We all know that language is a living thing. As technologies bring in new marvels, so they bring in new terms. Which become embedded in every day speak. As do trends, music and a trillion other influencers.
In order to understand teen speak, it behooves us olds to keep up with the trends in language. Otherwise communication channels get clogged and stuck in what was for us, our teen lingua franca.
In September 2019 the Merriam-Webster Dictionary added 530 new words that have become embedded into common use. This is just one of them +
Fatberg
: a large mass of fat and solid waste that collects in a sewer system. Ewwwwww!!!!
The toxic lump of congealed fat and household waste—known as a fatberg—was 40 metres long and so heavy that it broke the 1940s-era sewer.— Rebecca RatcliffeRestaurants are a big contributor to fatbergs: Thames Water, the London utilities company, found nine out of 10 fast-food eateries lacked adequate grease traps to stop fat from entering the sewers.— Eve Watling
The San Francisco Chronicle published this list of Words of the Millenium –
Antropocene
App
Binge watch
Blog
Cryptocurrency
Emoji
Fake news
Genderqueer
Hot take
Internet meme
LOL and its derivatives
Mansplain
Selfie
Sext
Screen time
Sharing economy
Social media
Woke
Yas Queen
In 2019 Canadian Internet Linguist Gretchen McCulloch published an instant bestseller book called Because Internet – Understanding the new rules of language.
Somewhere in one of the reviews I read about internet cat speak. Ceiling cat is God. Basement cat is the devil.
I got to get me this book!!!!
Here, for your elucidation, are some of the latest teen speak words –
EXTRA – Over the top. Either in a negative or positive sense – ‘I bought this top. It’s so extra.’FINNA – Used instead of ‘going to’ – “I’m finna the mall.”LOW KEY – Actually really happy but playing it down -“”I’m low key happy about that.”NO CAP – Used instead of ‘no joke’ or ‘actually – “I got this new bike. No cap it’s amazing.”OG – Means original
ROLLED – Getting robbed by someone for clothing or shoes
SALTY – Bad mood, unfriendly, unhappy – “She’s salty she’s not invited.”
SHIP – If a friend has a crush and friends give opinion – “I totally ship you two,”
SNATCHED – Girl to girl complement – “You look snatched.”
SWEAR – instead of really, truly, swear to God
TEA – Gossip – “Oh my god, I have tea…”
THOT – Girl who wears revealing clothes and acts flirty
YEET – Excitement, approval, surprise, energy
Raili Tanska
OG – that’s extra yeet!
Yea Raili – really sick!!
🤣
Wow! Thanks for the update. I knew some of them, but others were new to me. Always good to know the lingo! haha
Got to keep in touch !
some won’t last long.
At the risk of being, like, you know, sooo last decade with my lango, this post is Dope. I’m pleased to see OG included on your list; My grandson’s long-deceased father used OG as his graffiti tag. His last graf was “Still Alive in ’95. OG”. It’s an abbreviation … Original Gangsta…
Dare I say – LOL 😂😂😂