compiled by Kym Byrnes
Teen Speak 101: A Guide for Confused Adults
Welcome to the latest edition of “Keep Up with the Kids,” your guide to navigating the baffling world of teenage slang. In conversations with my kids, I often find myself nodding as if I understand what they’re saying because I can generally follow the essence of the conversation, but I do not know the words coming out of their mouths.
Social media and technology have constantly enabled young people to add new terms to their lexicon. If you’re not up on what’s posted on TikTok or Instagram, then you can feel left behind.
While this list isn’t exhaustive of every teen slang word or phrase, a Google search for teen slang will provide much more education and entertainment.
For the best insight, ask your teens what their favorite slang is at the moment. And, if you really want to mess with your kids, use some of these terms in a conversation with them. They will likely be entertained, offended and grossed out all at the same time.
To help aid your understanding of your children, at least for the moment, below are some terms that will help you navigate the lexicon with your teens:
• ADDY
What you think it means:
A girl’s name
What it really means:
Address; “Send me your addy so I can find your house.”
• AURA POINTS
What you think it means:
Something to do with a person’s spiritual energy
What it really means:
A term used to determine how cool, or not, you are. Basically, a person might assign points to different cool or embarrassing things that happen throughout the day; “Minus 395 points for locking my keys in the car again.”
• CANON EVENT
What you think it means:
A list of church rules or the misspelling of cannon, a military artillery piece
What it really means:
A moment that will help shape someone’s life or personality. Mashable says, “It’s a bittersweet and comical acknowledgement of the impact of weird phases on your life.” “Experimenting with bangs in middle school was a canon event for me.”
• EAT/ATE
What you think it means:
To consume food
What it really means:
A shorthand compliment or a way to say something is cool, glamorous or elevated. When someone “eats,” it means the person has done something impressively. “That dress totally eats.”
• EXTRA
What you think it means:
A surplus of something, or maybe someone in the background of a movie scene
What it really means:
Over the top, dramatic, or excessive;“She’s so extra with her glittery outfits and dance moves.”
• FAM
What you think it means:
Your actual family
What it really means:
Close friends, not necessarily related by blood
• FINNA
What you think it means:
A body part on a fish
What it really means:
A version of the idea “ready to do something in the near future”; “I’m finna get McDonalds for lunch.”
• FLEX
What you think it means:
To show off muscles.
What it really means:
To show off in general, especially in a boastful manner; “He’s always flexing his new sneakers on Instagram.”
• NO CAP
What you think it means:
Something to do with headwear
What it really means:
No lie; I’m for real; “I finished the entire pizza by myself, no cap.”
• RIZZ
What you think it means:
Referring to the bad-girl character, Rizzo, in the movie “Grease.”
What it really means:
Flirty, or someone who has “game” when it comes to romantic pursuits; derived from charisma; “She’s got so much rizz, all he had to do was look at her.”
• SIMP
What you think it means:
Simple
What it really means:
Often a slang insult for men, along the lines of simpleton, referring to a guy who is too attentive and submissive to his female crush or girlfriend.
• SLAY
What you think it means:
To kill a dragon
What it really means:
Someone who has done so exceptionally well that they killed it; “I am going to slay these exams.”
• SNATCHED
What you think it means:
Kidnapped or stolen
What it really means:
Looking good, fashionable, or on point; “Her outfit is snatched!”
• SUS
What you think it means:
Abbreviation for suspect
What it really means:
Suspicious or shady; “That message she sent seems pretty sus.”
• WHIP
What you think it means:
A cooking technique
What it really means:
Can be the action of driving or an actual vehicle; “Get in the whip. I’ll drive” or “Get in the car. I’ll whip.”
Bonus Slang:
The following phrase is “on the come up” (in other words, it’s a relatively new term).
• LET IT COOK
What you think it means:
Leave food in the oven longer
What it really means:
A term used to describe a situation when someone is going through a tough time and you tell them, “Hold on. Things will get better.”
