Sara Bentley
Yeet My Grandma’s Teeth: A Beginner’s Guide to Not Sounding Like a Boomer When Talking to Teens
Navigating Teen Lingo: A Guide to Connect with the Youths Without Sounding Like a Dinosaur.
Picture this: You’re chatting with a group of teens, and suddenly, you drop a line that makes them cringe. We’ve all been there. Fear not! This guide, “Navigating Teen Lingo,” is here to save you from sounding like a relic from the past. Let’s dive into the world of teen slang, memes, and texting etiquette to bridge the generation gap.
Slang Safari
Embark on a linguistic adventure as we unravel the mysteries of teen slang. From “Yeet” to “Gucci,” we’ll break down the cool lingo and teach you how to sprinkle it into your conversations without raising eyebrows. You’ll soon be speaking the language of the youth like a pro.
Meme-ing Your Way to Connection
Ever felt left out of a meme conversation? Fret not! Learn the ropes of teen meme culture, and discover how to use memes to connect with the younger crowd. We’ll guide you through the art of meme appreciation and application in everyday banter.
The Art of the Text
Texting with teens is a unique skill. Decode commonly used acronyms, understand emoji nuances, and master the art of using GIFs. After this chapter, you’ll be texting with teens like you’re part of their exclusive digital club.
Avoiding Boomer Blunders
We’ll share a chuckle over classic “boomer” phrases and introduce you to their updated, less cringe-worthy counterparts. No more “Back in my day”; instead, you’ll be confidently saying, “When I was your age…” without inducing eye rolls.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, connecting across generations is a two-way street. Embrace the learning experience, and let’s build bridges, not language barriers. Remember, mutual respect and open communication form the foundation of strong intergenerational connections. So, get ready to boost your teen-speak skills and enjoy the journey of understanding the language of today’s youth! ????
In today’s rapidly changing world, keeping up with the language and expressions used by teenagers can be a challenging task. The influence of music, the Internet, apps, and celebrities constantly introduces new words and phrases, making it difficult to decode what your teens are saying. To help bridge this communication gap, we present a guide to some of the current teen slang terms and their meanings.
Don’t Get Left on Seen! Understanding Teen Slang in the Age of Social Media
Adulting: Doing things that grown-ups do. Like paying bills or giving money to the government. Adulting can be a bit of a bummer sometimes.
Aesthetic: It’s like the vibe or style of something. Like when you don’t like a singer because you don’t get their aesthetic. Or when you love the vibe of an Instagram account.
Ate and left no crumbs: Imagine someone does something really, really awesome. We say they “ate and left no crumbs.” Like, they nailed it!
Basic: Calling someone basic means they like the usual, ordinary stuff. Not really into unique or different things.
BB: Short for babe or baby, but usually for friends. Like, “Hey, BB, what’s up?”
Bestie: Just a cool way to say best friend. It can be serious or joking.
Bet: When someone says “bet,” it’s like saying, “Okay, for sure!” Like, “Do you want ice cream?” “Bet.”
Big: It’s a word that adds extra oomph to things. Like “big mad” means super angry, “big sad” is really sad, and “big brain” is super smart.
Blueprint: When someone does something so amazingly well, they become the example for everyone else. Like, “OneDirection is the blueprint for boy bands.”
Boo: Your special someone, your boyfriend or girlfriend.
Boo’d up: When you’re in a romantic relationship.
Boi: Just another way of spelling “boy” online or in messages.
Bop: A really awesome song. Like, “This Ariana Grande song is a bop!”
Bougie/boujee: Fancy, high class. It comes from the word “bourgeois.”
Boutta: Short for about to. Like, “I’m boutta eat some pizza!”
Bruh: A more modern way to say “bro.”
Bussin’: When something is really, really good, especially food. If it’s super spectacular, you say it’s “BUSSIN’ bussin’!”
Canon/Headcanon: Canon is the real story in a book or movie. Headcanon is what fans wish was true, like saying Thor really likes cats.
Cap/No Cap: If someone says “cap,” it means they’re lying. “No cap” means they’re telling the truth. Like, “I aced the test, no cap!”
Catch feels: To develop romantic feelings for someone. Popularized by “Feels” by Calvin Harris ft. Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams, & Big Sean.
Catch these hands: Means “to fight” (e.g. “My girlfriend is way prettier than yours,” “You boutta catch these hands”).
