A Parent’s Guide To Teen Slang (2024 Update)

Fun, Harmless, Silly

Addy = Short for address. “I’ll be over in a bit, can you resend that addy?”

Adulting = To do things a bona fide adult would do. “Adulting is no fun. Why do I have to give all my money to the government?!”

Aesthetic = Another word for “vibe.” “I don’t like this artist because I don’t get her aesthetic.” “I love the aesthetic of this Instagram account I just found.”

Ate and left no crumbs = Used when someone does an exceptional job at something. “Tamara just performed all of Bohemian Rhapsody by herself. Ate and left no crumbs.”

Basic = A way to describe someone who lacks originality and enjoys the most mainstream and predictable things.

BB = Synonym for “babe” or “baby,” but usually used for friends. Pronounced “bee bee.”

Beige flag = Somewhere between a red flag and a green flag, this refers to a behavior or personality trait that is neither positive nor negative, just a little quirky or strange. “My boyfriend’s beige flag is that always sleeps with his shirts on backwards.”

Bestie = Short for best friend, can be used sincerely or sarcastically.

Bet = A response word synonymous with “Ok, for sure.” “Do you want to go out tonight?” “Bet.”

Biblically accurate = Originating from art depicting “biblically accurate angels” (such as in Ezekiel and Revelation, with depictions of several sets of wings, multiple faces, and in some cases hundreds of eyes), this phrase is now used to refer to anything characterized by an uncanny, alarming, and/or horrifying appearance. “I made my mom a biblically accurate angel for our Christmas tree, but she yelled at me because it was too scary.”

Big = A word that adds emphasis in multiple contexts. (Big mad: Being extremely mad about something; big sad: really sad; big brain: someone/ something really smart.)

Blueprint = Used when someone did something so well that they became the standard by which everyone else does it. “Every boy band these days is trying to be OneDirection. They really are the blueprint.”

Boo = One’s significant other.

Boo’d (or booed) up = To be in a romantic relationship.

Boi = Another way of spelling “boy” through text or on social media.

Bop = A really good song. More modern synonym for jam. “The new Ariana Grande song is a bop.”

Bougie/boujee = High class, rich, fancy (from “bourgeois”).

Boutta = About to.

Bruh = More modern version of “bro.”

Bussin’ = Really, really good, usually used for food. Used twice in a row if the food is really spectacular. “Those fries look bussin’!” “Oh they are BUSSIN’ bussin’!”

Canon/Headcanon = The actual plot of a book, movie, or show (canon) vs ideas people have that they want to be canon (headcanon). “My headcanon is that Thor really likes cats.” “You can’t tell me Percy Jackson doesn’t have ADHD; it’s literally canon!”

Cap/No Cap = Lying, or not lying. “I didn’t even study for that test and I got an A, 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.”

Delulu = Shorthand for “delusional,” used to call out someone in a humorous way for choosing to reject reality in favor of a more interesting/appealing interpretation of events. “Did you hear what the guy at Chipotle said to me? I think it was love at first sight.” “He just said ‘have a nice day,’ I think he says that to every customer. You are completely delulu.”

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.

Eat/ate = A derivation of “ate and left no crumbs,” eat/ate can be used both as a shorthand compliment (“That dress absolutely eats.”) and a way to refer to something that is a more cool, glamorous, elevated version of something else (“I love the Met Gala, it’s like Halloween costumes if they ate”). They can also be found as one-word comments on social media posts indicating a positive and approving reaction (“Did you see Maisie Williams’ bleached eyebrows? Ate”).

Era = Popularized by Taylor Swift’s shifts in style between her albums, “era” refers to a specific period in someone’s life where they’re focusing on a certain aesthetic or lifestyle. These can be as simple or complex as is desired; examples may include “villain era,” “healing era,” and “not caring about what people think, just focusing on my own life and being content with what I have era.”

