つ (Slang)Called, Said that (slang abbreviation)

つ is a slang grammar pattern that originates from という, with the meaning of 'called (A)', 'that (A) that was said', or 'known as (A)'. Basically, it just quotes something that was previously said. つ may also be seen as っつ, or even つう.

Remember, という is just a combination of the quotation particle と, and 言(い)う, the う-Verb meaning 'to say'.

As と is the quotation particle, つ can follow almost any statement or word type.

Although つ is very strong slang, it is very common. You can often hear native speakers saying という with various degrees of abbreviation, but つ being the shortest possible.

The pause in the っつ version may indicate that the speaker is annoyed or running out of patience, but this is not always the case.

Caution

Just because 言(い)う disappears when said as つ, it doesn't mean that standard conjugation rules also disappear. If you want to highlight that something 'was said' in past tense, or 'is being said' in progressive form, structures like つった or つってん will be used.

ている becoming てん is explained more closely in the ん slang lesson.