100 Teen Slang Words and Phrases To Know in 2024

When I first started teaching, I let my students pick their team names for an activity we were doing in class. One team chose “Netflix and Chill” as a team name. I loved it. I got excited when they announced their team name and responded, “I love to Netflix and chill! My husband and I Netflix and chill every night!” The class erupted. They laughed immediately and collectively—the kind of laughter that I love. This time, I knew that I had obviously said something inappropriate. So, I did what you do to diffuse an awkward moment and started river dancing. With the help of Urban Dictionary, I learned that “Netflix and chill” did not mean what I thought it meant. I decided I would refrain from incorporating teen slang into my lessons until I was certain I knew what it meant.

Whether you are a parent or teacher, I’d like to pass on what I’ve learned so that you can decode teen slang conversations around you or maybe even throw some teen slang into your classroom instruction and join me in the cringiest-teacher-of-all club.

General Teen Slang

1. Bet

OK! For sure. All right. (Usually said in response to a question or statement.)

Example

Teacher: OK, you guys have 10 minutes to finish this assignment.

Student: Bet.

2. Rizz

Your ability to flirt, to charm guys or girls effortlessly

Example

Student 1: Who are you taking to homecoming this weekend?

Student 2: You know I’ve got a lot of options because I’ve got mad rizz.

3. Bussin

Very good (usually refers to food)

Example

Student: This McFrappe is bussin.

4. Glow up

A physical or emotional makeover, a positive transformation

Example

Student: Did you see who moved back in? She really had a glow up since 9th grade.

5. Cap

You’re lying. That’s not true.

Example

Teacher: We have a quiz today.

Student: That’s cap.

Teacher: No cap, we have a quiz today.

Student: That’s kizzy cap.

Teacher: No, it is not kizzy cap. We have a quiz today.

6. GOAT

Greatest of all time

Example

Michael Jordan is the GOAT!

7. Drip

Clothing, shoes, accessories

Example

Student: Love the drip today.

Teacher: Thank you. I got it on sale at Target.

8. Slay

You are doing an excellent job.

Example

Teacher: What do you need in your body paragraphs to support your reasons?

Student: Evidence?

Teacher: Slay.

9. Lowkey

An opinion that you’re trying to be subtle about

Example

Student: Lowkey, I actually like the school buffalo chicken dip.

Student: The buffalo chicken dip smacks.

10. Smacks

An indication that something is very good

Example

Student: The buffalo chicken dip smacks.

11. Extra

Going over the top

Example

Student: *sees Valentine’s Day headband on my head* Mrs. Naumoff, why you gotta be so extra today?

12. Tea

Fresh gossip

Example

Student 1: Can I spill the tea for you?

Student 2: Not unless it’s piping hot tea.

Student 1: This is the freshest tea.

Student 2: Spill.

13. Gucci

All good

Example

Student 1: Are we Gucci, brah?

Student 2: We Gucci.

14. Take several seats

You’re out of line and need to sit down.

Example

Student 1: I obviously will get the highest grade on this test.

*Student 1 gets test back and receives a 40%.*

Student 2: Take several seats.

15. Yeet

Throw something

Example

Student: *frustrated with the Chromebook* Can I just yeet my computer out the window?

Teacher: No, I am afraid you cannot throw the computer out of the window. Try turning it off and back on again. That is my go-to solution for all computer problems.

16. Flex

Bragging about something

Example

Student 1: I never pop my zits. I just leave them there for the world to see.

Student 2: Weird flex, but OK.

17. What a Chad

Typical cocky male

Example

Student 1: I just got to 400 on COD last night.

Student 2: What a Chad.

18. Big yikes

Something embarrassing

Example

I just accidentally sent the red heart emoji to my crush. Big yikes.

19. Poggers

Really excited

Example

Did you hear we’re going on a field trip today for English? It’s poggers.

20. Gas

Really good

Example

Did you listen to Taylor Swift’s new vault tracks? They are gas.

21. Straight fire

Really good, better than the rest

Example

Chris Stapleton singing “The Star Spangled Banner” was straight fire.

22. Pick-me girl

A girl who constantly wants sympathy (I do feel bad for this girl and this phrase, for the record. Maybe let’s find out why she is seeking out sympathy to begin with?)

Example

I wanted to bring Starbucks with me after my appointment today but did not want to look like a pick-me girl.

