The language of teens: A glossary
Wagwan Piff Ting 😍 (Don’t worry, we haven’t just insulted you!!) Thanks for taking the time to read our sick blog post about teen language. We think it’s totally on fleek and we hope you do too!
If there are a few words or phrases in the paragraph above that you don’t understand - DON’T WORRY! 😊 In all honesty, some of this post might as well be written in another language (some might say that it actually is…😒) so we here at Interactive Schools thought it might be a good idea 💡 to put together a glossary of words and terms that teens today are using.
Much in the same way any language evolves, so too can this glossary. We will continue adding to it and if you happen to come across some words or terms yourself - then tell us! We want to know and so too will your contemporaries and parents 💪
Just think - you need never walk down your school corridors again and wonder what Sophie in year 8 just said to Tom! 🤔
Changes and additions to the English language are nothing new (after all, none of us are still talking like Chaucer), but teens have always been at the forefront of these linguistic shifts. There are some who consider themselves Prescriptivists 👎 and think that the constant shifts in language are detrimental to the core of linguistics, meanwhile Descriptivists 👍 observe the change in language and see the constant shift as exciting 😬
“The English language is like London: proudly barbaric yet deeply civilised, too, common yet royal, vulgar yet processional, sacred yet profane.”
At @intSchools we are definitely more in line with the latter way of thinking. Whether you are for or against the evolution of our language it is something that will continue to happen. It is up to us to ensure that we keep up with these changes. As a teacher and/or parent, it will always pay to stay abreast of the way in which the younger generations are communicating and which platforms they are adopting in order to stay in touch with each other 👫
Adults trying to keep up with teen trends be like...
So take some time to have a look at the list we have compiled. You never know, you might find some language here that you are happy to incorporate into you third period maths lesson. Go on! You know your students will ❤️ it!
Acc
Abbreviated form of the word 'actually'
(Adverb)
"I acc can’t believe we have so much Geoggers homework. Why did he have to set soooo much? Mr Jones is sooooo grim"
Aired
When someone ignores you, they are said to have 'aired you'
(Verb)
"Can you believe Sophie? She totally aired me back there. I swear i'm done with her peakness 😷 👎 💩 "
Bæ
Your best friend or person you are in in a relationship with. The person or people you put Before. Anyone. Else.
(Noun)
"Abbie, you’re totally my Bæ for life 😘 🔐 🌍 "
Bare Jokes
Very funny
(Adjective)
"Oml Connor, you're bare funny. You got me proper creasing 😂 😂 😂 "
Bait
A person or behaviour that is patently obvious to anyone around them
(Adjective)
"Oml Matt! Stop copying from me. You're being proper bait - I'm not getting in trouble because of you 😡 ✋ "
Bezzo
Someone you would consider to be one of your best friends
(Noun)
"Robyn is my bezzo. She was there when I tripped up the Science Block stairs and she didn't tell anyone! Bezzo for life 😘 🔐 🌍’"
Bruddah
The name given to someone you consider a close friend, almost like a brother
(Noun)
"I know George. We play for the same football team. He’s alright, he's my Bruddah"
Bruh
Something you say when you are really fed up of something
"Bruh, I'm so done with my mum and dad always telling me what to do 👩 👱 🚫 😴 "
Cba
Acronym for 'Can't Be Arsed'. Something you would reply with when asked to do something you do not want to do
"I’m meant to be cleaning my room today but I really cba 😴 👎 ✋"
Chatting Breeze
When someone is lying or talking rubbish, they are considered to be chatting breeze
"Ava needs to stop chatting so much breeze already. Gonna change her name to Pinocchio pretty soon 🤥 ✋ 😴 "
Chirps
Chatting someone up. Contextually more relevant to chatting up a female. i.e Chirpsing the birds from the trees
(Verb)
"Gwarn Ethan, chirpsing the girls 😘 🐥 "
...chose
Normally found in the comment section under an Instagram post. Someone shares a number of pictures of themselves to their friends. The friends then reach a consensus and advise the original sender of the selfie that they should post to their Instagram feed
[Posts photo to Instagram with comment]
"Faves chose 👯 😘 🔐 🌍 "
Creasing
Laughing very hard. Finding something really funny
(Verb)
"Oml! That video you sent me in History got me creasing so bad 😂 😂 😂 "
Dank
A word used to describe something that is considered ‘sexy’ or good. Similar in meaning to the word ‘Peng’
(Adjective)
"Oml I need those trainers. They’re proper dank. I'm gonna get my Mum to get them for me 😍 ❤️ 👌 "
Donny
See: G
(Noun)
Faves
Your favourite group of people. The people that are closest to you and in your Squad. The people you roll with
(Noun)
"Hanging with my Faves down the park today 🔐 🌍 😘 ☀️ "
Filter
Related to Instagram and Snapchat. Photographic lenses. On Instagram, filters can make your pictures look vintage or black and white for example. On Snapchat, filters can be overlaid in app to make you look a certain way, for instance, like a cute rabbit or a giraffe with glasses
(Noun)
"I’m so glad they brought back the crown filter. It makes me look proper peng👌 👑"
Gwarn
Literally means 'go on'. Normally used as a positive response to a friend or someone you find attractive
(Verb)
"Gwarn Sadie, with your peng self 👌 😍"
Grim
Something that is considered nasty, bad or not good
(Adjective)
"Ewwwww I hate my school uniform. Why is it so bare grim? 😫 😷 "
G
A term used for someone you consider a close friend.
