*Our teen slang guide now updated for 2021 – more than fifteen new slang terms added!
With 2020 soon to be behind us (allow's hope), more kids and teens are home and slang has never been happier! Run into our guide that has become the defacto standard for teen slang.
Many parents have no idea of the growing demand for them to become "bilingual" when communicating with their tweens and teens. "Teen Slang," the complex group of acronyms, innuendos, and code words is used freely amidst teenagers and their peers. All the same, what happens when parents have no clue what their teenager only said? Many slang terms are relatively harmless in and of themselves, merely sure terms should instantly put up red flags for parents.
By learning our way around the tricky language of our teens we allow ourselves to not only build a stronger bond with them but as well know when they're in potential danger. Unfortunately, some slang is specifically designed to go along parents in the nighttime. In an interview with the popular morn news outlet, Today, some teens revealed important insider's tips on what they're actually saying.
Run across the almost pop in the infographic below, or ringlet down for the total listing.
Fun and Harmless Teenage Slang
Teen slang allows our kids to communicate in a fun, interesting way amongst themselves. It gives them a sense of independence and individuality. This blazon of communication is often second nature and many teens don't even notice the differences in their conversations. Some of the more than harmless and funny expressions include terms such every bit:
Bruh–A casual nickname for "bro"
Fam–Their closest friends
GOAT–Acronym for "Greatest of all fourth dimension!"
TBH–Acronym for "To be honest"
It's lit–Brusque for "It's cool or crawly!"
I'm weak–Short for "That was funny!"
Hundo P–Short for 100% sure or certain
Gucci–Something is skilful or cool
FOMO–"Fear of missing out."
Squad–Term for their friend grouping
Boots: This is a way to say "very" or "a lot." It's added after the verb or describing word.
Woke: Highly aware of social bug.
Savage: The cool style to say "cool."
Teen Slang Terms to Proceed an Eye on
While many expressions are innocent and even hilarious some should grab our eye as parents. They are not necessarily wrong, but they show that your teen may be involved in activities that require more maturity and advice from yous as their parent. Many alert expressions involve dating or interest in new relationships. Some of these terms too reveal that your teen is experiencing some type of emotional turmoil or stress within their friendships or lifestyle. While you may non necessarily need to intervene, it's ever wise to at least be aware of what your teen is experiencing.
Bae–Short for "babe." Information technology's used every bit a term of endearment for a significant other such as a girlfriend or swain. As an acronym, information technology stands for "Before Anyone Else.
Curve–To reject someone romantically
Depression-Key–A warning that what they're maxim isn't something they want everyone to know
Hi-Fundamental–The opposite of Depression-Central. It highlights something that 1 hopes non exist known.
Salty–To be bitter about something or someone
Skurt–To go away or leave
Throw shade–To give someone a nasty look or say something unpleasant well-nigh them.
Straight burn down–Something is hot or trendy
Sip tea–To listen your own business
Ship –Brusque for "relationship."
Ghost–To ignore someone on purpose.
Avocado–Used to depict a person, who is socially construed as directly by those around him/her, simply in actuality is gay.
Warning Flags
As a parent, yous are rightfully concerned or suspicious when your teenager becomes secretive. They may "talk" a lot, simply at the same fourth dimension avoid actually saying anything revealing. In unsafe or loftier-risk situations, slang can become a good hiding identify for your teen. When terms such every bit these appear in hushed conversations with friends or on their telephone, be alert to oncoming danger for your kid. Some of these dangerous terms even appeared in a special news report for CNN.
Thirsty–Beingness desperate for something
Down in the DM–Short for plans in their social media or texts for an oncoming sexual claw-upwards
Boom–To have casual sex
Netflix 'n Chill–To meet under the pretense of watching Netflix/TV together when actually planning to run across for "making out" or sex
NIFOC–Acronym for "Naked in forepart of their computer"
CU46–Acronym for "See you for sex"
POS–Parents Over Shoulder – usually done by teens in a text so be aware if you lot find them using.
9–Short for "A parent is watching!"
GNOC–Acronym for "Get naked on camera!"
420–Marijuana
Information technology's rarely piece of cake, merely as parents, one of the most important ways to keep our teens condom is through consistent communication. Many horrible situations accept evolved over the years in families where proper parent/teen communication was neglected. Although you may not ever instantly understand everything your teen says, take the time to honestly ask them. Testify your want to empathize and communicate. If all else fails, consult trusted sources or even slang dictionaries such every bit Urban Dictionary where many mod slang terms appear.
Sometimes there may be a reason where parents may want to limit or completely disable texting or calling. Apple does non provide a procedure to cake either, although Netsanity does prove parents how they tin can mirror iMessages in this blog. However, for parents who accept Samsung smartphones and tablets, they have more options when using Netsanity.
The internet and its social media sub-world change on a near day-to-day basis. Trends pop up and fall away earlier some parents even realize they existed. In a world where some of these trends can be risky or downright dangerous (similar the recent and devastating Bluish Whale Challenge), it'due south essential for parents to stay aware of what their teenagers are doing online.
Trends to Lookout
Social Media
Though Facebook is the most popular social media platform overall, and the one yous're most probable to be used as an developed, Snapchat and Instagram are the most popular amid teenagers.
The unique issue with Snapchat is that photos are shared and disappear inside a certain amount of time, which can make it challenging for a parent to keep track of what their kids are sharing. This tin can give teenagers a boost of confidence to postal service photos they might not otherwise, merely the recipients just need to take a screenshot for that photo to live on and exist shared on other platforms.
Here are some other social apps to keep an middle on:
Kik: This is a gratis messenger app that can be used innocently enough to send messages to friends. Even so, "…Kik has also gained quite the reputation for being a sexting platform, primarily amid strangers looking for someone to hook up with."
