tranny

English

Alternative forms

• trannie

Etymology

All are shortened forms of the indicated terms +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

• (US) enPR: trăʹni IPA^(key): /ˈtɹæ.ni/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Audio (General Australian):

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• Rhymes: -æni
• Hyphenation: tran‧ny

Noun

tranny (countable and uncountable, plural trannies)

1. (slang, chiefly derogatory, offensive) A transsexual, transgender, or transvestite person, usually a trans woman.
   • 2018, Roddie Lee Kingsfield, M.Ed., Purple Passionflower: The Path to Becoming a Powerful Trans Peace Warrior, page 56:

     When I spoke with lesbians, most would tell me, “I don't date trannies. […]

2. (colloquial, Commonwealth) A transistor radio.
   • 2012, Dave Thompson, To Major Tom:

     We talk, and I listen to Radio Luxembourg on my tranny – I have a little earplug, so if any teachers come in they won't hear it.

3. (colloquial, automotive) A vehicle's transmission.
   • 2012, Phil Edmonston, Lemon-Aid Used Cars and Trucks 2012–2013:

     Other incidents where the tranny suddenly locks up in high gear and requires that the car be restarted to return to normal.

4. (colloquial) An electrical transformer.
5. (slang, skateboarding, countable) A transition between moves.
6. (slang, skateboarding, uncountable) A style of skateboarding based on transitioning from one move to the next.
7. (Northern England, slang) A Ford Transit (type of van).
   • 2014, Sally Wainwright, 1:49 from the start, in Happy Valley, season 1, episode 3, spoken by Kirsten McAskill (Sophie Rundle):

     Oooh! Gotta go. Jenson Button's just streaked past in a white tranny. I think he's trying to smash the land speed record, bless him. And he's got a tail-light out. I think I might give him a tug.

Usage notes

• The sense referring to a trans person is among the most offensive terms for a trans person in English. It is almost always applied to trans women, and is especially used in pornography. Trans people occasionally self-apply tranny as a reclaimed slur.

Derived terms

trans person

• roidtranny
• tranime
• tranny chaser
• trannydom
• trannyism

 

Translations

(colloquial, derogatory) a transsexual, transgender or transvestite person

• Bulgarian: травестит m (travestit)
• Chinese: 人妖 (zh) (rényāo)
• Finnish: transu (fi)
• French: travelo (fr)
• German: Transe (de) f
• Hebrew: קוֹקְסִינֶל (he) m (qoqsinél)
• Macedonian: транџа f (trandža)
• Portuguese: traveco (pt) m
• Russian: трансик m (transik), трансу́ха f (transúxa)
• Serbo-Croatian: транџа m
• Spanish: (Spain) travelo, (Argentina) trava (es), (Argentina) travesaño (es)
• Swedish: transa (sv) c
• Tamil: ஒன்பது (ta) (oṉpatu, literally “nine”)

electrical transformer

• German: Trafo m

Anagrams

• trynna