See: Bruddah
(Noun)
"Yeah James is a really good friend of mine. He’s a proper G 💪"
ILYSM
Acronym for ‘I love you so much’
[Posts picture to Instagram]
Friend: "Oml Ella you’re acc so gorge 😍 "
You: "Awwww Phoebe 😌 ILYSM 😘 "
Insta
Short for Instagram
(Noun)
"He’s liked so many photos on my Insta. I wonder if he likes me? 🤔 🙊 "
Linking
When you repeatedly talk and flirt with someone specific with a view to them becoming your boyfriend or girlfriend
(Verb)
"It’s pretty obvious that you’re gonna go out...you’re proper linking 🙊 😬 "
Licked
Someone who is very drunk
(Verb)
"Oml, she's proper licked. Someone needs to take her home 🙄 🙈 😮 "
Lit
Normally in relation to a party or event that is really good or something that is popping
(Adjective)
"This party is lit fam. I never want it to end 💡 🙌 😍 "
Locked
See: Padlock emoji 🔐
Nrs
Abbreviation of the term 'No Replies'. Generally used on Snapchat. Can be added to a Snap when someone's data has run out but they are not able to access WiFi and can therefore not send Snaps back and forth between people
[Posts snap to Snapchat]
"Nrs. No data 😐 🚫 "
On Fleek
Something that looks really good. Something that has turned out exactly the way you wanted
(Adjective)
"Chloe your eyebrows are totally on fleek. How do you get them like that? I’m so jealous 😮 ❤️ "
Oml
Acronym for Oh my life. Would be used interchangeably with phrases like, ‘Oh my days’ or ‘Oh my god’
"Oml, I cannot deal with my Mum today ✋ She won’t stop having a go at me about doing my homework 😴 😫 "
Padlock (emoji) 🔐
Someone in your life you consider locked down and loyal to you. Can be used for both friendships and relationships. See: Locked
(Adjective)
"ILYSM Abbie, you’re my Bæ for life 🔐 🌍 "
Peak
Something that is considered bad, not good. See: Grim
(Adjective)
"Ahhh man this weather is peak. I wanted to go out with my Faves but the rain will ruin my hair 😫 😡 "
Peng
Something that is considered sexy or good. See: Dank
(Adjective)
"Oi oi! You’re well peng 😍 😘"
Piff Ting
Someone who is considered an attractive person
Adjective/Noun
"Wagwan piff ting 😍 You is looking peng! 👌"
Popping
See: Lit 🔥
Roll
Means to go somewhere, normally with your Squad or your Faves
(Verb)
"Me and my Faves are gonna roll down town later today 👯 👯♂️. Who's gonna be there too? 🤔 😜 😬 "
Sick
Something that is considered good
(Adjective)
"Had such a sick weekend round my Bezzo's house. Same time next week, yeah 😂 😂 😂 ?"
Slay
To slay at something is to do it well
(Adverb)
"Oml, I watched you in your dance show the other week. Slaying for days Bæ 👑 💃 🙌 "
Snap
A photo taken on your phone using Snapchat that involves using filters and other effects before sharing with a friend (Streak), or posting to your Story for everyone to see for 24 hours
(Noun)
"I swear I've sent soooooo many snaps today, my Faves must think I'm Kim K 🙄 😂 "
Squad
Your friendship circle or those you consider closest and most loyal to you
(Noun)
"Me and my squad are rolling down the dip today. Who’s coming too? 🙋 🙋🏻♂️ 🕶 "
Streaks
Streaks refer to Snapchat and represent the snap streak someone has with a friend. To produce a streak someone will have had to sent snaps back and forth with someone at least once every 24 hours.
Streaks are produced after snaps are sent between two people for three or more days and are represented by the Fire emoji and the number your streak has currently reached
(Noun)
"I'm not coming out tonight or I'll lose my phone privileges again - I'm not losing my streaks again! 👎 ✋ 🙈 "
That's long
See: Cba
...told me too
See: ...chose
Wagwan
Literally means ‘What is going on?’, ‘What’s up?’, or ‘Hello’
"Wagwan G 💪 You coming down the park today? 😎 "
World (emoji) 🌍
Someone who means the world to you. Those closest in your life and who you believe to be most loyal. See: Padlock (emoji)
(Adjective)
[Posts picture to Instagram]
‘Me and my Bæs’ 🌍 🔐
Yanno
Basically means ‘you know’
‘Yanno 🙋 I want to be able to go to that party at the weekend. So got to get on Mum and Dad’s good side 😵 😑 ’
There you have it, the beginning of @intSchools Teen Glossary. As the language of your pupils continues to evolve, we will endeavour to add to this ever expanding list.
Hmm...🤔 maybe there's a term you have heard that is not represented here, or maybe you’re under the impression that the meaning of a word or phrase included here is different to your understanding? If so, then great - we want to hear from you 📣
We hope that by producing this post, we’ve gone some way to making the pupils in your school a little easier to understand...