CEO Of: Being really talented at somethin
Cheugy Cringey or awkward, specifically used by Gen Z in reference to trends from the early/mid 2000s.
Chill: It can either describe a person who’s really laid back, or the act of hanging out. “She’s really chill,” or “Let’s chill tonight.”
Clout: Having a great social influence or following, and being popular due to your social media or general social presence.
Dead/dying: When something is so funny, you can’t handle it. “Oh my gosh that TikTok, I’m dead.”
Doing the most: Being over the top.
Done: To be completely over a task, person, emotion, or situation.
Drip: Refers to a really cool outfit or item of clothing.
Extra: Over the top, excessive, dramatic. “I aspire to be this level of extra at my graduation.”
F: A way to show the utmost respect for someone after something bad has happened (e.g. “My girlfriend just dumped me,” “F”).
Facts: Being in agreement with something.
Fam: Family, to denote one’s actual family or one’s closest friends.
Finna: A contraction of “fixing to”, meaning “going to (do something).”
Fire: Cool, awesome. “This party is fire!” Also denoted by the fire emoji.
Fit: In America, “fit” means outfit. Like when someone says, “Girl, I love your fit!” But in England, it means someone who’s really attractive. Like, “That guy is fit!”
Flex: It’s like showing off. Picture a strong arm emoji – that’s a flex!
FR: It’s short for “for real.” Like when you really mean something.
G: It’s a friendly word for friends. “Hey G, what’s up?”
Gassing: It’s when you hype someone up, like telling your friend they look super cute.
Glow-up: Imagine someone becoming even more awesome, usually in a short time. Like, “Ethan had a glow-up over the summer – he looks so cute now!”
GOAT: Greatest Of All Time. It’s like saying someone is the best at something.
Gucci: It means good or cool. Like, “It’s all good, bruh.”
Highkey: When something is obvious or definite. “I highkey want that shirt.” The opposite is lowkey, for something less obvious.
IGL: Gamers use this – it means In Game Life. They talk about their gaming adventures.
IYKWIM: It stands for “If you know what I mean.”
IYKYK: It’s like saying “If you know, you know.”
IRL: In Real Life – when things happen in the real world, not just online.
Keep it 100: It means to always be true to yourself and stick to what you believe in. Like, always be real and honest. Super important!
Left on read: Imagine sending a text message, and the other person reads it but doesn’t reply. That’s what we mean by “left on read.”
Let’s get this bread: It’s a fun way of saying, “Let’s work hard and be successful.” Kind of like cheering yourself on to do your best.
Lewk: When we talk about someone’s “look,” we mean their unique style or cool appearance. It’s what makes them stand out!
How to talk like a teenager: Guides for understanding and using teenage slang.
Live/living: If something is so amazing that it makes you feel alive, we say, “I’m living!” Like when you’re having the best time ever.
Like my recent: On social media, if someone asks you to “like their recent,” it means they want you to check out and give a thumbs up to their latest post.
Mood: When something is so relatable that it describes exactly how you feel. Like, seeing a friend lying on the floor and saying, “Mood.”
Narrative: If there’s a story or situation you don’t want to be a part of, you might say, “I would very much like to be excluded from this narrative.” Taylor Swift made it famous!
Oof: Imagine someone says something you didn’t expect, and you’re kind of like, “Hmm, what do I say now?” That’s when you might go, “Oof!”
OTP (One True Pairing): It’s like having favorite characters who you think should be best friends or maybe even more. You might say, “I love them together; they’re my OTP!”
Poggers: This is what you say when something really cool or exciting happens. It’s like, “Wow, that’s awesome!” Mostly used by gamers.
POV (Point of View): Originally used for certain TikToks, now it’s like pretending you’re in a fun or crazy situation. “POV: You find a magical key.”
Rent free: Imagine if a funny joke or song is stuck in your head all day. It’s living “rent-free” in your thoughts!
RIP/RIP me: When something not-so-great happens, like getting a bad grade, you might say, “RIP me.” It’s like saying, “Oh no!”
RN (Right Now): If you want to talk about what’s happening right at this moment, you’d say, “I’m playing video games RN.”
Say less: When you totally get what someone is saying and you’re on board. “Pizza for dinner? Say less!”
Sending me: If something is so funny that you can’t stop laughing, it’s “sending you.”
Ship: Short for “relationship.” It’s like saying, “I really want those two characters to be friends or more!”
Shook: Imagine being so surprised or scared that your whole body feels shaky. That’s when you’re “shook.”