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” is short for outfit. (“Girl I love your fit!”) In England, this word means someone who’s really attractive (“That guy is fit”).

Flex = To show off. Also denoted by the flexed bicep emoji.

FR = For real.

G = A term of endearment for friends. “Hey G what’s up?”

Gassing = To hype someone up. “I’m always gassing up my girlfriend so she knows she looks cute.”

Girl dinner = Refers to the occasionally strange collections of food girls find themselves putting together for a cooking-free meal. These range from the charming and curated (like an artfully prepared charcuterie board) to the downright unhealthy, like leftover french fries, a piece of cheese, and half an energy bar.

Girl math = Refers to the sometimes strange, sometimes silly, and often relatable ways that women describe seeing their finances. The phrase is something of an inside joke in women both online and off, but has also been used derogatively to suggest that all women are bad with money. “If I paid for the concert tickets six months ago, I’ve had enough paydays since then that it might as well be free.” “That is some girl math.”

Glow-up = When someone becomes more attractive, usually over a short period of time. “Oh my gosh, Ethan had such a glow-up over the summer, he’s so cute now!”

GOAT = Greatest Of All Time.

Gucci = Good, cool, “it’s all good bruh.”

Highkey = Obvious or definite. “I highkey want that shirt.” The antonym is lowkey, or something that is less obvious or definite.

IGL = In Game Life. This term is used by gamers to talk about their gaming lives.

IYKWIM = If you know what I mean.

IYKYK = If you know you know.

IRL = In Real Life.

Keep it 100 = Be true to yourself and stick to your values (short for “Keep it 100% real”). Made mainstream by The Bachelorette’s Rachel Lindsay.

Left on read = When you text someone and they read it without responding.

Let’s get this bread = A play on “dough” being slang for money, it means to work hard and succeed. It went viral in October 2018 and has somewhat morphed into a battlecry or a motivation to succeed. There are also many variants and subsequent memes.

Let them cook = A phrase used when someone is mid-action to suggest that their result will be surprising and impressive. It’s mostly used positively, and can also be translated into the affirmative past-tense. “They really cooked in the 4th quarter!”

Lewk = Another way of describing someone’s “look.” It’s their signature physical trait, something that adds character to someone and makes them unique.

Live/living = When something is so incredible, it’s finally making you “live.” (E.g. “this is the best vacation ever, I’m living.”)

Like my recent = Using one social media platform to tell one’s followers to like his/her most recent post on another social media platform. Often seen as desperate. Synonyms: LB (like back), FB (follow back).

Mood = Describes something relatable. *Friend lays down on floor* “Mood.”

Narrative = Something you would not like to take part in. “I would v much like to be excluded from this narrative.” Popularized by Taylor Swift in response to Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.

No cap = You’re telling the truth; basically “no lie.”

Oof = What you say when you don’t really know what to say in response to someone.

OTP = One True Pairing. Used to describe a relationship you are very invested in, or believe should happen. “I don’t care that they’re from different TV shows, they’re my OTP!”

Poggers = An expression of excitement or that you think something is really cool. Originated as slang for a certain emoji on Twitch, mostly used by gamers.

POV = “Point of view,” originally used for a certain type of story-telling TikTok in which the creator was playing a character, now jokingly used to refer to a situation that stands out to you. “POV you get telekinesis when you turn 18,” “POV you left your homework until the night before and now you don’t have time to sleep.”

Rent free = When something occupies space in your thoughts. “I don’t even like that song but it lives rent free in my head.”

RIP/RIP me = Used to express sadness or to say something sucks. Comes from “Rest in Peace” but is pronounced as it’s spelled. “I got an F on my paper, rip me.”

RN = Right now.

Roman Empire = Originating in a trend where women discovered that many men think about the Roman Empire more than you’d expect, the term has become shorthand for any topic that someone thinks about often for no particular reason. “I think about the Radium Girls at least twice a week, they’re my Roman Empire.”

