SLANG PRIMER for the CONFUSED 'RENT

Parents = Cringe. We can't help uncringe your existence but we can at least help you understand if you are being mocked by your teen.

Parents...need a primer on some current teen slang (as they change it up as fast as they change underwear!)

Drop a few of these casually to your teen in a sentence and watch their eyebrows raise!

• 6 7 — This refers to a lyric in a song that's used in a video edit of American basketball player LaMelo Ball, who is 6'7".

• A mood — A relatable feeling or situation (often shortened to the single word, “mood”)

• And that’s on [something] — Used to indicate that you’ve just shared a truth that needs no further discussion

• Ate that — Means you successfully did something; you pulled it off. Example: “I saw your prom pics on insta, you totally ate that look.”

• Aura points — A term used to determine how cool, or not, you are.

• Aura farming —Doing activities to cultivate your aura; see above.

• Bae — Significant other or crush

• Basic — Someone who is viewed as boring or a conforming person

• Beige Flag— A quality or characteristic of a significant other that is weird or off-putting, but not enough to reject them. 

• Bet — A response indicating agreement. Example: “Wanna go to the store?” “Bet.”

• Beta — Someone who is weak or soft, opposite of an "alpha" or "sigma" type.

• Bestie — “Best friend"; can also be used as a kind of formal address to a stranger.

• Brain Rot— Describes the negative mental effects from consuming too much junk online content. Often used by Gen Z in a self-aware, humorous way.

• Brat summer — Term based on singer Charli XCX's 2024 album "Brat" released in the summer of 2024. "Brat" in this instance refers to an aesthetic trend defined by heavy partying, cool-girl style, and lime green design.

• Bruh — “Bro”; can be used to address anybody

• BTS — A Korean boy band popular with tweens and teens

• Bussin'— Awesome. Example: These tacos are bussin’.

• Cake — Used to describe a large bottom

• Cannon Event— A moment in development that will help shape your life or personality.

• Cappin’ — Lying

• CEO of [something]— To be a representative of some activity or thing. Example: “Taylor is the CEO of sleeping in late.”

• Cheugy— Used to describe someone or something that is basic, out of date, or trying too hard

• Chopped — Ugly or unattractive.

• Cursed — Used to describe something (usually an online image) that is unsettling or creepy

• Crash out — Describes an overreaction or tantrum because of something small. Instead of saying "I'm about to lose it", you might say "I'm about to crash out." See also: "D1 crash out"

• Cringe — Causing feelings of embarrassment or awkwardness

• D1 crash out — Describes a more intense, certifiable crash out.

• Daddy — An attractive man, usually older, who conveys a sense of power and dominance

• Ded— Used when something is really funny or embarrassing. Example: OMG that meme has me ded!

• Delulu — Short for "delusional" and used when someone has unrealistic ideas about something

• Demure — While the word itself means modest or shy, the internet has turned it into a trendy aesthetic or lifestyle. In this instance, "demure” refers to a modest or reserved girl who doesn’t wear too much makeup to work, for example.

• Do it for the plot — Said to encourage oneself to take a chance on something. Example: I'm going to try out for the basketball team. Even if I don't make it, I'll do it for the plot."

• Dope — A way to describe something as cool or awesome

• Drip — Style, great fashion sense, flashy accessories

• Egirl / Eboy — A young person with emo-inspired, punk-rock style

• Facts — An emphatic way to acknowledge the truth of someone’s statement

• Fam — Friends

• FINSTA — Fake Instagram account

• Fire — Amazing

• FOMO — Fear of missing out

• Friggin' packet — Originating from an old internet video where a student calls out his teacher for just "handing them a friggin' packet yo" instead of actually teaching them.

• Ghosted — Ending a relationship by completely disappearing with no further communication

• Goals — Something you want or aspire to

• GOAT — Greatest of all time

• Gruzz — Originating from the slang word "huzz" which means hoes, gruzz refers to old people.

