Modern-day slang terms should have their own dictionary because a new word’s popping up every other week. If we don’t keep up, we’ll get lost in all the lingo that Millennials and Gen-Zers are using. But for those of us who think they’re caught up on slang terms, here’s a quiz to test their knowledge. Who knows what “on fleek” means? What about “spill the tea”? Who’s up for the challenge?
Modern-day slang terms should have their own dictionary because a new word’s popping up every other week. If we don’t keep up, we’ll get lost in all the lingo that Millennials and Gen-Zers are using. But for those of us who think they’re caught up on slang terms, here’s a quiz to test their knowledge. Who knows what “on fleek” means? What about “spill the tea”? Who’s up for the challenge?
G.O.A.T. is an acronym used to describe the greatest person of all time in anything, particularly in a major industry. For example, Madonna and Michael Jackson are the G.O.A.T.’s of the music industry.
When someone describes a person as extra, it refers to them being over the top. So, say that someone has taken three hours to buy groceries and they’re still not done, they’re acting extra.
Anyone who’s acting irritated, agitated, moody or bitter is often described as being salty. But no, it has nothing to do with the way they taste. Think of this term as the opposite of someone being sweet.
Although no one’s sure where the term originated from, it’s believed that a lot of gossip gets spilled when people sit together to have a cup of tea, which is where it’s assumed that the slang term came from.
Although the word is used to describe someone who is parched and needs water, it is also slang for someone who is desperate for a date, social media attention or a compliment à la Kylie Jenner.
The term "Joy of missing out" aka, JOMO, was supposedly created in 2012 by a blogger and it is used when stating that one is happy for missing an event, such as a party with friends who aren’t really friends at all, or a business party.
This slang term is used when describing a reason to get really excited about an event and partying like there is no tomorrow, because everyone wants to go to a graduation party.
The term was actually used way back in 1956 and officially joined the list of words in the Oxford English Dictionary in 2018. Essentially the word is used to describe the anger a person feels when experiencing a prolonged period of hunger.
While LOL, LMAO and ROFL are pretty popular, the more modern slang term used is dead. Of course, it doesn’t mean that one is wishing death on the other person. Replying "dead" to a funny post someone tagged you on means that you laughed so hard, you died.
Although savage describes someone who is wild, in slang terms it refers to someone who made a remark or quip that was bordering on aggressive, but actually really on point.
Although Gucci is a high end fashion brand, this term was used in the 1980s to describe something that was cool. In today’s modern slang, it is used to say that something is fine, great or fancy.
The word goal is often used to praise something we believe to be "goals." For example, a couple traveling around the world together, someone buying a house, or someone doing an impressive stunt. A happy group of friends traveling together might get a comment like “squad goals” while a romantic photo of a couple on vacation might get a comment like “couple goals.”
In 2007, a Twitter user typed the phrase “Netflix and Chill” and over time, it was used to insinuate hooking up without actually coming right out and saying it so bluntly.
This slang term is used to describe someone whose actions are so predictable that they wouldn’t surprise anyone if they snuck up behind them and shouted “Boo!” The word can also be used to describe something that's pretty much cliché, like drinking a pumpkin spice latte in October.
The use of the term FOMO began in the 2000s and spread like wildfire. It’s used to describe the fear of missing out on major life events. And yes! This is actually a real thing.
BAE is used affectionately to describe a close friend or a significant other who means more to them than anyone else in the world. But it was originally used as an abbreviation for baby.
This slang term describes cutting off communications with someone like a friend or someone they’re dating. It might happen quickly, or it can happen gradually over time. The person this is happening to is said to have been ghosted.
The term is used when a celebrity behaves inappropriately and their fans turn on them and reject them. This modern way of boycotting someone has become pretty popular, even when there is no definite proof of if someone actually did the things they’re being accused of.
When we do something to someone and have absolutely no remorse after getting caught or called out on it, we might use this term, which basically means they’re not really sorry at all.
The phrase is used to express someone’s state of shock or disbelief over what they are seeing. This can be used to describe something cool like a skateboarder doing an unbelievable move or an ex wanting you back after 20 years.
The term is used to describe someone that goes online and posts an offensive comment on purpose to rile people up and cause chaos among the online community.
In 2000, musician Eminem wrote a song called “Stan” and it has since been used to describe a fan that’s obsessed and quite crazy. It also happens to be the name of a boy, but that’s irrelevant.
The slang term receipt is used when someone has evidence like text messages that prove someone else lied about something. This can be in the form of a deleted tweet or a screencap of a NSFW photo.
The slang term describes someone who is willing to go the extra mile to achieve their goal, which could mean doing a double shift at work to pay the bills or working out six hours a day to get in shape.
This term refers to the @ symbol used in front of a username on social media. When someone says this, they’re saying they don’t want anyone whining or complaining to them about what was just said.
Adulting is a word that people use to describe actions that seem grown up, like paying bills or running errands, and other things that would be foreign to anyone under the age of 18.
Woke refers to an awareness of social issues and it may date back to the 1860s, when a popular group opposed to some issues was dubbed the Wide Awakes movement.
The word “lit” has been used as slang for over a century, but it used to mean that a person was drunk. Now it describes something that is exciting or excellent.
Ratchet was a slang term that originated in hip hop and may have origins from the word “wretched.” The word appears on rapper E-40’s 1998 album “The Element of Surprise.”
The first use of the word “shade” as slang was documented in the 1990 film “Paris Is Burning” which showcased the drag queen scene in Manhattan in the 1980s.
IRL is an early text abbreviation that dates back to the days of flip phones, along with other terms like TTYL, BRB, LOL and IDK.
To do something low key is to keep in on the down low, while high key is just the opposite. So, if someone does something low key, they don’t talk or brag about it much.
The term thicc usually applies to a full-figured body, but it can also be used humorously to describe anything that is large and in charge.
Some things that might be surprised as basic include watching episodes of “The Office” on Netflix, wearing UGG boots and drinking Starbucks frappuccinos.
If you’re shook, you’re shocked, scared, impressed, confused or even embarrassed. The slang term comes from the past tense of the word shake.
To finesse means to do something intricate and refined, but many people use it to describe their successful actions in a situation that is otherwise difficult.
If someone says blessed, they probably mean to say that they feel lucky for something they have, like health, love, talent, or even just a new sweater.
To flex means to show off a skill, so saying “weird flex, but okay” signifies that showing off that skill was a strange thing to do in this situation, but you still rocked it.
The phrase “bye, Felicia” comes from a scene in the 1995 film “Friday,” which starred and was co-written by Ice Cube. He describes the phase as what to say “to get anyone out of your face.”
“Mood” is exactly what is sounds like. The word is a great way to express that whatever you’re replying to expresses your current feelings, too. It’s similar to the 2010s slang “I’m feeling it.”