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Say What?!
Popular Slang

Disclaimer: the vocabulary listed below can be discriminatory and/or promote wrong and hurtful ideas, stereotypes conceptions or judgments about people. As such, we wish to make clear that we do not condone, support or advocate for those harmful views. This information is presented because our profession requires that we are aware of cultural nuances and language use in order to accurately convey equivalent messages. We cannot do this if we do not understand the cultural significance, connotations, context, implications, etc. of said language use. 

English

Bet: "Bet" is a word that has many uses. It can be used in lieu of the word "OK" or "YES," but it can also be used as a response when someone challenges you, instead of saying "watch" or "we'll see."

  • Situation One: "Hey, I got your text message. See you at the club later." "Bet."

  • Situation Two: "You're not going to come to the party tonight. You never come to these types of events." "Alright, bet."

 

Big Yikes: "Big Yikes" is a more intense version of the word "yikes." It refers to something that is so very embarrassing that another, much larger "yikes" is needed.

 

Cap / No Cap: To "cap" is to lie about something, whereas "no cap" means to tell the truth.

  • "What you said is the biggest cap I've heard in a minute."

  • "All you do is cap, there's nothing real about you."


Extra: To be "extra" is to be unnecessarily dramatic and over the top.

 

Fire: "Fire" is used to refer to something that is really cool and amazing.

  • "That outfit is fire."

  • "The movie was fire, you have to check it out."

 

Fit: Unlike the British version of the term "fit," which means attractive, in the United States, "fit" is just the shortened version of outfit.

 

Flex: To "flex" (as a verb) is to knowingly flaunt and show off. As a noun, a "flex" is the thing being shown off itself.

  • Situation One: "He drove himself to school in a new car the day after he got his license. He's trying to flex."

  • Situation Two: "Big flex, I just got a job promotion last night." 

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Go Off: "Go off" can be used to encourage a choice, or to support a rant or ridiculous behavior that's already occurred, usually meant humorously. Often, the phrase "I guess" follows it.

"You sat there for five minutes trying to tell me how to live my life, meanwhile I have yet to see you get yours together. But go off, I guess." 

 

Lewk: "Lewk" is a variation of "look," a signature physical trait, or a specially and carefully constructed outfit or appearance

  • "Their dress at prom was a lewk."

  • "Did you see Megan Thee Stallion's lewk in her newest video?" 

 

Lit: "Lit" is an adjective to describe when something's amazing, exciting, high-energy, or otherwise great. It can alternatively mean intoxicated or drunk.

  • Situation One: "That party was lit."

  • Situation Two: "I was way too lit last night."

 

Lowkey / Highkey: "Lowkey" means slightly, secretly, modestly, or discretely. It's the opposite of "highkey," for when you're sincerely or assertively into something.

  • "I lowkey can't wait for summer to be over."

  • "I highkey love snow."

 

Periodt: "Periodt" is a word used at the end of a sentence, meant to add emphasis to a point that has been made. It is often regarded as a more extreme or intense version of "period." It is also often preceded by the words "and that's on" to add further emphasis.

  • Situation One: "I don't want to hear anything else about what I'm doing wrong until you find ways to get yourself right, periodt."

  • Situation Two: "This is the best movie of all time, and that's on periodt."

 

Salty: To be "salty" is to be annoyed, upset, or bitter, usually about something minor.

  • "You look really salty right now. What happened?"

  • "I'm mad salty right now though, lowkey." 

 

Shade: The word "shade" can be used as itself to refer to a situation where someone illustrated sneaky actions toward someone or something. On the other end, the person who has done the sneaky action has participated in the verb form of shade, which is to "throw shade."

  • "I see you over there throwing shade."

  • "She was out here throwing shade."

  • "You are being so shady right now, omg."

  • "Shade."

 

Shook: If someone's "shook," they're affected by something, usually negatively and very emotionally. It can also mean shocked, surprised, or scared.

 

Simp: Basically the modern way of calling someone a schmoozer or a people pleaser, "simp" is mostly used to describe people (generally those who identify as male) who are willing to do anything to get somebody to fall in love with them.

 

Sksksksk: This phrase is also very versatile, but is mostly a filler expression of excitement, used when people do not know what else to say, or how to transition into a new phrase. It's popular among VSCO girls who use it to express their excitement.

 

Slay: To "slay" is to do really well or succeed at something. The term first emerged during the 1970s and '80s in the midst of black drag and ballroom culture.

  • Situation One: "She slayed that fit" or "I slayed that test." 

  • Situation Two: "How do I look?" "Girl, you slay." 

 

Snatched: The word "snatched" has two common definitions. The first refers to when someone is wearing something that is very fashionable, or has a look that looks really good. The second refers to the process of supporting an insult against someone who has lost an argument.

  • Situation One: "That outfit is snatched, you look so good."

  • Situation Two: "Then I said, 'by the way, everything you said and stand for is wrong, and I can't even believe people as ignorant as you exist'." "Oop, snatched." 

 

Stan: "Stan" can be a noun for an overzealous and obsessive fan, and a verb meaning to be that kind of fan. It originated from an Eminem song of the same name. Someone can be a "stan" of a celebrity, or used as a verb, they can "stan" them. The word can also be used to express tame support of a person or a cause.

  • Situation One: "I stan pretty hard for Lizzo."

  • Situation Two: "Don't say that to the 'Game of Thrones' stans."

  • Situation Three: "She is an incredible pop singer, unproblematic, who loves and supports equal rights. We have to stan." 

 

Tea: "Tea" is gossip, and "spilling the tea" is the act of gossiping. We can also thank black drag culture for this iconic phrase. "Tea" is also used when one is agreeing with a point someone has just said.

  • Situation One: "Spill the tea, what did he say?"

  • Situation Two: "Last night was a mess. Here's the tea." 

  • Situation Three: "And then I said, I can't support or be with someone who doesn't love and support me." "Tea." 

 

Thirsty: Someone is "thirsty" if they're overly eager and desperate, usually for attention, approval, or compliments.

 

Wig: "Wig" is a phrase used to refer to something that is amazing. It refers to the idea that what you saw was so amazing, and incited so much shock in you, that your wig flew off.

 

Yeet: "Yeet" is a versatile word, mostly used either as a verb or to narrate the process of discarding things at high velocity.

  • Situation One: As someone throws something into the trashcan, that person may scream "YEET." 

  • Situation Two: "That car hit the fire hydrant and then quickly went away. It went YEET." 

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ASL

ASL "Slang"

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