23. Dead

That joke was so funny that I just died, or that was so shocking I am now dead.

Example

Student reads a funny or embarrassing story in a message and responds, “I’m dead.” Or they just send the dead-face emoji.

24. Aesthetic

That’s a vibe, a cute artistic little vibe.

Example

I love that Google Slides aesthetic. It’s so 1990s.

25. Era

A phase that someone is in

Example

I’m in mini-van mom era and loving every minute of it.

26. Delulu

An abbreviated version of “delusional”

Example

Call me delulu but I actually think that if I met Taylor Swift, we would be friends.

27. Oof

A sound from Roblox that can be synonymous with “oops” or to express discomfort for yourself or another person

Example

Student 1: I sent him 2 texts back-to-back last night and he never responded.

Student 2: Oof.

28. Ate that

“And left no crumbs” to be used when someone does an excellent job at something.

Example

Did you see my score on that exam? I ate that.

29. Basic

Someone who is boring and conforms to trends

Example

Student 1: If you carry a Stanley and wear Uggs, you’re basic.

Student 2: I feel attacked.

30. Fam

Family but also friends who feel like family

Example

This quizlet deck is lit, fam.

31. Cheugy

A term used by Gen-Z to describe the habits and trends of a millennial

Example

So, are low-rise jeans cheugy or are they Gen-Z?

32. Bruh

Stands for bro. If you interact with a teen at any point, you likely have been called this name.

Example

Bruh, is our essay seriously due tomorrow?

33. Hits different

Something that impacts you in a bigger way than other things

Example

Usher’s Confession album just hits different when you watch him at the Super Bowl in your 30s.

34. Roman Empire

What you spend a significant amount of time thinking about

Example

My Roman Empire is Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.

35. Fit

Short for “outfit”

Example

Love the fit, girl. Slay.

36. It’s giving …

An expression used to compare what something looks like to something else

Example

It’s giving Troop Beverly Hills and I am here for it.

37. Serving

Someone is looking really good.

Example

Did you see her in that homecoming dress? She was serving up looks.

38. Stan

Superfans of a person, celebrity, group, etc.

Example

Everyone knows I stan for Taylor Swift.

39. Emo

An emotional person

Example

My emo playlist includes every Dashboard Confessional album.

40. Noob

Someone who is new like a newbie and they do not know what they are doing

Example

It is clear that you’re a noob at pickleball.

41. Granola

Someone who is into the outdoors

Example

I went on a hike yesterday and it made me feel so granola.

42. High-key

Something that is obvious.

Example

High-key, I hate MLA format.

43. Understood the assignment

An expression that means that a person understood the expectations of the event and exceeded

Example

Whoa, I see your flapper skirt. You definitely understood the assignment for this Gatsby party.

44. Vibe

A feeling, a look

Example

Writing papers with Adele playing in the background is such a vibe.

45. ____________ coded

Fill in the blank and add “coded” and it means that it is a reflection of that person

Example

Going ax-throwing on your first date is so Theresa-coded.

46. Finna

Fitting to, like going to

Example

I’m finna get Chipotle after school today.

47. Say less

I understand

Example

Student 1: I stayed up until two in the morning working on this assignment because my partner did nothing.

Student 2: Say less, fam.

48. Menty b

Short for “mental breakdown”

Example

It seems like my menty b seems to pop up every third nine weeks.

49. Five-ever

Longer than forever

Example

I feel like I’ve been waiting five-ever for him to post those grades.

50. Mid

When something is subpar, less than impressive

Example

I’m just saying, the school’s fettuccine Alfredo is mid.

51. Let him cook

Allowing someone to continue what they are doing, not interfering

Example

The teacher told Henry to stop playing video games in class, and the students replied, “Let him cook.”

52. Girl dinner

A meal of snacks, small portions of different food, side dishes

Example

I’m just going to eat light tonight. Instead of an entree, I’ll just have pretzel bites, breadsticks, and pot stickers—a real girl dinner.

53. Girl math

Unconventional ways to justify a purchase

Example

Student 1: I know these jeans were $150, but if you actually divide up the amount of money I’ve spent on them per wear, it’s like less than $1 a wear, so it’s a really good deal.

Student 2: That’s girl math.

