Hey Parents! Ever feel like your teen is speaking Klingon? You’re not alone! Teen slang evolves at lightning speed, fueled by social media, gaming, and music. This guide is here to help you crack the code, or at least nod along with slightly more understanding. Remember, the best way to really know what your teen means is often just to ask (gently!).
Disclaimer: This is a snapshot! Slang is fluid. By the time you read this, some terms might be fading, and new ones will have emerged. Also, context is EVERYTHING!
The Lingo List:
- Bet
- Meaning: Okay; sounds good; definitely; for sure. It’s an agreement or confirmation.
- Example: “Want to grab pizza later?” “Bet.”
- Parent Translation: “Sure thing,” “Alright,” “Yes.”
- Bussin’
- Meaning: Really, really good. Often used for food, but can apply to music, experiences, etc.
- Example: “This pizza is absolutely bussin’!”
- Parent Translation: “Delicious,” “Amazing,” “Fantastic.”
- Cap / No Cap
- Meaning: “Cap” means lying or exaggerating. “No cap” means “seriously,” “no lie,” “I’m telling the truth.”
- Example: “That concert was the best ever, no cap.” / “He said he met the singer? That’s cap.”
- Parent Translation: “No kidding,” “For real” (for ‘no cap’) / “That’s a lie,” “He’s exaggerating” (for ‘cap’).
- Cringe
- Meaning: Causing second-hand embarrassment; awkward or uncomfortable to watch/hear.
- Example: “Watching my dad try that TikTok dance was so cringe.”
- Parent Translation: “Embarrassing,” “Awkward,” “Makes me wince.”
- Delulu
- Meaning: Short for “delusional.” Often used playfully or self-deprecatingly, especially about unrealistic hopes, dreams, or crushes.
- Example: “Thinking he’ll ask me out? Maybe I’m a bit delulu.”
- Parent Translation: “Unrealistic,” “Living in a fantasy,” “Wishful thinking.”
- Drip
- Meaning: Style, cool outfit, fashionable accessories. Someone with “drip” has a great sense of style.
- Example: “Check out his new trainers – serious drip.”
- Parent Translation: “Stylish,” “Fashionable,” “Cool outfit.”
- Era
- Meaning: Referring to a specific phase or period someone is going through, often defined by a mood, interest, or style. Inspired by how artists like Taylor Swift define periods of their career.
- Example: “He’s really into vintage clothes right now; guess he’s in his thrift shop era.” or “I’m in my focusing-on-me era.”
- Parent Translation: “Phase,” “Period,” “Currently focused on…”
- Gyat (Pronounced roughly like ‘Ghee-aught’)
- Meaning: An exclamation, often used (originally online/gaming) to express surprise or admiration, particularly when seeing an attractive person (often focused on their posterior). Use/interpret with caution – context is key, and it can be seen as objectifying.
- Example: Often shouted spontaneously in videos or streams upon seeing someone considered attractive.
- Parent Translation: Similar to “Whoa!” or “Wow!” but specifically tied to physical appearance (often buttocks). Handle with care.
- Ick
- Meaning: A feeling of sudden, sometimes irrational, disgust or turn-off about someone you were previously attracted to, often triggered by a small, specific behaviour.
- Example: “He was cute until he chewed with his mouth open. That gave me the ick.”
- Parent Translation: “Turn-off,” “Sudden cringe,” “Something that grossed me out.”
- It’s Giving…
- Meaning: Describing the vibe, essence, or impression of something. It sets a mood or comparison.
- Example: “Her confidence is amazing, it’s giving main character energy.” or “This rainy Monday? It’s giving stay in bed.”
- Parent Translation: “It has the vibe of…,” “It reminds me of…,” “It feels like…”
- Main Character Energy
- Meaning: Behaving with the confidence and self-importance of the protagonist in a story. Can be positive (self-assured) or negative (self-absorbed).
- Example: “She walked in like she owned the place – real main character energy.”
- Parent Translation: “Confident,” “Acts like the world revolves around them,” “Self-assured.”
- Riz / Rizz
- Meaning: Short for charisma. Skill in charming or flirting with potential romantic partners. Someone with “riz” is smooth and attractive. Can be “spoken” (verbal charm) or “unspoken” (charm through looks/vibe).
- Example: “He has unbelievable riz; he can talk to anyone.” / “He didn’t even say anything, just looked at her – unspoken riz.”
- Parent Translation: “Charm,” “Game,” “Flirting skills,” “Charisma.”
- Slay
- Meaning: To do something exceptionally well; to dominate or impress. Used as high praise or encouragement.
- Example: “You slayed that exam!” or “Her performance? Absolute slay.”
- Parent Translation: “Nailed it,” “Killed it,” “Did an amazing job,” “Awesome!”
- Sus
- Meaning: Short for “suspicious” or “suspect.” Something or someone seems shady or questionable. Popularized by the game Among Us.
- Example: “He disappeared right before we had to clean up? That’s kinda sus.”
- Parent Translation: “Suspicious,” “Shady,” “Questionable.”
- Tea
- Meaning: Gossip, juicy news, or the inside scoop on a situation. “Spilling the tea” means sharing gossip.
- Example: “Okay, spill the tea! What happened after I left?”
- Parent Translation: “Gossip,” “The scoop,” “News.”
- Vibe / Vibe Check
- Meaning: The general atmosphere, feeling, or mood of a person, place, or situation. A “vibe check” is assessing this mood.
- Example: “This place has a really chill vibe.” / “Did a vibe check on the party – seemed pretty dead.”
- Parent Translation: “Atmosphere,” “Feeling,” “Mood.”
A Final Thought:
Don’t stress too much about mastering all this! Language changes. The coolest thing you can do is show genuine interest in your teen’s world. Sometimes asking “What does that mean?” (without judgement!) can open up a better conversation than trying to perfectly translate their slang. Good luck!