Keeping up with teen slang: A parent's survival guide

Navigating the ever-changing landscape of teen slang could be a full-time job. Save yourself some time and a lot of research with this list of common teen slang terms, their meanings, and how to use them.

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Understanding teen slang: Top 25 terms and phrases

1. Lit: Something that’s exciting or excellent. Example: "That concert last night was so lit, everyone was dancing and having a great time. "

2. LOL: Laugh out loud. Example: "I couldn't stop LOLing at my friend's hilarious TikTok video."

3. Yeet: To throw something with force or energy. Example: "I yeeted my backpack across the hall when I got home from school, it was so heavy."

4. Extra: Someone who’s over the top or excessive. Example: "She's always so extra with her outfits, but I love it."

5. Bae: A term of endearment for a significant other. Example: "My bae surprised me with flowers for my birthday!"

6. FOMO: Fear of missing out, or the anxiety or unease caused by the fear of not being included in something. Example: "I couldn't skip the school trip. I had serious FOMO. "

7. GOAT: Acronym for "Greatest of All Time," used to describe someone or something that is the best. Example: "In tennis, many consider Serena Williams the GOAT. "

8. Squad: A close group of friends or teammates. Example: "Our study squad always helps each other out during exams. "

9. Sick: Something cool, impressive, or excellent. Example: "That new game system you got sounds sick. "

10. Slay: To do something exceptionally well or with great style. Example: "She slayed that interview and got the job." Use it as a verb, too: “I slay all day.”

11. Mid: Average or mediocre. Example: "That movie was mid, it wasn't great. "

12. Flex: To show off or brag about something. Example: "He's always flexing his designer clothes on social media."

13. Tea: Gossip or juicy information. Example: "What happened at school today? Give me the tea!"

14. Ship: To support or root for a romantic relationship between two people. Example: "I totally ship those two. They would make such a cute couple."

15. Glow up: A transformation or improvement in appearance, confidence, or success. Example: "She really had a glow-up over the summer. She looks amazing."

16. Woke: Being aware and informed about social issues and injustices. Example: "My teacher is so woke. She always speaks out against injustice."

17. Sis: Short for sister, used as a term of endearment or camaraderie between friends. Example: "You got this, sis!"

18. Vibing: Enjoying a relaxed and positive state of mind or atmosphere. Example: "We were just vibing at the beach all day. It was so peaceful."

19. No cap: No lie or no exaggeration. Example: "I'm telling you, her voice is amazing, no cap." It’s used as a verb and adjective, too: “Dude, that’s cap” (i.e., that’s fake) or “Girl, he’s capping” (i.e., he’s lying).

20. Gucci: Good or cool, derived from the luxury brand Gucci. Example: "Everything about that party was Gucci, especially the food."

21. Hundo p: Short for "100 percent," to express total agreement or certainty. Example: "I'm hundo p we have the same teacher next year."

22. Snatched: Looking really good or on point, usually in fashion and appearance. Example: "Her outfit is so snatched."

23. Gassed: Excited or pumped up about something. Example: "I'm so gassed for the concert tonight. It's gonna be amazing."

24. Wavy: Feeling good or in a positive mood. Example: "I'm feeling wavy today. Let's go do something fun!"

25. Clapback: A sharp comeback or response to criticism or insults. Example: "He didn't expect her clapback when he made that rude comment."

Staying in the loop: How to keep up with teen slang

Now that you’re up to speed on some of the most popular teen slang try these tips to stay in the know: 

• Listen up! Pay attention to your child's conversations, chats, and social media posts. It’s the best way to learn new slang.

• Follow popular accounts and hashtags on social media that focus on teen culture and slang.

• Watch trending TV shows and movies aimed at teenagers to learn new slang terms.

• Ask your child or their friends about words or phrases you don't understand (just ignore the eye rolls).

The best way to keep up with teen slang? Stay flexible! Language constantly evolves, and not every teenager will use the same slang terms. Keep an open, non-judgmental mind and communicate with your kids about what you're hearing. By staying informed, you can better understand and connect with your teenager. Happy slang-ing!

For more resources on parenting (minus all the slang), visit our Greenlight Learning Center.