Sup, gang, cooked—are these new slangs giving, or are they icks?
What is Slang?
Slang is a forever-evolving form of language that continuously expands. Slang is defined as a form of language used in informal situations. It can also be referred to as “teen talk or teen language.” According to author Sali A. Tagliamonte, “Teen language is one of the most creative forms of talk and a key source of what is coming in the future of English.” Therefore, teens play a massive role in creating new terms and replacing others.
Slang Recap
Here’s some of the 2000s slang that I love and would like to bring back:
Chillax. Cool beans. Sketch. Awesome sauce. Fetch. Tight. Home skillet. Wack. Sick. ThaBomb.com That’s so 2000 and late. Kickback. Down in the dumps. Shorty. Blinged out. My click. Cray-cray. Whatchamacallit? Foshizzle.
Don’t knock it till you try it out. They’re pretty cheesy but kind of wholesome in some ways.
The following generation had slang that wasn’t too bad either:
Poser. That’s hot. Your mom. Oooh burn! You’re such a try-hard. Peace out. Such a noob. Let’s get it poppin’. Holla. Talk to the hand.
It’s a little attitude and a lot of dissing, but it’s still not too bad. And yet again, slang has evolved for our new generation, and I question it all.
Slang Comparison
Now, for this article, I had to find out the new changes to the slang. I had the opportunity to ask a few high school students about some slang words from my high school years (2013-2017) and what their equivalents are now. Here’s what I collected:
YOLO (you only live once) = For the plot
Cool points = Aura points
Swag = Drip
On fleek = They ate
Savage = Wild.
“Water” is life = In my “water” era.
Keep it 100 = Keep it a stack
You’re being extra = You’re doing too much.
Please don’t calculate my age, but what’s the consensus? Were the slang terms upgrades or downgrades? Because there’s more.
New Slangs to Learn
Here’s a list of slang terms with their meanings:
L – stands for Lose
W – stands for Win
Cap – Not true
Sigma – Good
Beta – Weak
Gucci – Cool
Negative aura – Not cool
Tweaking – Acting weird
Podium – Something really good
Opp – someone you don’t like
Ick – a sudden feeling of disgust or repulsion
Very demure – being cutesy and mindful; not being messy or loud
Delulu – short for Delusional
SUS – short for Suspicious
Rizz – short for Charisma; or having Game
GOAT – an acronym for Greatest Of All Time
Here are the weirdest/wildest ones:
Skibidi – Bad
Fanum tax – stealing
Mewing – Trying to look good
Ohio – Weird or Cringe or Loser
Mogging – looking better than someone else
Have our slang terms evolved for the better?
Although this is a subjective opinion, there may be some ways to tell when it’s time to give up the term. Three things to keep in mind are utilization, longevity, and audience.
For instance, the utilization can be minimal, like skibidi. The fear of using the word out of context and incorrectly would embarrass me to try to use it. There are also better ways to convey what mewing and mogging try to communicate, so they don’t seem to have any longevity.
The longevity of slang terms depends on their popularity. Word on the street is that some are short-lived, like trends, or if millennials and older generations begin to use them. Ouch. However, with social platforms, there is always someone trying out a new word or phrase in hopes it sticks for a while.
One thing I am confused about is how the state of Ohio got mixed into being used as a slang term. Is there something I missed about Ohio? I wonder how Ohioans are feeling about this one.
Who is the audience?
It can be sad to hear that the new slang terms may only be for Generation Alpha, as they seem to originate from social media, such as TikToks or memes. Social media should be for all, but let’s be honest–younger generations and influencers dominate the social platforms. Anyone who doesn’t keep up with them, like busy parents, teachers, and older people, will be left behind.
Conclusion
Slang is a creative way to make communication more engaging, but please use it at your own discretion. It may be hard for outsiders to understand; I suggest being kind and sharing its meanings. So, if you hear older people hating, they may just have FOMO.