You are in your prime when you’re in college, right? Wrong. Sorry to burst your bubble, but you’re not as young, cool, and hip as you think you are. Just when you think you’re finally catching on to and understanding the language of the “younger generation,” new words and phrases emerge, and you don’t have a darn clue about what kids (high schoolers, I’m talking about you) these days are saying. Yikes! Suddenly, you feel like a middle-aged mom because now you need to Urban Dictionary all this new jargon, rather than just integrating it into your everyday vocabulary. If you’re trying to stay in touch and up to date with the latest lingo, these are the 11 phrases you must know.
1. Szn
Translation: Season
Example: “I’ve got to get myself to the gym ASAP because it’s swimsuit szn.”
If you thought “szn” was slang for sneeze, you’re not alone. I did too. Apparently, it’s how all the cool kids these days refer to word “season.” You know, because typing out the three extra letters to make the whole word is quite challenging.
2. The GOAT
Translation: Greatest Of All Time
Example: “Beyonce’s new album is the GOAT.”
This is not to be mistaken for a farm animal.
3. Extra
Translation: Over the top, obnoxious, dramatic
Example: “Mrs. Smith assigned us thirty problems for homework. Why she gotta be so extra?”
Why wasn’t this a slang word back in the day?
4. ‘Ship
Translation: Relationship
Example: “Kyle and Megan have been Tinder messaging all day. I think I see a ‘ship developing.”
This one is kind of unnecessary, but I’ll humor the younger crowd.
5. RT
Translation: Retweet, agree
Example: Friend 1: “T. Swift’s lob haircut is so cute. I wish I could pull it off.” Friend 2: “YAS! RT, RT, RT!”
I mean, you could just say, “I agree with you,” but saying, “RT,” is way more fun, I guess.
6. Lit
Translation: Fun, intense, popular
Example: Friend 1: “Did you go to the frat party last night?” Friend 2: “Girl, yes! That sh*t was lit!”
This is also interchangeable with the phrase “turned up.”
7. Fam
Translation: Close friends
Example: “Hey fam, wanna go out tonight?”
"Fam" is the 2016 version of “squad.”
8. V
Translation: Very
Example: “This Chipotle burrito bowl is v good.”
Not going to lie, “v” is v catchy!
9. Trash
Translation: Terrible
Example: “Steph Curry’s behavior during the NBA finals was trash.”
This one is pretty self explanatory.
10. Peep
Translation: Look at
Example: “Peep my tweet.”
11. Fire
Translation: Amazing, trendy
Example: "This Taco Bell is fire after a night out!"
This is not to be confused with "lit."
Only super uncool, old people will think you’re referring to the marshmallow candy when you say this.
Just when you think you were finally catching on, things change again. Long gone are the days of “bae,” “on fleek,” and “finna.” It’s time to accept your fate and realize, you aren’t as cool as you once were. Maybe it’s karma for all those times you made fun of your mom for having no idea what you were talking about. Fear not: There’s no shame in bookmarking Urban Dictionary in your frequently visited websites!