• GTG — Got to go

• Gucci— Something good or cool

• High key — 1. Very interested in 2. Actively spreading information

• Hits different — When something is better than it normally is because of different circumstances. Example: “A cold soda just hits different when it’s super hot outside.”

• ISO — In search of

• IYKYK — “If you know you know”; meant to imply that there’s an inside joke

• Karen  — Used to refer to an entitled mom

• Left no crumbs — A phrase that means you did something perfectly.

• Let's get sendy — Means to "full send" something or go 100%; modern version of "YOLO"

• Lit/Turnt/Turnt Up — Something that’s active or popular

• Lock in — To be focused and determined to achieve a goal.

• Low key — 1. Somewhat interested in 2. Keeping information secret

• Meal — Someone who looks good enough to eat. See also: “Snack” or “snacc”

• Mewing — The act of making your jawline more defined by putting your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Teens might say something like, "Can't talk, mewing" to indicate this is why they're not talking.

• Mid — Insult meaning "low quality" or "average." Derives from "mid-tier"— not awful, but not great. Example: "The new Jurassic Park was mid."

• No Cap— Used to indicate that someone is not lying

• OFC — Short for “of course”

• Ohio — Used to describe someone or something that’s weird, bad, or cringe. You’ll also see it alongside “skibidi” and “rizz”.

• OK, Boomer — Calling out an idea that is outdated or resistant to change

• Opp — Short for "opponent"; a term for one's enemies.

• Pookie — A term of endearment or nickname that you call your best friend or significant other. Also used to describe something cute/adorable. 

• Preppy — Used to refer to a particular aesthetic that involves girly, bright-colored clothes and popular name brands, such as Lululemon and Stanley. It's very similar to the definition of preppy we grew up with, but slightly more refined and "basic".

• Rizz— Derived from “charisma." Someone who has “game” when it comes to romantic pursuits. Example: "Taylor has that rizz, they're so charming."

• ROTFLMAO — Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off

• Salty — To be bitter or cranky about something

• Same  — “I can relate”

• Shading — Where teens gossip about another party without naming them; also “throw shade” means to talk about someone

• Ship — Short for “relationship”; also used as a verb to indicate a desire to see two people together. Ex.: I ship Taylor and Jamie.

• Sigma — Someone who is a lone-wolf type, independent but still strong. As opposed to the more dominant "Alpha" male type.

• Simp —Somebody who tries very hard and does a lot for their crush. Ex.: "You got Sarah 3 dozen roses? Stop being such a simp."

• Sis — Short for “sister” but can be used to address anybody; usually used to express that drama has occurred

• Skibidi — An adjective that can have multiple meanings such as “cool,” “dumb,” or “bad." It comes from meme culture and originates from “Skibidi Toilet,” a popular YouTube video. It's not unlike the nonsense video from the early '00s "Peanut Butter Jelly Time."

• Skibidi toilet —A surreal animated video featuring a singing toilet. It's not supposed to make sense or any sense, it's just a funny video popular with Gen Alpha.

• Slaps— Used to express that something is awesome. Ex.: "This burrito slaps."

• SMH — “Shaking my head,” meaning “I don’t believe it” or “that’s so dumb”

• Snack — Describes an attractive person

• Snatched — On point, very good, or well styled

• Squad — Close friend group

• Stan — A teen slang term meaning an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity

• Sus — Short for "suspicious." Popularized by the Among Us game.

• Swoop — To be picked up in an automobile

• TBH — To be honest

• Tea — Gossip or interesting news shared between friends

  
  

  

  Wanna be too cool for school? Gotta have the vocab. That means teens AND adults.

  
  

• Thirsty — Desperate for attention

• Trash — Terrible or unacceptable

• Unc — A term that refers to an older, typically male, figure. It can also refer more generally to any older person or someone who is out of touch with current trends.

• V — “Very”

• Vibing — Chilling out, having a good time, or identifying with a certain kind of energy

• YAAS — A very emphatic yes

• YEET — 1. A very strong word for yes. 2. To throw something.

• Zaddy — A well-dressed, attractive man of any age