Slang moves fast, and it can be genuinely hard to keep up. Whether it pops up in a text from a younger relative or a viral video, unfamiliar slang can leave you feeling out of the loop.
Here are 12 widely used slang words and phrases explained simply, so you can understand what people actually mean.
"Woke" originally comes from African American Vernacular English, where it meant being alert to racial injustice and social inequality; it has since broadened into a widely used (and often politically contested) term for social and political awareness.
"IYKYK" is an acronym for "if you know, you know," used to reference an inside joke or experience that only certain people will understand.
"Slay" is slang for doing something exceptionally well; it can be used as a verb ("she slayed that performance") or as an exclamation of approval.
"GOAT" is an acronym for "Greatest Of All Time," used to describe someone considered the best ever in their field.
"Dope" is slang meaning "awesome" or "cool," as in, "Your new car is dope."
"Sick" (sometimes spelled "sic") is slang for something impressive or amazing, as in, "That skateboard trick was sick."
"Lit" is slang for something exciting, fun, or impressive, most often used to describe a great party or event.
"Gucci," beyond the luxury fashion brand, is slang for "good" or "going well," as in, "How's your day?" "It's gucci."
"Salty" describes someone who is bitter, angry, or resentful, often about something relatively minor.
"OG" stands for "original gangster," a hip-hop-rooted term now used more broadly to describe someone who was there from the start or is a respected pioneer in their field.
"Extra" describes someone who is over-the-top, overly dramatic, or excessive, as in, "She's so extra."
"Girlboss" originally described an ambitious, successful woman, but by the early 2020s the term had taken on an ironic or negative connotation, often used to critique performative or self-serving corporate feminism.
"Ghosted" means abruptly cutting off all communication with someone, without explanation, most commonly after dating.
"Catfish" refers to creating a fake online identity, usually to deceive someone in a romantic context; the term was popularized by the 2010 documentary "Catfish" and its follow-up MTV series.
"Low-key" is slang meaning understated, secretly, or to a moderate degree, as in, "I'm low-key excited for this."
"Tea" is slang for gossip or juicy information, often used in the phrase "spill the tea."
"Yeet" is an exclamation or verb generally meaning to throw something forcefully, though it's also used more loosely to express excitement.
"NPC" originally stands for "non-player character," a video game term for a character not controlled by a human player; as slang, it's used to mock someone perceived as unoriginal or as blindly following others.
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