Say less = A way of saying “I understand”; you’re so on board with what’s being said that you don’t need more information. “Girls’ night with ice cream and rom coms? Say less.”

Sending me = Making you laugh, as in, sending you right over the edge of hilarity.

Ship = Short for “relationship.” Used to endorse/support a romantic coupling, even one that’s not reality. “I ship Ron and Hermione.” “I see a ship developing!”

Shook = To be so completely surprised, scared, or caught off guard that your body is shaking.

Sis = It’s literally an abbreviation for “sister,” but can also be used as a term of familiarity or as a filler word.

Slaps = Something that’s really great. “That new song slaps.”

SMH = Shaking my head.

Smol = The online variation of the word “small.”

Snack = An attractive person. “Girl lookin’ like a snack!”

Snatched = Another slang term for looking good. “Your outfit is snatched.” Older, less-used synonyms: On fleek, on point.

Stan = A hardcore fan of someone. The term comes from the song Stan by Eminem. For example, instead of saying “I love Billie Eilish,” you’d say “I stan Billie Eilish.”

Take the L = Take the loss. Can be used in any situation where one comes out behind. Antonym: W (pronounced “dub”); “That’s a W!”

TBH = To Be Honest.

TFW = That Feeling When. “TFW you accidentally spill your Venti Frap all over your car.”

This/that ain’t it chief = Refers to when someone says something that they think is widely accepted or cool, but it’s really not. “This pineapple pizza is so good.” “This ain’t it chief.”

Understood the assignment = Used when someone is doing really well at something, exceeding expectations or making a statement. “Look at Natalie on the dance floor! Sis understood the assignment.”

V = Very. “I’m v excited to binge my fav Netflix show.”

Vibe check = A standard of “vibes” someone has to “pass”. Often used as a joke to justify why you don’t like someone using nitpicky critiques. “He thinks frogs are gross. Immediately fails the vibe check.”

Vibing/straight vibing = Updated slang for “chilling” or “chilling out”. It means just hanging out and having fun.

Weird flex but ok = A sassy or sarcastic response to someone showing off or bragging online. Also used humorously.

Whip = Car.

Wig = Basically a shorter version of “wig snatched,” mostly used in appraisal of something or someone, especially of celebrities. It’s as if you’re so blown away by something that your wig literally falls off.

Wig snatched = To be amazed, blown away, caught off guard, or shook by something. Originates from drag queen culture. Often used in reference to an attractive person.

Wild/Wylin’/ Wildin’ = A synonym for “shocking.” If used to a describe a person, it can mean “hilarious” or “weird” as well. “YOU JUST MET DRAKE THAT’S SO WILD.” “She wylin’.”

Woke = To be fully aware of current events; living in a state of awareness that is above expectations. “Stay woke, son!”

Be Aware Of

AF = As f***. Used to emphasize something: “It’s hot af in here.”

ASMR = Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. An Internet trend of making videos with different sounds to elicit a physical response (e.g. goosebumps) from viewers.

BDE = Big D*** Energy. A compliment because it’s a metaphor to signify that someone has the confidence of a well-endowed man. It’s the opposite of being cocky or having toxic masculinity. It is often applied to both men and women.

Bed rot = The act of lying in bed for hours, sometimes watching television or reading a book, but mostly just being lazy. This can be used positively, as an encouragement to push back against the need to be productive all the time by intentionally doing nothing. It can also be used as a way to indicate poor mental health. “I’m putting my phone on do not disturb all day Saturday, I have plans to bed rot.”

BFFR/BFR/Be So FR = “Be f****** for real”, “be for real”, “be so for real.” Used as an expression of disbelief or incredulity. “I swear I saw Megan Thee Stallion in McDonald’s once.” “Dude, bffr.”