Sis: It can mean sister, but sometimes people use it like, “Hey sis,” as a friendly way to talk to someone.
Slaps: When something is really great, like a fantastic song or a tasty snack. “This ice cream slaps!”
SMH (Shaking My Head): When you’re a bit disappointed or disagree with something, you might shake your head and say, “SMH.”
Smol: It’s just a cute way to say “small” online. Like a tiny kitten is “so smol!”
Snatched: Imagine your outfit is like a superhero costume, and when someone says it’s “snatched,” they mean it looks really, really awesome!
Stan: This is like saying you’re the biggest fan ever. So, instead of just liking Billie Eilish, you’d say, “I stan Billie Eilish,” which means you’re her biggest fan!
Take the L: If you ever play a game or try something, and it doesn’t go as planned, you “take the L,” which means you took the loss. But don’t worry, we all have days like that!
TBH: Short for “To Be Honest.” It’s like when you want to share your honest thoughts about something.
TFW: Short for “That Feeling When.” So, if you spill your favorite drink in the car, you’d say, “TFW you accidentally spill your Venti Frap all over your car.”
This/that ain’t it chief: Imagine someone saying they love pineapple pizza, but you don’t agree. You’d say, “This ain’t it chief,” meaning that’s not cool or accepted.
Understood the assignment: When someone is doing something really well or making a strong statement, you’d say, “They understood the assignment.” Like if your friend is an amazing dancer, you’d say, “Sis understood the assignment.”
V: Short for “Very.” So, if you’re super excited about watching your favorite Netflix show, you’d say, “I’m v excited to binge my fav Netflix show.”
Vibe Check: Imagine it’s like a test for good feelings. If someone doesn’t like frogs, they might not pass the “vibe check.”
Vibing/Straight Vibing: Think of it as just hanging out and having a blast with your pals. It’s like the updated way of saying “chilling.”
Weird Flex But OK: When someone brags or shows off, saying “weird flex but ok” is like teasing them in a funny way.
Whip: This one’s easy – it just means a car. Like, “Check out my new whip!”
Wig: Imagine you’re so amazed that your imaginary wig falls off. It’s just a fun way to show you’re blown away.
Wig Snatched: Similar to “wig,” it means being super amazed or shocked by something or someone. Drag queens started this one!
Wild/Wylin’/Wildin’: If something is wild, it means it’s really shocking. If a person is “wylin’,” they’re being hilarious or maybe a bit weird.
Woke: Being “woke” is like being super aware of what’s happening in the world. “Stay woke, son!”
AF: Short for “as f***.” It’s just a way to say something is really, really intense. Like, “It’s hot af in here.”
ASMR: This one’s about making cool sounds in videos to give people tingles or goosebumps. It’s like a little online trend for making people feel good.
BDE (Big D* Energy):Imagine you have the confidence of a superhero. BDE means having that super cool and confident attitude without being mean.
BFFR/BFR/Be So FR:When something is so unbelievable or amazing, you go, “Be f****** for real!” It’s like saying, “No way, that’s crazy!”
Bomboclatt: This is like a secret code word from Jamaica. In the U.S., we use it to say, “Hey, add a caption to this funny picture or video.”
Boomer/Okay Boomer:If someone older is saying something you think is kinda silly, you might playfully say, “Okay boomer.” It’s like teasing them in a fun way.
Cancel: When you decide you don’t want someone or something in your life anymore, you “cancel” them. It’s like saying, “I’m done with this.”
Caught in 4k:Imagine catching someone red-handed, especially online, and having proof. It’s like saying, “I got evidence!”
Clapback: When someone tries to be mean, and you come back with an even cooler response. It’s like having a superpower comeback.
Clapped: If someone says you got “clapped,” it means you didn’t do so well, either in a game or looking good.
Cringey: Imagine something awkward or embarrassing. That’s “cringey.” It’s like when you watch a funny video, but it makes you squirm a bit.
Curve:If someone says they got “curved,” it means the other person turned them down romantically. It’s like saying, “They said no.”
Deada:When you want to say something is true and serious, you say “deada**.” It’s like saying, “I’m not joking, for real!”
Finsta: It’s like a secret Instagram account. People use it to share more real and honest stuff, not just the perfect pictures you see on their main account.
FOMO: Imagine feeling worried that you might miss out on something fun. That’s FOMO! But, hey, there’s also JOMO, which means finding joy in enjoying one thing at a time.
