Every generation has its teen slang, but it seems like most parents can’t keep up with their kids’ parlance today. Teenagers like their slang because it’s easier to express themselves without parents getting it.
However, it’s important that you understand the most popular slang phrases your teenagers use. They make it easier for you to understand their needs and struggles and communicate with them.
Here are 18 common phrases your teenager uses that may have left you scratching your head until today.
1. Fit
You may think “fit” is another way to say attractive or in shape, but not when your teenagers use this word. For them, it’s the shorter version of “outfit,” so they may say things like, “My fit at the party was bold.”
What would older generations say? They’d refer to “threads,” saying things like “My threads at the party were cool.”
2. Fire
If your teenager says something is “fire,” it means it’s amazing, impressive, and cool. “Your new shoes are fire,” they may say. This one is intuitive but still not something you’d expect when your generation would call it “groovy” or “cool.”
Anything can be fire, from clothes to cars or something someone says.
3. Spilling the Tea
When your kids want to spill the tea, they’re up for a juicy gossip session. “Tea” refers to gossip, so spilling it is obviously spreading the rumor. Kids also use “tea” to refer to the bottom line when they say things like, “Here’s the tea about last night.”
You may remember saying something like “Here’s the skinny” when you were a kid to refer to the same thing.
4. Lit
If your teenager says something’s lit, they’re impressed. Something lit is great, amazing, and impressive. Think, “I lowkey thought the party was lit.”
However, “lit” can also mean intoxicated or drunk. You know, the same way you used to say, “I had one too many” back in the day. Another synonym for “lit” is “loaded,” although kids don’t use that anymore.
5. Wig
Another way to call something amazing is “wig” — “OMG, that picture is wig!” This slang use comes from the first meaning of “wig,” namely hair piece. If something’s so exciting that your wig falls off, it follows that it’s “wig.”
A three-letter word that meant the same in the past is “fab,” short for fabulous.
6. Big Yikes
Yikes is not a new way to express dislike or disgust with something. It’s been around for a while to show embarrassment or “cringe.”
However, when something’s too cringy to qualify for a simple yikes, you may hear your kid calling it a “big yikes.”
If you want an equivalent from the past, “bummer” comes to mind. Another way to express the same idea is to say something “sucks.”
7. Salty
If your teenager describes themselves as “salty” over something that happened during the day, they say they were upset, annoyed, or bitter about something. This one makes a lot of sense because it gives a good visual.
If you’re trying to find your equivalent for this phrase, consider “ticked off.” It may have been slang you used to turn to when you were your kids’ age and tried to express that you were upset.
8. Lewk
A “lewk” is a creative spelling for “look” (as in appearance), but also a physical trait or an amazing outfit. “Your dress at the party was a lewk,” your teenage daughter may tell her best friend.
If you find this word nonsensical, consider what was “in” when you were a kid. Doesn’t saying, “You were really decked out at the party,” sound equally nonsensical when you think about it?
9. Go Off
If you’re ever bickering with your kids, they may have shot this phrase at you, followed by “I guess.” That’s because they were trying to show you something you did or said was ridiculous.
“You’ve just spent five minutes telling me ‘my house, my rules,’ but you never pick up after yourself. But “go off, I guess,” they may say with an eye roll.
10. Cheugy
When you’re looking at shoes or clothes with your kid, and they say your choice of boots is “cheugy,” you may be taken aback. What does that even mean? Well, it’s the opposite of trendy.
Or, to use a word you may be familiar with from your teenage years, the boots are “uncool” or “trying too hard.” Your kid may also call them “basic” or “normie.”
11. Rizz
Rizz comes from charisma or “rizzma” and refers to showing charisma. If your teenager says they “lost their rizz,” it’s a good thing. They may be less interested in flirting and more likely to focus on important things like schoolwork.
They may also say somebody’s “rizzing” someone else, which refers to flirting with them.
12. Simp
In your day, you would have called a “simp” a “wimp,” and, indeed, the two words are synonyms and refer to someone who’s excessively submissive to the whims of their paramour.
Pay attention when your kids refer to themselves or their friends as “simps,” as it can be a sign that their self-esteem is suffering or they lack self-confidence.
13. Sus
“Sus” comes from suspicious and means the same thing. Something that’s “sus,” like suddenly getting attention from a girl at school, is questionable or dishonest.
Anything can be sus, including calling in sick when a friend partied all weekend or not showing up for a part-time job on inventory day.
This one’s easy to get by comparison to others on this list.
14. Mid
Your kid may return from the movies and call what they’ve watched “mid.” It means it failed to make an impression on them. They found the film average or even poor quality.
They may say, “The new pizza place is lowkey mid. We should go back to our favorite next time.” It means they’re not impressed, and the pizza was boring.
15. Heather
If your teenager says you’re “Heather,” it’s the best news. They’re saying everyone (hopefully, including them) can’t help but like you. However, they may also refer to their crush as “Heather.”
The use of “Heather” as an ideal person comes from Conan Gray’s song, “Heather.” It took TikTok by storm and became a new way to refer to the “it-person.”
16. Beige Flag
You may have heard of red flags — signs of danger — and green flags — the opposite of red flags. But what about a beige flag? A beige flag is similar to these more colorful flags but doesn’t cause concern.
Instead, it’s odd and makes you pause for a minute. If your kids mention their new friend has some “beige flags,” these aren’t deal breakers but aren’t endearing either. The friendship may not last.
17. Pookie
Your teenager’s “pookie” is their best friend or someone they hold dear. It’s today’s equivalent of “babe,” “cutie pie,” or “bae.”
And if you’re not familiar with the last one, it means “before anyone else,” and it’s also used to describe your teen’s best buddy or boyfriend/girlfriend. Unlike some items on this list, “pookie” is good news.
18. NPC
NPCs, or non-playable characters, are people who are not important in your kids’ lives. They may exist at the periphery of their social life, but they do not have significant importance.
Another meaning that is more derogatory is someone who lacks independent or critical thinking and blindly follows trends. When kids talk about NPCs, they’re not talking about their best friends.
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