150 teen slang terms parents should know

Understanding teen slang can feel like learning a whole new language. But staying up to speed with how your child communicates is more than decoding text abbreviations or TikTok trends. Focus on maintaining a conversation and forging a connection.

We’ve rounded up 150 of the most common, current slang words teens use today, broken down by theme. Whether you're eavesdropping (respectfully!) or trying to understand a group chat, consider this your go-to guide.

🚩 Red flag slang (calling out bad behavior)

1. Sus — Suspicious or sketchy behavior.

2. Red flag — A warning sign or signal of trouble.

3. Cringe — Something awkward or embarrassing.

4. Gaslight — To manipulate someone into questioning their reality.

5. Toxic — Emotionally harmful or unhealthy behavior.

6. Ghosted — Suddenly cutting off communication without explanation.

7. Canceled — Publicly rejected or boycotted for offensive behavior.

8. Ick — A sudden feeling of disgust or repulsion.

9. L take — A bad or unpopular opinion.

10. Clout chaser — Someone who seeks attention or fame, often dishonestly.

✨ Positive vibe slang

1. Bet — Agreement or approval (e.g., “Sure thing”).

2. Slay — To do something really well or with confidence.

3. Fire — Awesome, cool, or high-quality.

4. W take — A winning or admirable opinion.

5. Goated — Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.).

6. Flex — To show off in a confident way.

7. Drip — Impressive personal style or outfit.

8. Main character — The person owning the moment; self-assured.

9. Lit — Fun, exciting, or energetic.

10. Bussin’ — Really delicious or impressive (especially food).

🔊 Exaggeration and expression

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1. Dead — Something is so funny you’re “dead” from laughing.

