Glossary of 2020s slang

;acoustic :An algospeak form of the word "autistic." Used as an insult to call someone stupid or to say that they have special needs. ;and I oop :Used to express shock, embarrassment, and/or amusement. Often associated with VSCO girls alongside 'sksksk'. ;aura :An individual's current reputation or charisma. Cultivating aura is known as aura farming. ;ate :To have performed well or extremely good at something. == B ==

;baddie :A confident, stylish, and attractive woman. ;ball knowledge :Refers to niche or uncommon knowledge. Usually refers to niche references, often in pop-culture. Alternative forms include "elite ball knowledge" or "knowing ball". ;based :Originated from rapper Lil B The BasedGod, who defined it as "...being yourself. Not being scared of what people think about you. Not being afraid to do what you wanna do." More contemporary use has been to express approval of someone or agreeing with another's opinion. Similar to W. ;basic :Pertaining to those who prefer mainstream products, trends, and music. Derived from the term "basic bitch". ;bar(s) :A lyric in a rap song that is considered excellent. A talented rapper may be said to "drop bars" or be "spitting bars", sometimes shortened to just "spitting". ;BDE :Abbreviation for "big dick energy": confidence and ease. ;beige flag :A behavior or personality trait that is neither good nor bad. ;bet :Agreeing to something; yes; okay; sure. ;bffr :Acronym for "be fucking for real". ;big back :Used in reference to a person with excessive eating habits. ;big yikes :Used to describe something embarrassing or cringe, particularly in response to an offensive comment. ;bop :(1) A derogatory term, usually for females, suggesting excessive flirtatiousness or promiscuity. (2) An exceptionally good song. (3) An acronym for "baddie on point", meaning someone who uses their appearance to make money. ;brainrot :The state of losing touch with the real world as a result of consuming hyper-stimulating or chronically online content, especially when characterized by online buzzwords ("skibidi", "fanum tax", "rizz", etc). Derived from the idea that one's brain would "rot" from consuming too much stimulating, addictive or degenerate content. ;bro :Shortened version of brother. ;bruh/bru () :A variant of "bro" originating from AAVE. ;bussin' :Extremely good, excellent. Originated from African-American vernacular for delicious food. ;bussy :Portmanteau of "boy" and "pussy" (slang for the vagina). Effectively a man's anus, especially when used in gay penetrative sex. ;blud :A variant of the word "blood brother" or "mate". == C ==

;cap :To lie originating from AAVE. ;caught in 4K :Refers to someone being indisputably caught doing something wrong or incriminating on camera or with evidence to prove it, referencing 4K resolution. ;chopped :Ugly or unattractive. ;chud :Pejorative term for someone on the far-right. Commonly used to mean a rude, ugly, socially inept, or unintelligent person, often in self-deprecation. Coined and popularized by the Chapo Trap House podcast. ;clanker :Slur for robots, primarily used against generative artificial intelligence. Originated from Star Wars media. ;clapback :Swift and witty response to an insult or critique. ;cook (verb) :To "cook" is to perform or do well. Often used in the phrase "let him cook". ;cooked (adjective) :To "be cooked" is to be in trouble. ;cracked :To be skilled at something. Alternatively, "getting cracked" or "cracking" means to have sex. ;crash out :To have a bout of rage or upset. Sometimes more generally used to refer to anger or strong displeasure. Originated in the African-American community, specifically in Louisiana with usage by rappers like NBA YoungBoy, but became popular on TikTok in 2024. ;crine : Variant pronunciation/spelling of "crying," typically meaning crying & dying from laughter (equivalent to "dying of laughter" or "I'm crying"). Often used in phrases like "Son I'm crine". == D ==

: ;dead/ded :Humorous to such an extent as to "kill you". Laughter and death have been associated since Ancient Greece, where it is held that Zeuxis died from laughing at a portrait of an ugly woman he was painting. ;delusionship :A relationship in which someone holds unrealistic or overly idealistic beliefs. A person who holds such beliefs is considered "delulu". ;dih :Ironic algospeak for dick. Usually used with the wilting flower for comedic effect or a symbolic eggplant emoji. ;drip :Good-looking or trendy high-class fashion. == E ==

;edge :To maintain a high level of sexual arousal for an extended period without reaching climax (orgasm). Often used as a dysphemism for keeping something close to completion or a goal for an undue amount of time. == F ==