Confession Sites: These include PostSecret, Surreptitious, and Whisper, where users anonymously post secrets and confessions, which, of class, may or may not be true. The potential problem lies here: "Often PostSecrets are twisted or sexual in nature. While some secrets may lead to meaningful conversations most various life topics, most secrets are too complex to exist read and discerned by minors."
Badoo: Common Sense Media says this adults-only dating app doesn't monitor the content; therefore, a lot of sexual material is present.
Other Dating and Hook-Up Apps: As with whatever online forum, it's piece of cake for teenagers to lie almost their birthdays in social club to featherbed the need for parental approval or join an adults-only customs. Take a expect at this listing of popular apps where the focus is on casual sexual encounters. These include Wild, Feeld, and Casualx.
Up and Coming
Entrepreneur mentions the growing popularity of digital hangouts via Tik Tok: "Information technology is primarily used by Gen Z as a manner to hang out with friends digitally. The platform is and then successful that Facebook is reportedly investigating ways to create a similar functionality inside its platform."
The commodity also says to watch for more than live streaming and augmented reality, besides as a continuation of influencer marketing. This is something to pay attention to since your teens might follow sure social media celebrities who promote a variety of products because of their agreements with the companies who make those products. They're chosen "influencers" for a reason, and then keep track of the ones your teens are following.
Cyberspace Slang to Look for in 2021!
Teenagers speak a different language online (some of which might spill over into the existent world), and keeping up with those teen slang terms and emojis can give you insight into what your child is doing on the internet. Here are some new slang words to look for in 2021:
Thicc— Looking skilful in your skin no matter your size or shape.
I'yard dead— You lot seem to be laughing and so hard most something that you lot are "dying" of laughter.
Heard— A deep understanding of a topic being discussed.
Finna— Means "going to" or "intend on" doing something.
Fire— Something is "really skilful" or "cool"
Flex— Someone "Showing Off" or a "Bear witness off." "He is Flexing on Snapchat with his new car"
Big Yikes— Information technology's yikes, only bigger. Kids are using that to highlight something actress big.
Depression-Central— Another way of using the term "sort of"
LMIRL— Let's Meet In Real Life. Be careful if y'all hear this particularly every bit it can be used by younger kids in talking with strangers
Boujee— Rich or Acting rich
Shook–Teens may mention if they take been shaken by news or event.
CD9— Like a trucker on the walkie-talkie radio; breaker, breaker. CD9 means Code 9, translated to "I can't talk – parents are here."
AF— Term used in a sentence abbreviated for the term "every bit f#@#"
OG— Used these days equally a quick way to say "original" or "original gangster"
Extra— Describes over the top or dramatic behavior.
Cap — Lying
No Cap–Equivalent to "for real"
Basic— Used every bit a non-free way to say someone is but interested in trendy or popular things.
Period— Emphasizing certitude. I am done with her – " Period".
Simp— A guy who will practise anything for a hot girl.
Yeet— A very stiff word for yes.
Snack— A way to describe an bonny male or female.
Snatched— A way to teens refer to someone or something every bit obtained. "I love Sam", He is snatched.
Chilly— Something "really good".
Sus— Suspicious. May be related to drama in school or amongst friends.
Spilling or Spil The Tea— Spilling the beans; tell me everything.
Swole— Extremely buff or physically fit.
Not bad— Piece of work Out
Slay— Existence crawly at something. "Man, you lot slayed that shot."
Turnt Up— The deed of getting drunk and high to the highest degree.
Left me on read— When on Snapchat someone opens your snap and doesn't snap back.
OC–Open Crib, meaning no parents will exist at domicile or at a gathering or party.
Enquiry from 2015 indicated the prevalence of "surreptitious hashtags" used to connect teenagers who engage in self-harming or other self-destructive behavior, and this recent Parents article says the exercise is alive and well. These hashtags include the following:
#sue: suicide
#deb: depression
#ana: anorexia
#thinsp: thinspiration (photos or letters that "inspire" an effort to become thin)
#svv: cocky-harming behavior
"Fitspiration" emerged as a response to "thinspiration," focusing on photos and letters that promoted fit, healthy lifestyles as opposed to a "thin at all costs" attitude. All the same, both tin can hurt your child's cocky-esteem if she starts to feel equally though she tin't measure out upward to those standards.
How to Stay On Top of the Trends & Terminology
Changes happen fast, and so you have to be faster. Here are a few tips for staying aware of online trends and how your teen uses the internet.
Bookmark Urban Dictionary: This handy site gives yous the definitions for the slang terms you run across on your child'due south social profiles.
Set Google Alerts: Google lets you set news alerts for a term of your selection; every day, you tin receive an email with news items relating to that term. For example, you could prepare a "social media" alert and get a list of articles about the latest social media updates without doing weekly searches for what you might be missing almost new apps and sites, trending hashtags or campaigns, and more.
Block Dangerous Sites: At Netsanity, nosotros offer trustworthy parental controls that you can depend on to piece of work and so that you can cake questionable fabric similar hook-up apps, pornographic websites, and any new social media apps you don't desire your child to utilise.
Limit Cyberspace Usage: The more time a kid spends online, the more than fourth dimension he has to explore new online interests. Using parental controls to disable the internet during certain hours of the mean solar day allows (or forces) your child to spend an advisable corporeality of time with his family, doing homework, or sleeping. It also ways less online time with which to become curious and outset digging through the cyberspace.
Communicate: By keeping an open up line of communication with your child, you encourage her to speak up about questionable material she sees or experiences online. It also opens the door for you to ask, "What'due south that?" and get an honest answer when yous hear mention of a new app or behavior.
This is a good place to get-go simply retrieve: the internet is changing even every bit you read this. Keep doing your homework to keep your kid protected from emerging risks!
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