Fruity: This one’s a bit tricky. Sometimes people use it to say something is cool, but it can also mean something else. Like saying rain is “fruity” without explaining why.
GD: It’s a way some people express they’re really annoyed about something. They might say, “It’s so gd annoying when…”
Ghost: Have you ever sent a message, and the other person doesn’t reply? That’s called ghosting, when someone disappears from your digital world.
Go off: If someone says, “Go off!” they’re giving permission to rant about something they’re upset about. Like, “She was so rude. Go off!”
Hop off: It’s like saying, “Mind your own business.” Just a way to tell someone to let you do your thing.
Hunty: It’s a mix of “honey” and another word. Originally, it was a bit sassy, but now friends use it to show affection.
Ick/The Ick: Imagine something that makes you feel weird or turned off. That’s the ick. Like thinking about someone singing in the shower might give you the ick.
Karen: This one is used to talk about someone, usually a woman, who causes a big fuss in public. Like the lady at Starbucks who was upset about her syrup. That’s a Karen!
Lowkey:Imagine you have a secret and you want to keep it quiet. “Keep this low key” means keep it a secret. Also, you can say “I lowkey love this song” to mean you kinda love it, but not shouting it out loud.
Main Character:Ever feel like you’re the star of the show? If you act or dress like you’re the most interesting person, that’s called having “main character energy.” Like wearing cow-print pants to the store – total main character move!
Menty B:If you’re having a bit of a meltdown, like when things don’t go your way, you might say, “I’m having a full menty b.” It’s like saying you’re having a mental breakdown, but in a fun way.
Receipts:Imagine you have proof of something, like screenshots of messages. That’s your “receipts.” It’s like saying, “I’ve got evidence!”
Salty:When someone feels jealous or upset, they’re being “salty.” Like when you wanted the last cookie, and someone else got it – total salty moment!
Sip Tea:When you want to stay out of drama but enjoy watching it, you “sip tea.” It’s like saying, “I’ll just watch from here.”
Slay:If you really like someone’s look or actions, you say they’re “slaying.” Like, “You’re totally slaying that outfit!”
Slim Thick/Thicc:Imagine an ideal body with a tiny waist and a bit of curves – that’s “slim thick” or “thicc.” It’s like saying someone looks awesome.
Subtweet: When you want to talk about someone without mentioning their name on Twitter, it’s a “subtweet.” Sneaky, huh?
Sus:If something seems strange or suspicious, you say it’s “sus.” Like if your credit card doesn’t work, that’s sus.
Tea:When you spill the tea, you share the gossip. It’s like saying, “Let me tell you what’s going on!”
Thicc:Another word for someone with a cool, curvy look. Can be about people, food, or even pets!
Thirsty: When someone really wants attention. Like if they’re trying too hard to get noticed.
Thirst Trap: This is like when someone posts a really attractive picture online to get other people to show interest or say nice things.
Touch Grass: Imagine spending too much time on the internet or games and forgetting about the real world. “Touch grass” means go outside and experience real life!
Tweakin: Doing something strange or not making sense. Like when your mom might get upset for no big reason.
Red Flags: Signs that something might not be right or a warning that you should be careful.
Addy: Short for a medicine called Adderall. Some people use it for fun, but it’s not safe.
Catfish: When someone pretends to be someone else online, which is not cool.
D: A short way some people talk about private body parts.
DTF: This means someone is interested in having sex.
FWB: Friends with benefits. It’s like being more than friends, but not in a serious relationship.
Hooking Up: Can mean anything from kissing to having sex.
Juul/Juuling: Using a type of e-cigarette. It’s not good for you.
KMS/KYS: Really serious and not nice words. If someone says this, it’s important to talk to an adult you trust.
NSFW: Means something is not appropriate to look at in certain places, like at school.
Pull: Like how good someone is at attracting people.
Rizz: Being really attractive or charming in a flirty way.
Simp: Someone who does a lot for someone they like, hoping they’ll like them back.
Smash: Having casual sex.
Stealthing: Doing something not okay during sex. Always remember, it’s important to be respectful and communicate.
Ussy: A word some people use that you don’t need to worry about. It’s not polite.
Remember, teenagers appreciate authenticity, so use these terms cautiously. This guide aims to help you better understand your teens’ conversations, fostering open communication between generations.
Now you’re ready to drop some knowledge bombs! From Bussin’ to Boujee: Must-Know Teen Slang Words for 2024 ????✨
