"Impala" means: In US automotive culture, 'Impala' refers to the Chevrolet Impala — one of America's most iconic full-size cars, produced since 1958. The Im.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
Impala
In US automotive culture, 'Impala' refers to the Chevrolet Impala — one of America's most iconic full-size cars, produced since 1958.
/ɪmpˈɑlʌ/Documented since 1950s1950shistoricalCurrent62 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026
Etymology timeline
Born ~1958 · 1 year of recorded use20th centurySee decade cohort →
Seen in the wild
BlueskyMay 2026
18. king gizzard, tame impala, bjork, talking heads, caroline polachek, charli xcx, odesza, any mid 2000s-2010s indie rock act, tyler the creator…. i really could go on and on but we’d be here for hours
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BlueskyMay 2026
New walk up song reported for Bobby Witt Jr.: 'The Less I Know The Better' by Tame Impala More Kansas City Royals walk up songs: https://walkupdb.com/teams/kansas-city-royals #Royals
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BlueskyMay 2026
Tame Impala lights up Paris with Justice as surprise guests The group led by Australian musician Kevin Parker delivered a brilliant performance at the Accor Arena on Sunday, May 3, blending psychedelic rock, pop and…
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BlueskyMay 2026
06 - Foo Fighters - Unconditional 07 - Neil Young - Hold Back The Tears 08 - Thundercat - No More Lies (w/Tame Impala) 09 - Nine Inch Noize - Heresy 10 - Alistair Griffin - Like Never Before
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BlueskyMay 2026
📰 Orchid, the buzzy Tame Impala synth, is back in a gorgeous clear colorway 🔗 https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/920264/orchid-tame-impala-synth-clear-colorway-arctic-telepathic-instruments #Tech #Gadgets
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Definitions
#1·Apr 28, 2026
In US automotive culture, 'Impala' refers to the Chevrolet Impala — one of America's most iconic full-size cars, produced since 1958. The Impala has deep cultural resonance in lowrider, hip-hop, and classic car communities, particularly the 1960s models. Referring to it simply as 'an Impala' or 'the Impala' in American conversation usually means the car, not the African antelope.
He pulled up in a '64 Impala with hydraulics and the whole block turned to watch.
Origin: Named after the African antelope (from Zulu impala/impala), following Chevrolet's tradition of naming cars after powerful animals. The automotive sense has largely eclipsed the zoological one in American usage. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
For parents
"Impala" means: In US automotive culture, 'Impala' refers to the Chevrolet Impala — one of America's most iconic full-size cars, produced since 1958. The Im.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
"Impala" means: In US automotive culture, 'Impala' refers to the Chevrolet Impala — one of America's most iconic full-size cars, produced since 1958. The Im.... Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (US) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(US, automotive) Chevrolet Impala.
Cluster: general
Heard in the wild
“18. king gizzard, tame impala, bjork, talking heads, caroline polachek, charli xcx, odesza, any mid 2000s-2010s indie rock act, tyler the creator…. i really could go on and on but we’d be here for hours”
— Bluesky· May 2026“New walk up song reported for Bobby Witt Jr.: 'The Less I Know The Better' by Tame Impala More Kansas City Royals walk up songs: https://walkupdb.com/teams/kansas-city-royals #Royals”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Tame Impala lights up Paris with Justice as surprise guests The group led by Australian musician Kevin Parker delivered a brilliant performance at the Accor Arena on Sunday, May 3, blending psychedelic rock, pop and electronic music www.lemonde.fr/en/culture/a...”
— Bluesky· May 2026“06 - Foo Fighters - Unconditional 07 - Neil Young - Hold Back The Tears 08 - Thundercat - No More Lies (w/Tame Impala) 09 - Nine Inch Noize - Heresy 10 - Alistair Griffin - Like Never Before”
— Bluesky· May 2026“📰 Orchid, the buzzy Tame Impala synth, is back in a gorgeous clear colorway 🔗 https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/920264/orchid-tame-impala-synth-clear-colorway-arctic-telepathic-instruments #Tech #Gadgets”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
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Other words near "Impala" (I)
IMOimoutoimpact aidimpact areaimpactedimpaired drivingimpeachmentimperial pintImpertimpetrationimpignorateimpignoration
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