54. Main character energy

Someone who is confident, embracing their natural leadership qualities, self-assured

Example

You’re just exuding main character energy lately and I am here for it.

55. Lewks

A fashion moment that is very unique

Example

Your prom dress is a full lewk.

Teen Slang Used for Arguments

56. Touch grass

An insult usually thrown at people to remind them to get real, spend some time outside

Example

*Comedian reads comments from haters on Instagram and posts a story telling them to touch grass.*

57. Side-eye

Giving someone some negative looks

Example

Teacher hands out assignment that students have to work on.

Student gives side-eye.

Teacher: “No need for that side-eye, you’ve got all period to get this finished.”

58. Receipts

Proof of something like texts, screenshots

Example

I know for sure that he is talking to a new girl. I’ve got the receipts.

59. Hot take

A controversial opinion on something

Example

Hot take, school lunches are actually good.

60. Pressed

Being annoyed by something

Example

I’m pressed about how much homework we have tonight.

61. Put on blast

To share something publicly about someone else that is most likely embarrassing

Example

He cheated on the test! I’m putting him on blast.

62. Rent-free

When someone is taking up space in your mind, living in your thoughts

Example

There is a carrot cake in my fridge right now that is living rent-free in my head.

63. Read

Pointing out someone’s flaws

Example

Student 1: Do you realize that you always argue with people just for the sake of arguing?

Student 2: Oh, you just got read, sis.

64. Left on read

Someone who can see that their text has been read but no one has responded

Example

I messaged him last night but he left me on read.

65. Amped

Excited

Example

I’m amped about our class field trip!

66. Dragged

To mock or humiliate someone

Example

Prepared to get dragged if you come for Taylor Swift in the comments.

67. Facts

Agreed

Example

Student 1: I feel like if you order Chipotle online and not in person, they go light on everything.

Student 2: That’s facts.

68. Heated

When someone is mad or frustrated

Example

You don’t need to get heated just because someone beat you in euchre.

69. Go off

When someone is venting about something and you say this to encourage them to continue their rant

Example

Student 1: It seems like they just up the prices on everything and then call it a sale by taking 20% off when really it is the actual price.

Student 2: Go off.

70. Sus

Short for “suspicious,” used to describe a person or situation

Example

Student 1: He said that he had to stay home for dinner tonight, but when I checked his location, he was at a restaurant.

Student 2: That’s sus.

71. Shook

When someone is frightened, startled, or shocked about something

Example

I am fully shook when I walk up the basement stairs in the dark.

72. Throw shade

To talk poorly about someone else

Example

I heard them in the bathroom trying to throw shade about you.

73. Salty

When someone has an attitude and is grouchy

Example

Why are you so salty, bro? Do you need a nap?

74. Periodt

End of the conversation, like a period but with a T for emphasis

Example

Let Taylor Swift live. Periodt.

Relationship Teen Slang

75. Red flag

A warning, especially when concerning a person you have romantic interest in

Example

If he only speaks in hyperbole, that’s a red flag.

76. Green flag

Good things, hints at positives in a potential relationship

Example

He has a clean car? It’s a green flag for me.

77. Beige flag

Unique things about a person who you are in a relationship with or hope to be in a relationship with; traits that are not necessarily bad or good, just ones that make you pause and think

Example

My man’s beige flag is that he puts all hot water in the tea kettle because he thinks when we microwave it for instant oatmeal, we are ruining our bodies.

78. Ship

Let’s make this romantic relationship happen.

Example

Do you think the teacher put us together for this project because she’s trying to ship us?

79. Snatched

Attractive

Example

That outfit makes you look snatched.

80. Snack

Someone who looks attractive

Example

Student 1: Did you see that guy?

Student 2: Yes, he is a snack.

Student 1: No, that’s a whole meal.

Teacher: *Gags*

81. A whole meal

Someone who looks extremely attractive

Example

He’s not just a snack, he’s a whole meal!

82. Pulling

To attract someone in a romantic way

Example

Student 1: I pull more girls than anyone else in this room.

Student 1’s Wingman: Facts.

83. Bae

“Before anyone else,” used to describe a romantic partner, like “babe”

Example

Student 1: Remember bae? Before anyone else? Let’s bring that back.

Student 2: Cringe.

84. Giving me the ick

A trait that a person possesses that causes another person to lose romantic attraction to them; an ick is the quality that makes someone else disgusted