Navigating the world of teenagers can often feel like deciphering a completely different language. As parents in 2024, understanding the nuances of Gen Z slang is more important than ever, especially when considering the social dynamics portrayed in movies like “Mean Girls 2024”. This guide serves as your essential resource to decode the latest slang terms your teens are using, helping you bridge the communication gap and better understand their social world. Knowing these terms can provide valuable insight into their interactions, friendships, and even potential issues like bullying or exclusion, themes often explored in narratives about “mean girls.”
Understanding teen slang isn’t just about keeping up with trends; it’s about fostering open communication with your children and being attuned to their experiences. Just as “Mean Girls 2024” highlights the complex social hierarchies and communication styles within high school, this guide aims to equip you with the knowledge to navigate these dynamics in your own teen’s life.
Fun, Harmless, Silly Slang Terms Your Teen Might Be Using
Teen slang is constantly evolving, with new words and phrases popping up all the time. Many of these terms are lighthearted and used in everyday conversations among friends. Here’s a breakdown of some fun and harmless slang you might hear:
Addy: Short for address. Teens often use abbreviations in text and online communication to save time. “Can you send me the addy for the party?”
Adulting: This term playfully refers to the tasks and responsibilities of adulthood. It’s often used with a hint of irony or humor. “Adulting is hard today, I actually made a doctor’s appointment.”
Aesthetic: Similar to “vibe” or “style,” aesthetic describes the overall visual feel or impression of something. It’s commonly used in discussions about social media, fashion, and art. “Her room has such a cool, vintage aesthetic.”
Ate and left no crumbs: A high compliment, this phrase means someone did an exceptional job, leaving no room for improvement. It’s often used in response to impressive performances or achievements. “Beyoncé’s performance last night? She ate and left no crumbs!”
Basic: Describes someone or something considered mainstream, unoriginal, or predictable. While sometimes used negatively, it can also be used lightheartedly. “Pumpkin spice lattes are so basic, but I still love them.”
BB: Short for “babe” or “baby,” used as a term of endearment, often among friends. “Hey bb, what are you up to?”
Beige flag: This term describes a personality trait or behavior that’s neither a red flag (warning sign) nor a green flag (positive trait), but simply quirky or unusual. “His beige flag is that he alphabetizes his spice rack.”
Bestie: Short for best friend, used sincerely or sarcastically depending on the context and tone. “Going to the mall with my bestie!”
Bet: A response meaning “Okay,” “For sure,” or “Deal.” It indicates agreement or confirmation. “Want to grab pizza later?” “Bet.”
Biblically accurate: Originating from artistic depictions of angels in religious texts, this phrase describes something with a bizarre, unsettling, or overwhelming appearance. It’s used humorously to exaggerate something’s strangeness. “That new art installation is kind of biblically accurate, it’s so weird.”
Big: Used as an intensifier to emphasize emotions or states. Examples include “big mad” (very angry), “big sad” (very sad), and “big brain” (very intelligent). “I’m big mad that they cancelled my favorite show.”
Blueprint: Used when someone or something sets a standard that others follow or imitate. “Taylor Swift is the blueprint for modern pop stars.”
Boo: A term of endearment for a significant other or romantic partner. “Going out with my boo tonight.”
Boo’d up: Describes being in a romantic relationship. “They’ve been boo’d up since junior year.”
Boi: An alternative spelling of “boy,” often used online or in texts. “Hey boi, what’s good?”
Bop: A really good, catchy song. A modern synonym for “jam.” “This new Olivia Rodrigo song is a total bop.”
Bougie/boujee: Derived from “bourgeois,” this term describes something high-class, fancy, or luxurious. “That restaurant is so bougie, but the food is amazing.”
Boutta: Short for “about to.” “I’m boutta head out, see you later.”
Bruh: A modern version of “bro,” used as a casual address to a friend, often expressing exasperation or surprise. “Bruh, you won’t believe what happened.”
Bussin’: Describes food that is exceptionally delicious. “This pizza is bussin’!” “Oh my gosh, these tacos are bussin’ bussin’!” for extra emphasis.
Canon/Headcanon: In the context of books, movies, or shows, “canon” refers to the officially established storyline, while “headcanon” is a fan’s personal, unofficial interpretation or addition to the story. “In canon, they never actually said that, but my headcanon is that they are secretly best friends.”
