Draven Jackson
Blogger | Teacher
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We’ve all been there – one of your preteen kiddos says some new word or phrase and you have no idea what it means. You don’t want to ask because then they’ll roll their eyes and say you’re “not cool.” And you don’t want to be “not cool.” Because your parents were “not cool” and you want to be in on the slang, hip with the times!
Don’t worry though – you’re not the only mom out there who’s gotten confused talking to their children. It’s a part of the parent-child relationship, as is the next moment when you learn the new words and your teenager tells you “Mom, that’s not how you say that!” If you’re anything like my parents, you live for these moments of showing your kids that you know the slang, too!
For all those moms out there who get lost in the new slang of the times, here’s our list of 20 new words and phrases to know, what they mean, and how to use them!
1. Yeet
What it means: To throw something.
How to use it: “I’m going to yeet this bottle into the trashcan.”
2. Woke
What it means: awareness, being aware of current affairs (especially in the context of social justice)
How to use it: “I watched that new documentary on Netflix about the 14th Amendment and now I am woke.”
3. Dope
What it means: excellent, great, impressive.
How to use it: “That new song was so dope.”
4. Gucci
What it means: good, awesome, cool.
How to use it: “You need anything from the store?”
“Nah, I’m Gucci.”
5. Lit
What it means: exciting, excellent.
How to use it: “Man, that movie was lit!”
6. Rip
What it means: Rest in Peace. You use this when something bad has happened and you are acknowledging it.
How to use it: “I didn’t get the book – they were all sold out.”
“RIP, that sucks.”
7. Fire
What it means: great, awesome.
How to use it: “This new album is fire!”
8. Low key
What it means: usually used to substitute with “sort of.”
How to use it: “I low key want to go see that new Disney movie before dinner.”
9. Boujee
What it means: acting fancy, based on the word “bourgeoisie.”
How to use it: “She got that expensive Chanel bag today, she’s acting super boujee.”
10. Salty
What it means: upset or angry.
How to use it: “She’s salty because I ate dinner without her.”
11. Savage
What it means: cool, amazing, impressive. When used for a person, usually it’s someone who is confident and cool.
How to use it: “Mom is so cool – a total savage!”
12. Extra
What it means: too much, being over the top.
How to use it: “My sister spent four hours editing her Instagram photo – she’s so extra.”
13. Basic
What it means: stereotypical. Being basic essential means boring, unexceptional.
How to use it: “Getting a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks is so basic.”
14. Ship
What it means: to support a romantic relationship, to wish for a romantic relationship between two characters.
How to use it: “I ship those two. They are so cute together!”
15. Throw shade
What it means: to talk badly about someone, usually behind their back.
How to use it: “She was throwing shade today when she told everyone I was always late.”
16. Shook
What it means: shocked, surprised.
How to use it: “I was shook when the teacher called on me in class.”
17. GOAT
What it means: Greatest Of All Time
How to use it: “Oprah is the GOAT.”
18. Oof
What it means: a way to respond to something embarrassing happening to you or someone else.
How to use it: “I spilled water on my pants today and it looked like I had an accident.”
“Oof, that’s the worst.”
19. Slay
What it means: doing great, killing it.
How to use it: “Mom, you look great! Slay queen!”
20. Sus
What it means: suspicious, shady.
How to use it: “He was acting sus today – he wouldn’t even look at me.”
I hope these slang terms will help you to better understand future conversations with your kids and teens! Feel free to throw them into the conversation yourself to show them that you’re cool enough to use their slang and stay hip with the kids.
About Draven Jackson
Draven is an avid writer and reader who enjoys sharing her opinions on movies, books, and music with the rest of the world. She will soon be working as a teacher in Japan and hopes to use her experience to connect with other teachers and students around the globe. Draven spends most of her time at home with her family, her dogs, and her ferret.
To see more, view all posts by Draven Jackson here.
12 Comments on “Keeping Hip with the Kids: How to Use Your Children’s Slang”
Howdy there, coming in from Alabama im married to my third cousin I just want to say thank you so much, my little “hipsters” are sweet souls but I don’t understand what they say all the time one of them is always saying that my husband edges and keep saying posay and Debussy am only one person I don’t know what their saying. Moms choice awards help a mother in need with her children and her husband.
Im a single mom who works to jobs who loves her kids and never stops, with gentle hands and a heart of a fire, I’m a survive. My name is korina and I was wondering what does kms and kys my son keeps saying that to me, is it keep your self safe? i need to get close to my teenage mamas boy before he’s a adult. And my cute son keeps saying that I’m not mewing enough? as a confuse mother I just say thank you because I’m such a good parent :) LIVE LAUGH LOVE Korina and my son adam🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Hello am single mom who works two jobs, and as a heart of a fire. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what does kms, my son keeps saying it and I want to get close to my two sons also can you tel me why my my olde r son keeps saying sigma and mewing he keeps saying that i don’t have mewing sklls. I think its a good thing, can u pleasee now before my husband finds me :) live,laugh,love Karen and what does nnn mean.
What does it mean when my teenage son says he can’t come to his cousin’s house? and what does it mean when he says sigma and mewing pls help, I need to get closer to my kids before I get a divorce.
ONG so slay you go girl yaaaaaaaas kawweeeeeeeeen😩💄🧑🏼🦽😘🍑💋👠😩😩
ONG yaaaaaas so slay queen you go girl 😩💋🦿👠🍑
my drillers what is up now i can freely use my hip slang with the gang cuz they know that im hip with the diddy and im boujie
What does it mean when my son says kys?
Keep yourself safe
Thanks. Children are the GOAT. Oof, that was sus!
Thank you, I can now finally having meaningful conversations with my 2 teenagers and spend quality time with my two little hipsters. : ) <3 <3
Me to! i love my hhipster🥰