2. I’m weak — Overcome with laughter.

3. Shook — Shocked or surprised.

4. Lowkey / Highkey — Kinda / Very much so.

5. Screaming — Overwhelmed by emotion (usually joy or shock).

6. Extra — Over-the-top or dramatic behavior.

7. No cap — Seriously or honestly (not lying).

8. Periodt — Putting strong emphasis on a statement.

9. Literally me — Strong personal identification with something.

10. Crying — Something is hilarious or emotional.

👎 Disapproval or criticism

1. L — Loss or failure.

2. Mid — Mediocre or unimpressive.

3. Basic — Mainstream, boring, or unoriginal.

4. Try-hard — Someone putting in too much effort.

5. Pick-me — A person seeking attention by being self-deprecating.

6. Ratio — A reply gets more attention than the original post (seen as a dunk).

7. Dry texter — Someone who sends short, dull replies.

8. Stan — Overly devoted fan (can be obsessive).

9. Salty — Bitter, annoyed, or upset.

10. Shade — Subtle insult or disrespect.

🤪 Silly and playful slang

1. Skrrt — Imitating tire screech; used to shift topics or show excitement.

2. Sheesh — Expression of disbelief or admiration.

3. Yas — Enthusiastic way to say “yes.”

4. Yeet — To throw something forcefully or to show excitement.

5. Boop — Playful gesture or sound.

6. Simp — Someone who shows too much affection, often one-sided.

7. Bop — A catchy or fun song.

8. Zoomies — Sudden burst of energy (from pet behavior).

9. Snack — Someone who looks good.

10. Slaps — Very good or impressive, especially music.

💕 Relationships and dating

1. Ship — Wanting two people to be in a relationship.

2. OTP — “One True Pairing” — ideal romantic match.

3. Talking — The early stages of a romantic relationship.

4. Thirsty — Desperate for attention or affection.

5. Curve — To reject someone romantically.

6. Thirst trap — A photo or post meant to attract attention.

7. Bae — Term of affection (before anyone else).

8. Situationship — Undefined or complicated romantic relationship.

9. DMs — Direct messages, usually on social media.

10. Glow up — A big improvement in appearance or confidence.

🌐 Internet and digital life

1. TLDR — Too long; didn’t read.

2. FYP — For You Page (on TikTok).

3. AFK — Away From Keyboard.

4. IRL — In Real Life.

5. POV — Point of View.

6. TBH — To Be Honest.

7. OOMF — One Of My Followers.

8. CEO of… — Best at a particular thing.

9. NPC — Non-Player Character; used to mock someone as boring or scripted.

10. Cap — A lie or exaggeration.

🎮 Gaming and nerd culture

1. Sweaty — Overly competitive gamer.

2. GG — Good Game.

3. OP — Overpowered.

4. Buff — A game improvement or upgrade.

5. Nerf — A game downgrade or weakening.

6. Grind — Repetitive effort to level up.

7. Lag — Delay in gameplay.

8. Noob — A beginner or unskilled player.

9. Cracked — Exceptionally skilled (especially in games).

10. Main — Favorite character or role.

🧠 Personality and self-image

1. Vibe check — Evaluating someone’s energy or attitude.

2. Core — Aesthetic or lifestyle theme (e.g., “goblincore”).

3. Feral — Wild, unhinged behavior.

4. Chaotic — Unpredictable or off-the-wall energy.

5. Real one — Loyal, trustworthy person.

6. That’s so me — Extremely relatable.

7. Gatekeep — To withhold knowledge or access.

8. Valid — Worthy of respect or praise.

9. Delulu — Delusional, usually in a humorous way.

10. Clean — Cool or well-put-together.

😳 Reactions and emotions

1. Mood — A strong feeling of emotional relatability.

2. Big yikes — Major embarrassment.

3. Same — Agreement or empathy.

4. Sending vibes — Offering emotional support or encouragement.

5. Based — Confident or unapologetically true to oneself.

6. Vibe shift — A sudden change in mood, aesthetic, or cultural trend.

7. Unalive — Euphemism for death (used on platforms with filters).

8. Boomer — Old-fashioned or out-of-touch person.

9. Beef — Drama or conflict.

10. Sauce — Source of info.

📈 Trends and virality

1. Viral — Widely shared online.

2. Link in bio — Where to find more info/content.

3. Soft launch — Subtle reveal of a relationship.

4. Hard launch — Official relationship reveal.

5. Petty — Intentionally small and spiteful behavior.

6. Receipts — Evidence or proof, often screenshots.

7. Pull up — Show up in person.

8. Tapped in — Aware or connected.

9. Lurking — Watching without participating.

10. Boomin’ — Going really well.

💻 Online behavior and presence

1. Heated — Angry or worked up.

2. Moots — Mutual followers.

3. Core memory — A very vivid or emotional memory.

4. Messy — Involved in or causing drama.

5. Ratio’d — When a post is ratioed (usually a bad sign).

6. Pog — Expression of excitement (from Twitch culture).

7. TMI — Too Much Information.

8. ICYMI — In Case You Missed It.

9. Big brain — Smart or clever.

10. Small brain — Not-so-smart or silly.

🔄 Modern slang remixes

1. Main character energy — Confidence and self-assurance that makes someone stand out, like they’re the star of the show.

2. Szn — Season (e.g., “Hot girl szn”).

3. Zaddy — Attractive, stylish man.

4. Glow down — Negative transformation.

5. Snackable — Short, easily digestible content.

6. It’s giving… — It reminds me of / feels like.

7. Out of pocket — Inappropriate or unexpected.

8. Softie — A kind and gentle person.

9. Boom — Emphatic punctuation to a point.

10. ICYDK — In Case You Didn’t Know.

💘 Romance and attention

1. High-key crushing — Openly liking someone.

2. No thoughts, head empty — Mentally checked out or blissfully unaware.

3. Rent-free — Can’t stop thinking about something or someone.

4. Pressed — Bothered or upset.

5. Touch grass — Take a break from the internet.

6. Viral-worthy — Potential to go viral.

7. Finsta — Fake Instagram account.

8. Rizz — Charisma or flirting skills.

9. Bussin’ respectfully — So good it demands polite admiration.

10. Catch these hands — Playful way to say “fight me.”

🎭 Performance and identity

1. Say less — Understood; no explanation needed.

2. Ate and left no crumbs — Did something flawlessly.

3. Sliving — Living your best life + slaying.

4. Main — Main social account.

5. Alt — Alternate social account.

6. Boomerville — A place of old-fashioned things.

7. Outfit check — Review or showcase of what someone’s wearing.

8. Day 1 — Longtime loyal friend.

9. Green flag — Positive sign or trait.

10. Big flex — Brag-worthy display or achievement.

How to keep up with teen slang

Even the most in-the-know parents can feel outpaced by how fast slang evolves. Here are a few ways to stay current:

• Ask your teen. Most teens love sharing their world if you approach it with curiosity.

• Watch what they watch. Shows, social media, and YouTube often shape the latest language trends.

• Use online resources. Urban Dictionary and slang-focused glossaries can help decode meanings.

• Follow teen culture sources. Staying lightly connected to pop culture can clue you into what's trending.

Staying in the loop helps keep communication open and judgment-free, a key part of building trust. And when kids feel heard, they’re more likely to talk about the big stuff, too.

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This blog post is provided "as is" and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Some content in this post may have been created using artificial intelligence; however, every blog post is reviewed by at least two human editors.