Cap/No cap: “Cap” means lying or exaggerating, while “no cap” means telling the truth, no lie. “I got straight A’s this semester, no cap.”
Catch feels: To develop romantic feelings for someone. “I’m starting to catch feels for my lab partner.”
Catch these hands: A playful threat to fight someone, often used jokingly. “You spilled my drink? You boutta catch these hands!”
CEO of: Used to describe someone who is exceptionally skilled or talented at something. “She’s the CEO of making excuses.”
Cheugy: Describes something considered out of date or trying too hard to be trendy, specifically referencing trends from the early to mid-2000s. “Ugg boots are so cheugy now.”
Chill: Can describe a relaxed person or the act of relaxing and hanging out. “He’s a really chill guy.” “Let’s just chill at home tonight.”
Clout: Social influence or popularity, especially online. “He’s trying to get clout by posting controversial stuff.”
Dead/dying: Used when something is extremely funny. “That meme was so funny, I’m dead!”
Delulu: Short for “delusional,” used humorously to call out someone for being unrealistic or overly optimistic. “She thinks she’s going to win the lottery. Girl, you’re delulu.”
Doing the most: Being excessive or over the top. “She’s always doing the most to get attention.”
Done: To be completely finished with or over something. “I’m so done with this homework assignment.”
Drip: Refers to a stylish and cool outfit or item of clothing. “Love your drip today!”
Eat/ate: Shorthand for “ate and left no crumbs,” used as a compliment for something exceptionally well done or stylish. “That outfit ate!” “Did you see her acceptance speech? Ate.”
Era: Refers to a specific period in someone’s life characterized by a particular style, focus, or aesthetic, often inspired by Taylor Swift’s album eras. “I’m in my ‘focus on myself’ era right now.”
Extra: Over-the-top, dramatic, or excessive. “Her birthday party was so extra, but it was fun.”
F: Used to express respect or sympathy after something unfortunate happens. “He failed his test. F.”
Facts: Used to express agreement with something. “That movie was amazing.” “Facts.”
Fam: Short for family, referring to actual family or close friends. “Hanging out with the fam tonight.”
Finna: Contraction of “fixing to,” meaning “going to.” “I’m finna go to the gym.”
Fire: Cool, awesome, or excellent. “This song is fire!” 🔥 (fire emoji)
Fit: Short for outfit (in American English). “Love your fit!”
Flex: To show off or brag. 💪 (flexed bicep emoji) “He’s always flexing his new car.”
FR: Short for “for real.” “Are you actually going?” “FR.”
G: Term of endearment for friends. “What’s up, G?”
Gassing: To hype someone up or compliment them excessively. “She’s always gassing up her friends.”
Girl dinner: A humorous term for a casual, often unconventional meal that girls might assemble for themselves when they don’t feel like cooking a proper dinner. Often involves snacks or random leftovers. “My girl dinner tonight is just popcorn and cheese.”
Girl math: Humorous and often illogical ways women justify their spending or finances to themselves. “If I return these shoes, then that coffee I bought this morning was basically free, girl math!”
Glow-up: A significant improvement in someone’s appearance, often over a short period. “She had a major glow-up over the summer.”
GOAT: Greatest Of All Time. “Michael Jordan is the GOAT of basketball.”
Gucci: Good, cool, or okay. “Everything’s Gucci, bruh.”
Highkey: Obvious, definite, or strongly felt. “I highkey want to go to that concert.” The opposite is lowkey.
Hoco: Short for Homecoming. “Are you going to Hoco this year?”
IGL: In Game Life. Used by gamers to differentiate between events within a game and real life. “That happened IGL, not IRL.”
IYKWIM: If you know what I mean. Used to hint at something without explicitly stating it.
IYKYK: If you know, you know. Used when referencing something only a specific group of people will understand.
IRL: In Real Life. “We should hang out IRL sometime.”
Keep it 100: Be honest and authentic. “Always keep it 100 with your friends.”
Left on read: When someone reads your message but doesn’t respond. “She left me on read for hours.”
Let’s get this bread: Means to work hard and achieve success, especially financially. “Let’s get this bread and ace this exam.”
Let them cook: A phrase used when someone is in the process of doing something, suggesting that the result will be impressive or surprising. “Just let him cook, he knows what he’s doing.”