Bomboclatt = This is a curse word of Jamaican origin, equivalent to the f-bomb. However, culturally in the U.S. it’s used as a way to say “add caption” or “explain this picture.” For example, someone might tweet a video and caption it “bomboclatt,” inviting others to add their own funny explanation of the video.

Boomer/Okay Boomer = A way to dismiss an older person who is criticizing a young person on a topic the teen doesn’t think they understand. Also jokingly used to refer to anyone who references out-of-date memes or media. Comes from baby boomer, the name for the generation born between 1946-1964. “My grandpa told me to make a down payment on a house even though I work at Old Navy. Okay boomer.”

Cancel = To delete someone or something out of your life. “I canceled that guy from Tinder. It wasn’t working out.”

Caught in 4k = To catch someone in the act, usually online, with proof. Similar to having “receipts”.

Clapback = Responding to an insult with an equal or greater comeback. The new word for “comeback.”

Clapped = Can either mean being obliterated in a physical match, or ugly.

Cringey = Cringe-worthy, awkward.

Curve = To reject someone romantically or sexually.

Deada** = Straight up, for real, no joke.

Finsta = Fake Instagram. Usually it’s someone’s second, less-public Instagram account, often used to be more real and raw than on one’s primary account. Can also be used to lurk on someone in a more low-key way.

FOMO = Fear Of Missing Out. Many teens feel this because of social media’s ability to highlight everyone else’s activities. Antonym: JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out, i.e. finding joy in one’s ability to commit to and enjoy one thing at a time.)

Fruity = Suggestive of being gay, not always logically. “Rain is fruity and I’m not explaining why.”

GD = God D***. “It’s so gd annoying when…”

Ghost = To stop responding to one’s texts, messages, posts, etc., effectively disappearing from their digital world.

Go off = Giving someone permission to rant about something or someone they’re mad about. “She was so rude. Go off!”

Gyatt = Shorthand for g*****n, originating on Twitch as a way to respond to seeing an attractive woman. The term has morphed into a noun referring to said women, particularly their backsides.

Hop off = Mind your own business.

Hunty = Combination of “honey” and “c***.” It originated in the drag queen community as a slight insult, but it’s starting to be used amongst groups of girls as a term of endearment.

Ick/The Ick = Used mostly by young women to refer to something a boy does that turns them off but doesn’t necessarily make sense. “I thought about him singing Rihanna in the shower and it honestly gave me the ick.” “Close-up magic is such an ick for me.”

Karen = A word for a woman, most often middle-aged and white, who causes a scene in public. “This lady in front of me was screaming at the Starbucks barista for twenty minutes because he gave her sugar-free vanilla syrup instead of regular. What a Karen.”

Looksmaxxing = A term arising from the incel (involuntary celibate) community on the internet, which refers to becoming more attractive by improving hygiene, hair, and fashion sense. “I’ve been looksmaxxing lately, I think it’s paying off.” “You do look better, but I think it’s just because you’re washing your hair now.”

Lowkey = A warning that someone doesn’t want everyone to know what they’re saying. “Keep this low key.” Could also be used to mean “kind of,” as in “I lowkey love this song.” Antonym: High key (i.e. not trying to hide it; straight up proclaiming it to the world).

Main character/main character syndrome/main character energy = When someone either is, thinks they are, or behaves as though they are the most interesting or central person in a situation due to how they dress, speak, or behave. “I’m wearing these cow-print pants to the grocery store. Main character energy.”

Menty b = Shorthand for “mental breakdown.” Popularized by the British dating show Love Island, and often said in a British accent. “If he doesn’t text me back I’m going to have a full menty b.”

Preppy = Once referring to a style evocative of preparatory school (think popped collars and cable-knit sweaters), the preppy style now includes neon colors (particularly pink and yellow), elaborate iced Starbucks drinks, extensive skin care routines with trendy product lines, and hinges heavily on wealth and brand-awareness. On TikTok, #preppy also often includes a genre of “mean girl” videos designed to shame people for wearing off-brand clothes, having messy or natural hair, and “looking poor.”

