Decoding Teenage Slang : Parents Survival Manual 

 Understanding the Lingo

Lingo (noun)
the language and speech, especially the jargon, slang, or argot, of a particular field, group, or individual

Sometimes I feel like I am talking to an alien. Am I just a tad slow or stupid (which I know I am not!)?  When I chat to my teenagers or ask them to help me, I find myself in a state of perpetual confusion and it is a constant struggle to decipher the cryptic code of teenage slang they use. I cant help but wonder if theyre intentionally trying to confuse me. Are they trying to get out of helping me? Or simply dont want to or care to keep me in the loop? 

Teenage slang : Are they trying to trick us?

I might be overthinking things here, after all, theyre teenagers and sometimes  they just couldnt be bothered and are plain lazy. This is especially true when Im frantically busy preparing for my weekend markets and need help in packing boxes, loading the car and last-minute finishes. Maybe it is their tactic to spend more time arguing with me than actually helping me  by using words and phrases which only they can understand  are they being rude? have a legitimate excuse? or just wearing me down?

Teenagers using slang is not a new phenomenon  when I was young I used slang and irritated my parents with words such as cool, rad, totally, gnarly, arbing, zeff and what-ever …   But I feel the use of slang is more prevalent today due to its rapid proliferation through social media, pop culture, streaming services, games and music.   I find connecting with my teenagers and bridging the generational gap quite difficult but crucial to me.  

Teenage slang : Manage with a reference guide

To help me navigate contemporary slang and to successfully manage my teenagers I created a quick reference guide for myself.  I am going to share this with you (in alphabetical order ♥ ).  Fear not  long gone are the days of feeling left behind and bamboozled by your kids! In this guide I break down the enigma of teenage lingo. From the fire to the savage, I unveil the meaning behind these slang words and phrases, making sure youre always in the “know” when it comes to your teenager. 

Be warned   some of the words they use are inappropriate, but I feel as parents we need to know! 

Teenage slang 101 : Crash course for parents | 45 must-know words

AF | ‘As F**k”  Used to emphasise a statement  eg if your teen says, Shes cool AF, it means shes really cool or awesome.

Cap  Cap means something is totally not true or a lie.

Dead  When something is so funny that your teen says theyre dead, it means theyre laughing uncontrollably.

Dope  Dope is a term for something that is cool or awesome.

Drip  “Drip” is similar to sway- use this to refer to a person’s sense of style, which is considered sexy or cool

Extra  If someone or something is extra, it means they are over-the-top or acting in an extreme manner.

Fit  Fit is short for outfit.  Teens might use it to compliment someones clothing.

Fire  Fire describes something that is hot, trendy, amazing, or on point. Its like saying something is straight fire.

Flex  To flex means to show off, typically showing off ones accomplishments or possessions.

Ghosted  Ghosted refers to ending a relationship abruptly by cutting off all communication.

GOAT  Greatest of All Time If your teen refers to someone as the GOAT, theyre saying that person is the best at what they do.

Go Off  When someone says, but go off, I guess, it can be encouragement for someone to continue speaking, especially when theyre ranting about something.

Gucci  Gucci is used to describe something that is good, cool, or going well.

Hits Different  If something hits different, it means its much better than usual or has a unique impact.

IYKYK  If You Know, You Know IYKYK is used when referring to something that only a select group of people understand or appreciate.

Karen  “A Karen is a disparaging term used to describe a petty, rude, middle-aged woman, often in the context of complaining to service industry workers.

Lit  When something is lit, it means its amazing, cool, or exciting.

Low-Key  Low-key is added to downplay a feeling or desire. For example, Im low-key freaking out means the person is quietly anxious.

Mad  “Mad” is an intensifier referring to something being extreme, exceeding, very or unbelievably “He was driving mad slow |  Its mad hot today |  He seems mad keen on her”

Mood  Teens might say mood to agree with or relate to something someone else has said.

Netflix & Chill -This phrase is used as a front for inviting someone over to make out (or maybe more).

No Cap : you are almost a GOAT 

OMG Oh My Gosh or Oh My God  OMG is an abbreviation for expressing surprise or shock.

No Cap  No cap means something is totally true or not a lie.

Rizz  Rizz is short for charisma, an ability to charm and woo a person.    Often used in conjunction with W-Rizz meaning very good Rizz.

Salty  Salty describes someone who is bitter, angry, or agitated.

Sic/Sick  Sic or sick is used to describe something that is cool or sweet.

Slay  To slay means to be extremely stylish or successful.

Sleep On  When someone says, Dont sleep on the new Ariana single, they mean dont underestimate or ignore its value.

Snatched -Snatched describes something that looks good, perfect, or fashionable, often the same as on fleek.

TBH  To Be Honest TBH is used when someone wants to be honest or straightforward about their feelings or opinions.

Tea  Tea refers to gossip, a situation, a story, or news.

Thirsty  Thirsty describes someone who is trying too hard to get attention.

Tripping  Used to describe someone who is acting crazy, thinking foolish thoughts or “hallucinating” or  high on recreational drugs.. Trippin out is “freaking out” or “being extremely high.”

Use Periodt : to win the discussion

Periodt  use Periodt to emphasise the end of a statement, similar to saying end of discussion.

Ship  To ship two people means to support or hope for them to become a couple, often based on their chemistry.

Shook  refer to someone that is incredibly shocked or shaken up.

Simp  A simp is someone who does too much for the person they like, often having a huge crush on them.

Spill the Tea  When someone asks you to spill the tea, they want you to share gossip or spill the details of a situation.

Squad A  squad is a group of friends who regularly hang out together, often used ironically.

Stan  A stan is an overzealous fan of a particular group or celebrity.

Sus  Sus abbreviates suspicious and signifies that something or someone is shady or untrustworthy.

Savage  A ‘’savage’’ is someone who is fearless, brutally honest, or cool in a daring way.

Throw Shade  To throw shade means to give someone a dirty look or criticize them indirectly.

Plug  A ‘’plug’’ is someone who can hook you up with something.

YOLO  You Only Live Once YOLO  use this ironically to justify taking risks or doing something out of the ordinary.

Knowing Teenage slang : is half the battle!

Now you can decipher their secret code and once youve cracked it, youll be the GOAT parent in town – no salty misunderstandings here, just pure lit communication. I hope this reference guide helps you understand what your teen is saying.  It has made my market preparation so much easier  no b&sing me anymore!

BUT  please dont use them yourself, and especially not in front of your teen’s friends.  I was so proud of myself and chose the perfect time in the conversation to use a few here and there …. Their response was not pretty!    I will be back with an updated list soon  we need to stay on top of our teen education! 

Hang in there!