Lewk: Another way to say “look,” referring to someone’s distinctive style or appearance. “She served a serious lewk at the party.”
Live/living: Used when something is so amazing it makes you feel truly alive and happy. “This vacation is incredible, I’m living!”
Like my recent: A slightly desperate plea on social media to get more likes on a recent post. Often seen as attention-seeking.
Mood: Describes something relatable or an expression of feeling. Someone sighs dramatically “Mood.”
Narrative: Often used sarcastically to refer to a situation or drama one wants to avoid being involved in. “I would very much like to be excluded from this narrative.”
No cap: You’re telling the truth; basically “no lie.” (See “Cap/No cap”)
Oof: An exclamation expressing discomfort, shock, or awkwardness. “Oof, that’s gotta hurt.”
OTP: One True Pairing. Used to describe a favorite romantic couple, real or fictional, that you strongly support. “They are my OTP, I ship them so hard.”
Poggers: An expression of excitement or enthusiasm, originating from gaming culture. “They won the game! Poggers!”
POV: Point of view. Originally used in TikTok videos to indicate a specific perspective, now used more broadly to introduce a scenario. “POV: you realize you forgot your homework at home.”
Rent free: When something constantly occupies your thoughts. “That song is stuck in my head, living rent free in my mind.”
RIP/RIP me: Used to express sadness, disappointment, or that something is bad. “I failed my test, RIP me.”
RN: Right now. “What are you doing RN?”
Roman Empire: Refers to a topic that someone (often men, in the original trend) thinks about frequently and seemingly randomly. Now used more broadly for any frequent, perhaps niche, thought. “Ancient Egypt is my Roman Empire, I think about it all the time.”
Say less: Means “I understand,” “I agree,” or “I’m on board.” “Pizza and a movie tonight?” “Say less.”
Sending me: Making you laugh hysterically. “That joke is sending me!”
Ship: Short for relationship. Used to express support for a romantic pairing. “I ship those two characters so much!”
Shook: To be extremely surprised, scared, or taken aback. “I was shook when I saw the plot twist.”
Sis: Short for sister, used as a term of familiarity or as filler in conversation. “Girl, sis, you have to hear this.”
Slaps: Something that is really great or excellent, often used for music or food. “This song slaps!”
SMH: Shaking my head. Used to express disappointment or disbelief.
Smol: Online variation of “small,” often used endearingly. “Look at that smol puppy!”
Snack: An attractive person. “He is a snack!”
Snatched: Looking very good, stylish, and put-together. “Her outfit is snatched.”
Stan: A very enthusiastic and devoted fan of someone or something. “I stan this group so hard!”
Take the L: To accept a loss or failure. Antonym: W (pronounced “dub”), meaning win. “I failed the test, I’ll just take the L.” “We won the game! That’s a W!”
TBH: To be honest. “TBH, I didn’t really like that movie.”
TFW: That feeling when. Often used in memes or captions to describe a relatable feeling. “TFW you finally finish all your homework.”
This/that ain’t it chief: Used when someone says or does something that is not good or socially acceptable. “Pineapple on pizza is the best.” “Nah, chief, that ain’t it.”
Understood the assignment: Used when someone has done something exceptionally well, exceeding expectations. “She really understood the assignment with that performance.”
V: Short for “very.” “I’m v excited for the weekend.”
Vibe check: A humorous way of judging someone’s “vibes” or personality. Often used as a playful way to express dislike for someone based on minor or subjective reasons. “He wears socks with sandals, vibe check failed.”
Vibing/straight vibing: Relaxing, chilling out, having a good time. “Just vibing with my friends.”
Weird flex but ok: A sarcastic response to someone bragging in an unusual or unnecessary way. “I just ran 20 miles with no training.” “Weird flex but ok.”
Whip: Car. “Nice whip!”
Wig: Basically a shorter version of “wig snatched,” used to express being amazed or blown away by something, especially regarding celebrities or impressive performances. “Did you see her performance? Wig!”
Wig snatched: To be amazed, blown away, or caught off guard. “Her vocals were so good, my wig was snatched!”
Wild/Wylin’/ Wildin’: Shocking, crazy, or unbelievable. Can also describe someone acting erratically or hilariously. “That party was wild!” “He’s wylin’ out.”
