The language teens use (part 1)

Year 5 to 10 parents and teachers

Every year, teenagers devise new and inventive ways to communicate, leaving parents in a perpetual catch-up mode, anxious that their children steer clear of anything inappropriate. This five-part series explores the latest in teen communication trends, starting with the freshest teen slang terms (part 1), delving into why teenagers use cryptic language online (part 2), unpacking popular social media acronyms (part 3), decoding risky emojis (part 4), and harmful hashtags to look out for (part 5) .

Teen Slang 2021

Adulting

To grow up and act responsible.

Aesthetic

Vibe.

All the ___

An exaggeration to show strong feelings, usually in a positive way.

A mood

A relatable feeling or situation.

Amped

Very excited.

And I oop

When someone says something unexpected or provocative.

Bae

Short for “baby.” It’s used as a term of endearment for a significant other such as a girlfriend or boyfriend. As an acronym, it stands for “Before Anyone Else."

Basic

A non-complimentary way to say someone is only interested in trendy or popular things.

Beat

To have a full face of makeup.

Bet

Agreeing with someone. A response when someone challenges you.

Big Yikes

A more intense version of the word "yikes."

Bih

Shortened form of the word b*tch

Blessed

Feeling fortunate.

Body count

The number of people someone has slept with.

Boots

A way to say “very” or “a lot.” It’s added after the verb or adjective.

Boujee

Rich or Acting rich.

Bounce

Leaving suddenly.

Bruh

Casual nickname for “bro.”

Bye Felicia

An expression used to dismiss someone.

Cap or Cappin'

To lie about something.

Chad

A hyper-masculine and overtly sexual young man. 

Chill

Calm down, hang out.

Cray

Meaning crazy.

Curve

To reject someone romantically.

Clap back

A comeback filled with attitude.

Cringey

Embarrassing

Dad or Daddy

An older, attractive male.

Dank

Meaning “really good.”

Dead

When someone is euphorically happy.

Ded

Used when something is extremely funny or embarrassing.

Down in the DM

Making plans using social media or texts for an oncoming sexual encounter.

Eboy or Egirl

Active internet users, emo, punk-rock.

Extra

Describes over the top or dramatic behavior.

Facts

A nice way to acknowledge someone made a true statement.

Fam

Closest friends.

Finesse

To smooth things out.

Finna

Means “going to” or “intend on” doing something.

Finstagram or Finsta

A second Instagram account. Finstagrams are intimate spaces intended for an audience of friends, with the number of followers purposely kept low.

Fire and Straight fire

Something is really good, cool, or amazing.

Fit

The shortened version of outfit.

Flex

To knowingly flaunt and show off. 

Gag

A joke

Gassed

When someone has had one too many compliments and is full of themselves.

Ghost or Ghosted

Ignoring someone on purpose.

Goals

Being inspired, can also be used to express a subtle form of jealousy.

Go Off

To encourage a choice, or to support a rant or ridiculous behavior that's already occurred

Gucci

Meaning good or cool.

Hangry

When you are angry because you are so hungry.

Heard

A deep understand of a topic being discussed.

Heart Horny

Desiring a romantic connection.

Hentai

Anime pornography

High-key

The opposite of "low key" - meaning let everyone know.

Hits different

When different circumstances cause something to be better than it normally is.

Humble brag

When someone complains about their life while sneaking in a brag.

Hundo P

Short for 100% sure or certain.

Hunty

Equivalent of friend but said with attitude.

I’m weak

Meaning that was funny.

It’s lit

Meaning it’s cool or awesome.

Karen

Typically used to refer to an entitled mom, who can be a bit irritating with her frequent requests to "talk to the manager." 

Key or Major Key

Meaning something that is essential or important.

Kiki

Party

Left me on read

When someone opens your text or private message and doesn’t respond.

Lewk

A signature physical trait, or a specially and carefully constructed outfit or appearance.

Lit

Describing when something's amazing, exciting, high-energy, or otherwise great. It can alternatively mean intoxicated or drunk.

Low-Key

A warning that what they’re saying isn’t something they want everyone to know.

Meal

Someone who is extremely attractive.

Mom

The responsible friend.

Mood

Used to express something that is relatable.

Netflix ‘n Chill

To meet under the pretense of watching Netflix/TV together when actually planning to meet for “making out” or sex.

No cap

Telling the truth, the equivalent of saying "no lie."

Okurrr

Something that is said to affirm when someone is being put in their place.

OK, boomer

Old, out of touch, resistant to change. Baby Boomer.

On fleak

On point, nice.

Oof

Popularized by the game Roblox, oof is the sound a character makes when it dies. It is typically used as a response when you don't really care but should say at least something.

Out of pocket

Something is out of control.

Periodt

Adding emphasis to a point that has been made. 

Phubbing

Snubbing someone to pay attention to your phone instead.

Ratchet

Typically used to describe an uncouth individual.

Receipts

Evidence of a person’s hypocrisy, often pulled from past social media or text conversations.

Salty

To be bitter about something or someone.

Same

A response to things you have in common with someone, genuinely or sarcastically.

Savage

Meaning it’s cool or awesome. To do or say something completely outrageous and not fear the repercussions or consequences of their actions. 

Shade or Shading

A sneaky action toward someone or something. When you “throw shade,” you do the sneaky action.

Ship

Short for “relationship.”

Shipping

Wanting two people to date.

Shook

Being confused or in utter disbelief.

Sip tea

To mind your own business.

Sis

If someone asks you what happened and you respond with "Sis," it means there's a whole lot of drama that unfolded and there's a whole lot more to the story. "Sis" can also be used as a term of endearment toward friends.

Skeet

To ejaculate.

Skurt

To leave a place.

Slaps

Strikes you as good

Slay

Meaning someone is succeeding.

Sliding into DMs

Using direct messaging to invite someone to "hook up".

Smash

To have casual sex.

Snack

A way to describe an attractive individual.

Snatched

Meaning well-styled or attractive.

Sorry to this man

When you don't know who a person is (either because you genuinely don't know who they are or are pretending not to know them in a way to diminish their existence).

Spill the tea

To “spill” the gossip

Squad

Friend group. Squad is also an app.

Stan

A combination of stalker and fan. The word can also be used to express tame support of a person or a cause.

Suh

A shortened version of what’s up.

Sus

When someone is acting suspicious or shady.

Swerve

To avoid something.

Swole

Extremely buff or physically fit.

Swoop

To be picked up by an automobile.

Tea

Gossip or talking behind someone's back.

That’s a choice

It’s your decision.

That's on ____

Used to say that's the truth and we don't need to talk about it anymore.

Thicc

Looking good in your skin no matter your size or shape.

Thirst trap

A flirtatious photograph or message posted on social media.

Thirsty

Being desperate for attention or something else. Often used in place of "horny."

Throw shade

To give someone a nasty look or say something unpleasant about them.

Trash

Something absolutely unacceptable or terrible.

Turnt

Hype for a party.

V

Shortened form of very.

Vibing

Relaxing and having a good time.

VSCO girl

Describes a type of picture/video posted through the VSCO app.

Wig

To refer to something that is amazing. 

Wig snatched

Exposing someone to reveal the truth.

Woke

Highly aware of social issues.

Yaas

An enthusiastic way of saying yes.

Yeet

A very strong word for yes.

Zaddy

A well-dressed, attractive man.

Zoomer

Gen Z

Casper Pieters PhD Dip Ed is an author and educator who uses adventure narratives to enliven the IT curriculum for young people. www.casperpieters.com