Receipts = Proof of something (like text screenshots).

Salty = Jealous or upset.

Sip tea = Mind one’s own business. Usually means you don’t want to get involved in the drama, but you have no problem watching it from the sidelines while comfortably sipping tea.

Slay = An expression of approval, usually of a person’s appearance or actions. “Kaley’s corset top is an absolute slay.” “I feel like Bennett got really confident over the summer, he’s totally slaying now.”

Slim thick/thicc = This is the “ideal” body type in today’s culture. It’s a girl with an hourglass figure: tiny waist and flat tummy, but bigger boobs, butt, and thighs.

Subtweet = To passive-aggressively call someone out on Twitter without actually tagging them.

Sus = Short for suspicious. “My credit card got declined. That’s sus.”

Tea = Gossip. “Spilling the tea” is telling someone the gossip.

Thicc = Used to describe a woman who is attractive, typically because she has curves in all the “right” places. Can be used jokingly about other things, like food or pets.

Thirsty = When someone is desperate for another person. Often refers to one’s sexual appetite or desire to gain attention on social media.

Thirst trap = A sexy photograph, video, or flirty message posted on social media that incites others to comment/DM with their interest/attraction.

Touch Grass = A way of calling attention to someone who’s been online so long they’re losing touch with reality. “I just cried because I saw a video of the Mars rover singing happy birthday to itself. I need to go touch grass.”

Tweakin = Saying or doing something off/doesn’t make sense, thus causing an overreaction. “My mom was tweakin on me when I missed curfew last night.” Comes from the behavior exhibited by someone under the influence of drugs.

Red Flags

Body = An objectifying way to refer to someone you’ve been sexually intimate with. People refer to their “body count” when listing people they’ve slept with, and use the phrase “that’s a body” to sexualize certain behaviors, even if they’re not necessarily sexual. “He made you a four-hour-long Spotify playlist for your road trip? That’s a body.”

Catfish = Someone who pretends to be someone they’re not on social media, either for dating or sexual purposes.

D = Short for d***. “She just wants the D.”

DTF = Down To F***.

FWB = Friends with benefits. This is an undefined sexual relationship that’s generally considered to be more serious than just hooking up, but less serious than an actual committed relationship. This usually happens because one person doesn’t want to commit, while the other hopes he/she will.

Hooking up = Has various levels of meaning. Could refer to anything from making out to having sex.

Juul/Juuling = Vaping. Juul is a brand of e-cigarette that’s very popular with teenagers, despite their claims that they aren’t trying to market to teens.

KMS = Kill myself.

KYS = Kill yourself.

NSFW = Not Safe For Work. Used to mark something as sexually inappropriate or explicit.

Pull = A person’s ability to attract sexual partners. “I feel like I could pull Erin from homeroom.”

Rizz = Comes from “charisma”, but refers to specifically sexual attractiveness or charm. “I got Joel’s number this morning, I’ve got him drooling.” “Unbelievable rizz.”

Simp = A man who prides himself with “chivalry” in hopes of getting sexual gratification from women. He’s over the top without the girl giving much in return.

Smash = To have casual sex.

Stealthing = Secretly removing one’s condom during sex.

-Ussy = Comes from the word p***y, added to refer to anything with a hole in it, or anything the user thinks would be funny.

Xan/Xans = Short for Xanax, a sedative used to treat anxiety that’s often used recreationally. Other terms are Xanny, bars, and footballs.

A Final Thought

As you can see, there’s a lot to keep track of! We hope knowing these terms helps you discern when your teens are just engaged in harmless fun and when they’re in need of intervention. One caveat: teenagers are all about authenticity. They can smell inauthenticity a mile away. So carefully consider the choice to add these words to your vocabulary. Your teens may think it’s cool or funny that you’re using them… or they may find it totally uncool and therefore be embarrassed by your use of them.