Woke: Aware of social and political issues, especially those related to social justice. “Stay woke, my friends.”
Slang Terms Parents Should Be Aware Of
Some slang terms, while not inherently harmful, carry connotations or relate to topics that parents should be mindful of. Understanding these terms can help you gauge the context of your teen’s conversations and identify potential areas for discussion or guidance.
AF: As f***. Used to emphasize something. “It’s hot af outside.” (Be aware of the expletive).
ASMR: Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. Refers to videos and sounds designed to trigger a tingling sensation and relaxation. While generally harmless, be aware of the content your teen is consuming.
BDE: Big D*** Energy. A compliment referring to someone with confident and charismatic energy, not necessarily related to physical attributes. Be aware of the potentially sexual origin.
Bed rot: Spending excessive time in bed, often passively engaging with media. Can be a sign of relaxation or potentially indicate low mood or mental health concerns if excessive. “I’m planning a day of bed rot this weekend.”
BFFR/BFR/Be So FR: “Be f** for real,” “be for real,” “be so for real.” Used to express disbelief or incredulity. “I met Harry Styles!” “BFFR!” (Be aware of the expletive).
Bomboclatt: A Jamaican curse word equivalent to the f-bomb. In online culture, sometimes used to mean “add caption” or “explain this picture.” Be aware of the potentially offensive origin.
Boomer/Okay Boomer: Used to dismiss opinions of older people, particularly Baby Boomers, often regarding generational differences. Can be disrespectful and dismissive. “Just told my dad I want to be a YouTuber and he said get a real job. Okay boomer.”
Cancel: To reject or ostracize someone, often due to perceived wrongdoing. Related to “cancel culture,” which can have negative social consequences. “They got cancelled for their problematic tweets.”
Caught in 4k: To catch someone doing something wrong with video proof. “He got caught in 4k cheating on the test.”
Clapback: A sharp and witty response to an insult or criticism. While sometimes positive, can escalate conflicts.
Clapped: Can mean either defeated badly in a competition or unattractive. Both are potentially hurtful. “They got clapped in the game.” “That outfit is clapped.”
Cringey: Awkward or embarrassing, causing a feeling of cringe. Can be used to describe people or situations.
Curve: To romantically or sexually reject someone. Can be hurtful and related to dating and relationship dynamics.
Deada**: Straight up, for real, no joke. “I’m deada** serious.” (Be aware of the implied intensifier).
Finsta: Fake Instagram account. Often used to share more private or unfiltered content with a smaller group of friends. Can sometimes be used for less wholesome purposes like gossiping or hiding activities from parents.
FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out. Anxiety that you are missing out on social experiences, often fueled by social media. Important to discuss healthy social media habits.
Fruity: Suggestive of being gay, sometimes used playfully or jokingly, sometimes potentially as a microaggression. Context is key.
GD: God D***. Expletive. “It’s so GD annoying when…”
Ghost: To abruptly cut off contact with someone without explanation, especially in dating or friendships. Can be hurtful and disrespectful.
Go off: Giving permission to someone to rant or express anger. “She’s so mad, just let her go off.”
Gyatt: Shorthand for g**, originating online as a reaction to attractive women. Potentially objectifying and disrespectful.
Hop off: Mind your own business. Can be dismissive or rude depending on tone.
Hunty: Combination of “honey” and c***. Originated in drag culture, can be used playfully or insultingly, depending on context and relationship. Be aware of the potentially offensive origin.
Ick/The Ick: A sudden feeling of disgust or turn-off towards someone, often for minor or irrational reasons in romantic contexts. “He chews with his mouth open, instant ick.”
Karen: A derogatory term for a woman, typically middle-aged and white, perceived as entitled or demanding in public, often associated with racist or privileged behavior. Important to discuss the harmful stereotypes associated with this term.
Looksmaxxing: Primarily used in online communities, refers to efforts to improve one’s physical attractiveness through various means. Can be linked to body image issues and potentially unhealthy obsessions with appearance.
Lowkey: Discreetly, subtly, or secretly. Can also mean “kind of” or “somewhat.” “I lowkey want to skip class.”
Main character/main character syndrome/main character energy: Describes someone who acts as if they are the central or most important person in any situation. Can be seen as self-centered or attention-seeking.
Menty b: Shorthand for “mental breakdown.” Can be used lightly or to describe serious mental health struggles. Important to be sensitive to the context.
