**This blog post was updated on August 6th, 2024.**
The way teenagers communicate seems to be evolving all the time with a slew of new words being added to their vocabulary almost every other day. We know that it might be hard for you, as members of the previous generation, to understand how your children communicate these days. That’s why we have created a handy list of teen codes which will help you stay on top of the situation!
Teen Lingo Parents Should Know
THE RELATIVELY INNOCENT
11:11 – 11:11 AM or 11:11 PM; it’s commonly believed that making a wish at these times makes it come true! Has connections to numerology and spirituality.
Awks – Short for ‘awkward’.
BTS – A popular boy band in Korea.
Bruh – Another slang for ‘bro’ or ‘dude’.
Bussin' – Awesome
CYA – Two very different possible meanings: 1. See you. 2. (See RUDE list.)
Chillaxin’ – A compound word formed by adding ‘chilling’ with ‘relaxing’.
Dabbing – Again, two very different possible definitions! 1. (See DRUGS list.) 2. A trending dance move.
Ded – Funny or Embarrassing
Delulu – Short for delusional
Dope – Awesome.
GOAT – Greatest of All Time.
GTG/G2G – Got To Go. Used to end a conversation.
Gucci – Not just the brand! Implies anything that’s extremely expensive.
GYAT – Express admiration or surprise.
High Key – Very much. The opposite of Low Key!
Hundo P – One hundred percent.
ILY – I Love You.
IRL – In Real Life.
ISO – In Search Of.
JK – Just Kidding. Used after pulling someone’s leg.
LMP – 1. Like My Pic. Used to ask someone to like one’s picture online. 2. (See SEXUAL list.)
Low Key – A little bit. The opposite of High Key!
Lit – Someone/something that is popular.
LMAO – Laughing My Ass Off. Used when a particular content is found to be extremely funny.
LOL – Laughing Out Loud. Sent after reading something funny.
NP – No problem.
Noob – Used to describe a novice in a field.
ROFLMAO – Rolling On the Floor Laughing My Ass Off. Used to refer to the funniest things you read!
Salty – To be bitter or irritable about something.
SMH – Shaking My Head. Used to express exasperation or frustration.
Snatched – Someone that looks good or is well-styled.
SIC – Something that Is Cool.
Squad – The social group someone belongs to.
TBH – To Be Honest
WUF – Where You From? (Where are you from?)
WYA – Where You At? (Where are you?)
WYD – What You Doing? (What are you doing?)
Yeet – A very emphatic ‘Yes’.
RUDE, SWEAR WORDS OR BORDERLINE ABUSIVE
AF – As F*ck. Used as a suffix to exaggerate something. For example, ‘She was boring AF.’
As B*lls – Used exactly the same as ‘AF’, this suffix is also used to exaggerate simple statements.
Basic – Someone who is boring.
Bih – Short form for b*tch.
CYA – Cover Your Ass.
KMS – Kill Myself.
KYS – Kill Yourself.
OMFG – Oh My F*cking God. Used in the same way as ‘Oh my god’ or ‘OMG’.
Shading – To gossip about someone/something without naming them.
SH – Sh*t Happens. Used when something unforeseen happens (Note: Not sympathetic).
SMDH – Shaking My D*mn Head. Usage similar to SMH.
STFU – Shut The F*ck Up.
Tool – Someone who is either stupid or geeky.
Throw Shade – A subtle, sneering expression of contempt, either verbal or non-verbal.
Wanksta – A person who acts tough in public but is mellow or soft on the inside.
DRUGS
4:20 – Marijuana reference.
Dabbing – A concentrated dose of cannabis.
Dexing – Overdosing on cough syrup to feel drunk.
Gas – Can refer to Marijuana
Hulk – A 2mg benzodiazepine bar; a party drug.
Juul – Small pods or e-cigarettes used for smoking.
Molly – 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine. A drug which alters moods and perceptions.
School Bus – Yellow Xanax, often now being misused as a party drug.
Turnt Up – Someone who is high on drugs or drunk.
Zip Ghost – Someone who has a hard time functioning in society as a result of being high on Marijuana.
MOST IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS
CD9 – Code 9. A quick warning to alert friends when parents are near!
Finsta – A fake Instagram account.
FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out.
LMIRL – Let’s Meet In Real Life. Sent between individuals whose communication has thus far been restricted to online messaging.
POS – Parents Over Shoulder. Used to warn the other person not to type or discuss anything explicit.
Spam – To have a fake social media profile.
Swoop – To be picked up in a car.
YOLO – You Only Live Once. Often used as a justification to perform dangerous stunts.
RELATING TO SEXUAL OR ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS
53X – S*x.
ASL – Age/Sex/Location. Used to ask for basic information about a prospective partner.
Bae – A sweet term for crush or partner.
Beat Cake – Term for rough s*x.
BMS – Breaks My Scale. Someone who’s so attractive they’ve broken the ‘beauty scale’.
Body Count – Number of people one has slept with
CU46 – See You For S*x.
DTF – Down to f*ck
FWB – Friends With Benefits. Two friends who regularly hook up sexually without any emotions or feelings.
GNOC – Get Naked On Camera.
Hentai – Graphic anime p*rnography which originated in Japan.
Netflix and Chill – Getting together to hook up.
NIFOC – N*ked In Front Of the Computer.
PMOYS – Put Me On Your Snapstory. Used between friends or partners to show everyone how close they are.
Sexting – To share sexually explicit messages between two individuals.
Ship – The desire to see two individuals (often fictional characters) as a romantic couple.
Smash – Casual s*x.
Snack – An attractive person.
Snapstreak – The continuous number of days in which two individuals ‘snap’ each other. A snap could be either a photo or a video, created using Snapchat.
Thirsty – Someone who is desperate for s*xual attention.
Thot – That Hoe Over There. Used to describe someone as a ‘sl*t’.
TDTM – Talk Dirty To Me. Used for sexting.
Thicc – A hefty person who is considered attractive.
Tight – In a close relationship with someone.
WTTP – Want To Trade Photos?
While a few of these terms are innocent enough, there are quite a few which raise concern if you find your teen using them online. At a delicate age where they require both independence and guidance, the perfect way to strike a balance would be to talk the subject through with your teens. Meanwhile, forewarned is forearmed. Go through this list so that you know what your kids are saying online. All the best!
Communicating With Your Teens About Online Slang
Let your teen know you're curious about their online world. This shows you value their experiences and opinions by not judging them. Encourage conversations with open-ended questions like asking what a slang word means. Teenagers are more likely to open up if they feel safe and understood.
Follow Trends and Stay Informed
Keep an eye on popular social media platforms and apps to stay updated on the latest slang and trends. Websites like Urban Dictionary can be helpful, but remember that definitions can be subjective.
Block Dangerous Sites
Many internet browsers allow you to block websites that you consider inappropriate. To protect your child, start by examining the settings on their phone for built-in parental controls. Additionally, review the phone plans offered by your carrier to see if they provide any protective features.
Use Mobicip
Protect your child’s online safety with Mobicip, the leading parental control app. Easily block inappropriate apps and websites, and receive alerts for potential issues like cyberbullying, online predators, and exposure to harmful content. Customize your child’s screen time and content access to fit their age and maturity level. Take control of your child’s digital experience with Mobicip! Start your 7-DAY FREE TRIAL today!
Writing credit: Authored by Prithiv, a Mobicip researcher who writes about the effects of technology on health and well-being.
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