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June 13

The Evolution of Teen Slang: Why Words Matter More Than You Think

These days when you hear a slang word, you might not even realize it! And if you do, there’s still a good chance you have no idea what it means. Every generation has their own slang, but today’s slang is shifting faster than ever thanks to TikToks, Instagram Reels, memes, and other online content.

If you’re a parent who feels disconnected from their teen’s constantly changing vocabulary, this resource will help you learn about current slang, why it changes, what it shows us about our teens, and how parents can use it as a tool for deeper conversations. And for some quick and up-to-the-minute definitions on teen slang, don’t forget to check out our regularly updated list of slang terms.

Why Do Teens Use Slang?

Slang, and language as a whole, can create a sense of community among peers, acting as a shared experience and way of life. As our children enter their teen years, their sense of belonging and identity become all the more important to them, and slang can be a way for them to connect better with others.

Teen slang can serve as a means for creativity and expression. Even if a slang term doesn’t make total sense (most of the time, it doesn’t), it gives teens an opportunity to play with language, invent new phrases, and change the meanings of preexisting words. This can give them a sense of control and authority over their vocabulary and how they communicate, as well as have fun and create inside jokes with their friends.

Slang often represents what’s most important to a generation and can even change and challenge the status quo, whether it’s for something as trivial as comedy or fashion, or as innovative as activism and self expression.

Slang can also be a way to soften or combat difficult emotions by finding new ways to express deep feelings. It can be easier for a teen to say “I’m down bad” than to say “I’m really struggling with something.” The quick relatability and understandability of a slang term can bring teens closer quickly.

How Does Slang Change Over Time?

These days, the prevalence of a slang term is largely dictated by its popularity on social media, primarily through apps where short-form video content is being shared.. Through these  apps users can determine if a word is popular enough to catch on, spread it like wildfire, and decide when it’s time to call it outdated. As attention spans continue to decrease, short-form video content like TikToks and Instagram Reels can utilize slang to hook viewers quickly with a funny or relatable popular word or phrase.

Popular interests like music, gaming, and memes also play a significant role in creating and coining new slang terms. Each of these niches can have their own slang that applies to their respective cultures and popular content, and slang can be a way to bridge these subcultures as today’s teens have a wide range of interests.

Slang Some teen slang terms are recycled from the past or borrowed from other subcultures. For example, the slang term “slay” originated in 1970s/80s American LGBTQ+ drag and ballroom culture, but has since made its comeback to be a ubiquitous term for succeeding in something.

Why Does Slang Matter?

At face value, slang might seem to be of little significance besides providing a funny or quick way to say something. But on a deeper level, slang often gives us insight into  what teens value and prioritize.

Taking the time to understand slang can bridge the gap between how you and your teen communicate. And if you aren’t afraid of a little embarrassment, teens get a kick out of having their parents try out new slang.

A lot of slang can be harmless but there’s also slang that isn’t as innocent. Some slang can carry hidden meanings about mental health, dating, or dangerous behaviors. We encourage you to look at our full dictionary of teen slang to understand and navigate this better.

What are The Newest Slang Terms I Should Know About?

We have our full dictionary of teen slang that we update as often as we can, but with new slang trends seemingly popping up daily, we’ve quickly listed and defined 5 newer slang words we’re seeing across our feeds this week. Most of these are “brainrot” terms, which are used repeatedly across a wide variety of social media meme videos.

Ahh: Used after an adjective (popular example: goofy ahh), as an alternative to “a**,” in this case used as an emphasis to whatever the adjective is.

Aura: Your “aura” is the energy/swagger you give off. If you do something impressive, it could be said that you gained/have aura, and if you do something embarrassing, you lost/have no aura.

Five Big Booms: Originated by viral creators “The Costco Guys,” who use a “boom” as a unit to rank how great something is. If something gets “Five Big Booms,” then it’s as awesome as can be.

Huzz/Chuzz: The “Huzz” is another way of saying the hoes, which is an objectifying and degrading way to describe women. “Chuzz” means “chopped huzz,” with “chopped” being a bonus slang term that essentially means ugly, making the “chuzz” ugly women.

Sweat: A term used most often in gaming to describe someone who is a tryhard and makes the game not fun to play.

Does Slang Play Into Our Christian Life?

Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Our words hold power, and how we use them shapes our reality. Our tongues often speak of what our hearts are full of! Slang is no exception to the fact that our words can build others up or tear others down. As teens create slang, it is often a reflection of what is going on in their day-to-day lives.

A slang term itself isn’t inherently “good” or “bad,” and context is key to understanding the meaning and significance of a term. It is important to encourage our teens to think about how their words not only affect others, but reflect their values and the type of person they are perceived as.

We encourage you to become familiar with the slang words you hear your teens using but don’t understand, whether through our resources or by simply asking your teen!  Good luck!

We highkey know you’re finna eat and leave no crumbs in these bussin’ conversations about slang with your teens, no cap.

Discussion Questions

  • What’s a popular slang term you use that I wouldn’t know?
  • How much does slang play a part in your everyday vocabulary?
  • How do you want your words to make others feel? And how do other people’s words make you feel?

While it may seem impossible to keep up with the newest slang and other teen trends, Axis is here to help you navigate it all and foster deeper connections and better conversations with your teens. For more of our takes on cultural trends, sign up for the Culture Translator today!

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