Preppy: Originally a style, now associated with wealth, brand consciousness, and sometimes “mean girl” behavior online, with videos shaming those who don’t fit a certain aesthetic. Be aware of potential links to materialism and exclusivity.
Receipts: Proof, often in the form of screenshots or documented evidence. “I need receipts to believe that.”
Salty: Jealous, bitter, or upset. “She’s salty because she didn’t get invited.”
Sip tea: Mind your own business, observe drama without getting involved. Can be passive and avoidant of conflict resolution.
Slay: Expression of approval, usually for appearance or actions. Generally positive, but overuse can be performative.
Slim thick/thicc: Describes a specific body type considered ideal in current trends, hourglass figure with curves in certain areas. Can contribute to unrealistic body image expectations.
Subtweet: Passive-aggressively criticizing someone on Twitter without directly mentioning them. Can be a form of indirect aggression and online drama.
Sus: Short for suspicious. “That’s kinda sus.”
Tea: Gossip. “Spill the tea” means to share gossip. Can be harmless fun or contribute to spreading rumors and negativity.
Thicc: Describing a woman with curves, considered attractive. Can be objectifying and contribute to narrow beauty standards.
Thirsty: Desperate for attention, especially romantic or sexual attention, often online. Can be judgmental and related to social media validation.
Thirst trap: A social media post designed to attract attention and flirtatious comments. Related to online validation seeking.
Touch Grass: An online expression telling someone to disconnect from the internet and engage with the real world. Can be dismissive or genuinely meant as advice.
Tweakin: Acting erratically or nonsensically, often implying drug use or being out of control. Can be insensitive and stigmatizing. “He was tweakin’ after drinking too much.”
Red Flag Slang Terms: When to Intervene
Certain slang terms are associated with risky behaviors, harmful attitudes, or potentially dangerous situations. If you hear your teen using these terms, it’s important to pay attention and consider having a conversation.
Body: Objectifying term for someone you’ve been sexually intimate with. Reduces people to objects and devalues relationships. “What’s your body count?”
Catfish: Someone who creates a fake online profile to deceive others, often for romantic or sexual purposes. Related to online safety and deception.
D: Short for d***. Explicit sexual term. “She just wants the D.”
DTF: Down To F***. Explicitly refers to willingness to have casual sex.
FWB: Friends With Benefits. Describes a sexual relationship without commitment. Can be emotionally complex and potentially harmful, especially for teens.
Hooking up: Can range from kissing to sexual intercourse. Vague term that needs clarification in discussions about relationships and intimacy.
Juul/Juuling: Vaping, specifically using Juul brand e-cigarettes. Related to nicotine addiction and health risks.
KMS: Kill myself. Indicates suicidal ideation and requires serious attention and potential intervention.
KYS: Kill yourself. A harmful and aggressive phrase that can contribute to cyberbullying and mental health crises.
NSFW: Not Safe For Work. Indicates sexually explicit or inappropriate content. Related to exposure to inappropriate material.
Pull: Ability to attract sexual partners. Reduces people to conquests and objectifies relationships. “He thinks he can pull anyone.”
Rizz: Short for charisma, specifically referring to romantic or sexual charm. Can be positive, but also used to objectify and focus solely on attraction. “He’s got rizz.”
Simp: A derogatory term for a man who is overly eager to please a woman in hopes of romantic or sexual attention, often to a self-degrading degree. Can be misogynistic and promote unhealthy relationship dynamics.
Smash: To have casual sex. Reduces sex to a purely physical act without emotional connection.
Stealthing: Secretly removing a condom during sex without consent. A form of sexual assault and a serious violation of trust and safety.
-Ussy: Suffix derived from p***y, added to various words, often humorously or crudely, to sexualize or objectify. Highly inappropriate and disrespectful.
A Final Thought for Parents
Understanding Gen Z slang is a continuous process. Language evolves quickly, and new terms will always emerge. The key takeaway for parents is not to become fluent in teen slang overnight, but to maintain open communication with your children, be aware of the types of language they use, and be ready to have conversations about the meaning and implications behind these words. By staying informed and engaged, you can better support your teen’s social development and navigate the complexities of their world, both online and offline, and address potential issues related to “mean girl” dynamics or other social challenges they might face.
