Teen Slang is Hilarious, And Always Has Been
By Carmen Glenn
Happy New Year!! I think we can all use some lighthearted humor as we transition from the holidays to the start of a new year. January can be a tough month. The holidays are over, it’s still cold and although we are getting more daylight, it’s a slow increase of minutes over several months. The routines are back in place and the daily grind of figuring out what to make for dinner is back.
One thing that makes me laugh is the slang words that my teenagers use. The six seven phenomena hit this past year and is still used by my high school kids. It was even declared the word of the year for 2025 by Dictionary.com. My youngest likes to incorporate it whenever possible, even if he has to stretch it to fit the context of the conversation, which makes me laugh. And the hand gestures that go with it are a must.
To have even more fun, my husband and I will use today’s slang. It makes my kids die of embarrassment. I don’t typically use it outside of our house, but in more of a joking manner in conversations at the dinner table or hanging out. I did use six seven in front of my extended family over the holidays and I was met with “don’t ever say that again Mom” from my kids. I thought I was fire. Apparently I was an unc instead.
Talking and thinking about slang makes me dig in my memory for slang from my days in high school in the early nineties. When things were da bomb and phat, not bussin’. We thought we were all that and a bag of chips and no one could tell us any different, as if! Hairstyles were dope and outfits were fly. And whatever was a big comeback. Oh snap!
When I make a suggestion to my kids and I’m met with OK Boomer, I’ll just think to myself how rad we were in the 90’s. And my retort to my kids will be talk to the hand. They think I’m the opp now, but I am low key the coolest. No cap.
Bruh, enjoy the slang while you are a part of it. My college freshman claims there is much less of it being said at his school, so it is relatively short lived. I will perhaps one day miss it being spoken in my house. I am off to lock in and touch grass! Don’t forget to chillax when you need a moment. Here’s to hoping we survive and enjoy this year’s slang, even if it may be mid by my standards.
I would love to hear some of your favorite slang words from your kids and/or your childhood. Please share with us at dtownctc@gmail.com or engage with us on social media.