary entry to be "valid" to offer as an answer to a question about slang, it would exclude a lot of modern slang, eye-dialect variations, etc. Those words might not be useful for a business interview, but they can be fun to try out in a more informal setting (or could help a future visitor understand something they heard or saw that isn't in their dictionary!). – ColleenV Feb 04 '18 at 16:58
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    @ColleenV - Every word has an "incubation period" where it gets used in the vernacular before it gets added into dictionaries. Only time will tell if respek gets recognized one day (and I wouldn't be surprised if it never does). Nevertheless, our learners don't need to be told that only words in Oxford, Cambridge, or M-W are true words; thankfully, our language is much less restrictive and far too wonderful for that. – J.R. Feb 05 '18 at 14:58
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I have heard ‘spec’ used in UK as a positive reinforcement of a person’s integrity, a shortened form of ‘respect’.

Steve
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  • Do you have a source that supports your answer? – Lars Mekes Feb 02 '18 at 12:21
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    @LarsMekes It's very difficult sometimes to find a written citation for newish spoken slang. It might help to add an example sentence to the answer that illustrates how 'spec is used. – ColleenV Feb 02 '18 at 12:48
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You mention that diss is slang. You didn't mention whether you wanted your result to be slang. Here are some less slangy results:

  • prop (as in "prop him up", slightly different than "give him props" as noted in Max's answer)
  • give kudos [to] (again, a variation of usage from another answer, this time Lars Mekes's answer)
  • several others: compliment, envy / be jealous, follow, praise (or "singing his praises"), glorify, honor, elevate, dignify, give homage, venerate
TOOGAM
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0

"Stroking" is verbally boosting someone's ego, with praise or gushing admiration or fawning.

It seems to me the perfect absolute antonym to "diss", which isn't just about disrespect, it's about trying to tear someone down and damage their ego.

"Bob, that was really the best, your stuff is the best, you're the best."

"Aww, Betty, thanks but you really don't have to stroke me like that."

J.R.
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Beanluc
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  • I'd recommend against this one, as I can think of two possible misunderstandings of "stroke me like that". The first has to do with petting as with a cat, and the second isn't fit to print. – Mathieu K. Feb 04 '18 at 19:57
  • @MathieuK. That's the point. The word is SUPPOSED to evoke that double entendre. (At least that has always been the intention when I hear it.) –  Feb 05 '18 at 21:35
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    No, it's fine to leave it at stroking as in a cat. Plus, I don't think we need to worry about the sensibilities of people who are already having a conversation in which the word "diss" is being used. – Beanluc Feb 05 '18 at 21:38
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Word

Sometimes: word up

From generally the same culture as 'diss' comes the single word exclamation: word, signifying respect or agreement with the person spoken to.

The Urban Dictionary definition of "word" is

"Word" has no single meaning, but is used to convey a casual sense of affirmation, acknowledgement, agreement, or to indicate that something has impressed you favorably.

ColleenV
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mcalex
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    Can't be dropped into place except in such short exclamations as Diss! Burn! (vs) Word! For instance: "Why do you always word John?" – Mathieu K. Feb 04 '18 at 20:10
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    Sure it can. People have been verbing nouns and interjections for ages. "Diss" itself is such a phenomenon. – Beanluc Feb 05 '18 at 21:39
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Diss can be used as a verb or as a noun. Similarly, it's antonym should be the same.

Complement is the closest word I can think of.

He dissed me. He complimented me.

That's a bad diss. That's a good complement.

Maryam
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Wisani
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