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Twerking... A Generational Divide

What happens when older generations define our slang words.

Carrie Schaefer
Jul 06, 2015
Furman University
42
Twerking... A Generational Divide

As we all know, today’s youth has come up with countless strange slang words that nonetheless have become very popular. I found myself wondering how my parents and grandparents would define some of our most popular slang words. So I did something to help answer my question—I asked them.

Twerk

Grandmother: Twerk is a kind of sexy dancing.

Mom: Um…a kind of dance. A dance that I don’t like.

Dad: Shaking that booty up and down in a gyrating motion.

Our definition: Urban Dictionary: The vigorously shaking of your Gluteus Maximus.

On Fleek

Grandmother: With it.

Mom: What? (haha) What did you say? I’ve never heard that term. I don’t have any idea.

Dad: What? Uh, I don’t know... On drugs. Doing the crack.

Our definition: Urban Dictionary: When something is perfect, or going right, or on point.

Bae

Grandmother: Babe.

Mom: Umm… Baby, as in…well, not a baby. As in, like, boyfriend or girlfriend.

Dad: Boyfriend, girlfriend.

Our definition: Urban Dictionary: "Before Anyone Else" or another way to say babe or baby.

Thot

Grandmother: A clod.

Mom: I don’t have any idea. I can’t even guess.

Dad: Something about that being hot or something like that. Probably about me.

Our definition: Urban Dictionary: That hoe over there.

Turn up

Grandmother: Show up.

Mom: Oh Lord, that’s going to be funny. Um… Party.

Dad: Turn up! Uh, kinda like get down, turn up, we’re gonna go crazy, Lil Jon.

Our definition: Urban Dictionary: To get wild, synonym for "let’s go."

Doe

Grandmother: Money

Mom: Uh… Doe. Money?

Dad: Girl or money.

Our definition: Urban Dictionary: An alternative term for the word "though."

TBT

Grandmother: To be something or other.

Mom: Throwback Thursday.

Dad: Tight butt and ta-tas.

Our definition: Urban Dictionary: Throwback Thursday.

Selfie

Grandmother: A photo of yourself, with or without others, taken by yourself.

Mom: A picture of yourself

Dad: Uh, take a picture of yourself with your phone.

Our definition: Urban Dictionary: A picture taken of yourself that is planned to be uploaded to Facebook, Myspace or any other sort of social networking website. You can usually see the person's arm holding out the camera, in which case you can clearly tell that this person does not have any friends to take pictures of them.

So, as you move forward in your discussions of twerking and turning up, remember who you’re talking to. Remember that a thot to you may not be a thot to everyone.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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