What the Sigma? Keeping Up With Today’s Teen Slang

Does it ever feel like your teen speaks a different language, although it may sound like they're using English? Welcome to the Gen Alpha slang, the informal colloquialisms of today's teenagers. Never mind Gen Z; the newest generation—today's teenage generation—uses seemingly inexplicable terms to speak with each other. Don't let the teens confuse you. Let's learn the slang of teenagers today so you can talk and understand your teen's lingo without sounding like a Boomer.

2024 Teen Slang List

Some of the more common words you might hear include the following:

• AF - Short for "as f**ck," used to underline a statement (e.g., "he's tall AF")
• Ate - To succeed at something, "she ate that math problem up."
• Cheugy - A person who's trying too hard or something outdated
• Cringe - A description of something embarrassing or awkward
• Extra - Over-the-top, extreme
• GOAT - Short for "Greatest of All Time"
• Gucci - Good or cool
• Hits different - Something that lands or is felt differently than normal
• IYKYK - Short for "if you know, you know," which refers to an inside joke 
• Lit - Amazing, cool, or exciting
• Low-key - An expression to downplay a certain emotion (e.g., "I'm low-key in love with Ryan Gosling.")
• Rizz - Short for "charisma,' used to describe someone charming
• Salty - Angry or bitter
• Sigma - A famous male who's a lone wolf type and doesn't blend in with the crowd
• Slay - To be extraordinarily stylish or successful.
• Sleep on - To be clueless about something (e.g., "Don't sleep on the new Taylor Swift album.")
• Snatched - Looks good or fashionable
• Tea - Gossip, situation, news, or story (e.g., "Spill the tea on Jason's breakup!")
• Thirsty - Trying hard to get attention
• Yassify - A dramatic makeover or using beauty filters until a face is completely unrecognizable
• Yeet - To throw something with a lot of force (e.g., "Yeet me that bottle, man.")

Several terms are more specific to people, relationships, and dating. These may include sexual relations. Watch out for the following.

• Bae - Acronym of "Before Anyone Else" or can be used as "babe" or "baby;" used to describe a romantic partner or good friend.
• Basic - Boring, average, or unoriginal
• BF/GF - Boyfriend/girlfriend
• BFF - Best friends forever
• Body count - The number of people one's been intimate with
• Bruh - Bro or dude
• CU46 - See you for sex
• Curve - To reject someone romantically
• Fam - Group of friends
• Flex - To show off
• Ghosted - To end a relationship by cutting off communication
• A Karen - A term to belittle a rude and entitled middle-aged woman
• OK, Boomer - Something people of the younger generation say when responding to an old-fashioned person or an outdated idea (like from the Baby Boomer generation)
• Periodt - Used to emphasize a statement. "Best concert ever, periodt."
• Plug - Someone who can hook you up with drugs
• Ratio'd - From social media, more negative feedback than positive
• Ship - You might "ship" two people together, as in you think they should be a couple, derived from the word 'relation-SHIP' (e.g., "I ship Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.")
• Shook - Incredibly shocked or shaken up
• Simp - Someone who has a massive crush on someone and acts like they worship their crush
• Smash - To have casual sex
• Stan - An overeager fan of a particular celebrity
• Sus - Short for "suspicious"
• Throw shade - To criticize or express content for someone; also to trash talk.
• Tight - In a close relationship or friendship
• Tool - A person who's stupid, clueless, or obnoxious
• WTTP - Acronym for "Want to trade photos?"
• LMIRL - Acronym for "Let's meet in real life"

You can find more slang glossaries online. Keep yourself updated and informed.

Tips for Parents to Stay Up to Date with Teen Slang

Teen slang can be confusing for parents. Learning them may also seem intimidating. With the constant evolution of language, particularly with influences from social media and entertainment, staying up-to-date can be challenging. However, there are strategies parents can employ to keep up.

Talk to your teens often and openly.

One of the most effective ways to understand teen slang is through open dialogue. Regular, non-judgmental conversations with your teen can provide insight into the terms they use and the contexts in which they are applied.

• Active listening: When your teen speaks, actively listen without immediately questioning or correcting their speech.
• Ask questions: If you encounter unfamiliar slang, ask your teen about its meaning and usage.
• Shared experiences: Engage in activities your teen enjoys, as these can be natural opportunities for slang to surface and be explained.
• Encourage expression: Let your teen know that you're interested in their world, including their language.

Use online resources and dictionaries.

Online resources are invaluable for deciphering teen slang. Websites such as Urban Dictionary serve as user-generated archives for slang terms and their definitions, often providing usage examples. Make it a habit to visit online dictionaries to look up new phrases. Don't forget to bookmark resources you find helpful. Lastly, consider downloading apps designed to explain slang you can use on your mobile phone and consult on the go.

Follow social media accounts.

You may not want to make it obvious you're following your teen on social media. But check out who they're following and follow the celebrities and influencers popular among teens. You can observe how slang naturally occurs in various online conversations. Some platforms may be confusing at first (like TikTok or Snapchat), but they are the fastest breeding ground for new jargon. Keep using them and get used to the language of youth.

Keeping Up With 2024 Teen Slang

By staying engaged with your teen's communication style, utilizing online slang dictionaries, and observing social media trends, you can maintain an understanding of the slang that colors today’s teen conversations. There's no reason you can't surprise your teen by saying, "Your outfit today looks snatched. You're going to slay in school!" Understanding teens is one of our critical missions at Liahona Academy. Educating parents about their teens is one method we employ to ensure successful treatment. Contact Liahona Academy today to get help for your troubled teen.