;face card :An attractive face. Sometimes defined as never declining or receding. ;fanum tax :Theft of food between friends. ;finna :Short for "I am going to" or "I am about to". The term has its roots in Southern American English, where "fixing to" has been used to mean "getting ready to" since the 18th century. Often used interchangeably with "gonna". ;fire :Term used to describe that something is impressive, good, or cool. ;fit/fit check :Term used to highlight or bring attention to one's outfit or fashion. "Fit" is a truncation of "outfit". ; flop era : Primarily used on TikTok and Twitter when a person is not getting enough likes and views and starts posting memes and putting text over it in hope of going viral. ;flow state :Used when relaxing, typically when concentrating on something == G ==

;gagged :Shocked, amazed, or at a loss for words. ;gas :To describe something as highly entertaining, pleasant, or good. ;ghost :To end communication or contact with someone without warning. ;glaze :To hype, praise, or compliment someone so much that it becomes annoying or excessive. ;glizzy :A hot dog. Popularized in 2020, possibly from the Washington metropolitan area, and possibly originating from the slang term "glizzy" for a Glock handgun. It may also refer to a penis. ;glow-up :A major improvement in one's self, usually an improvement in appearance, confidence, personality, and style. Frequently used in a context relating to puberty. A "glow-down" is a situation where someone's appearance has declined. ;GOAT :Acronym for "greatest of all time". ;good boy/good girl :A phrase that is mockingly used when one is told to do something and they do it. The phrase is derived from the way people praise dogs for doing an instructed task. ;goofy ahh : An AAVE phrase and slang term meaning "goofy ass" used to label content as goofy or silly. ;gooning : The act of masturbating for long periods of time or for someone who does it chronically. ;gng : Used to refer to a close group of friends or as a casual greeting/address (e.g., "wassup gng" meaning "what's up, gang"). Can also mean "good night gang" in parting contexts, especially among gamers or online communities. ;green flag : Behaviors or personality traits that are considered positive, healthy, or desirable. ;gyatt : 1.) someone's buttocks, specifically attractive ones 2.) Someone with large buttocks or an hourglass figure. grape : An algospeak term for rape typically used online to bypass automatic filters. The use of the grape emoji in substitution for the word "rape" is also common. == H ==

;hawk tuah :An onomatopoeia for spitting or expectoration on a penis as a form of oral sex used by Haliey Welch in 2024. ;hb/hg :An initialism of homeboy/homegirl. Slang used to refer to one's friends. ;hit different :To be better in a distinctive manner. The origin of the term is unclear. == I ==

;ick :A sudden feeling of disgust or repulsion for something one was previously attracted to. ;icl :Abbreviation of "I can't lie". Often used alongside ts and pmo. ;IJBOL () :An acronym for "I just burst out laughing". ;iPad kid :Term describing Generation Alpha children who spend most of their time consuming content via a phone or tablet screen. The term was popularized in January 2021 after a 21-year-old TikToker criticized Millennial parents for allowing their children excessive screen time, saying, "I need everyone else in my generation to promise that we are not going to raise 'iPad children'. ... You've been shoving media and screens in these kids' faces since birth." He concludes: "Gen Z isn't allowed to raise iPad kids." The viral video garnered more than 525 million views on TikTok. ;it's giving :Used to describe an attitude or connotation. ;it's joever :Replacement for ''it's over'', standing for complete physical and mental defeat. Emerged in 2024, when Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential election. ;iykyk :Acronym for "If you know, you know". Used to describe inside jokes and niche references == J ==

;jit :An African-American term originating in the 1970s. Often used to describe an inexperienced or young individual. Ex:. Jit trippin ;jestermaxxing :A slang term referring to both internet subcultures such as incels, and to the practice of using extreme humor, comedic antics, or acting like a "clown" to gain female attention and attraction (see also Clavicular). == K ==

;Karen :Pejorative term for an obnoxious, angry, or entitled (usually but not exclusively white and middle-aged) woman. Also male Karen to denote a man of the same personality type. ;Khia :A nobody or irrelevant person. The term is used to describe female musical artists "who people talk about, but who no one seems to care about culturally", who are said to be stuck in the "Khia Asylum", an imaginary place where pop stars are kept until they find major success. The term is derived from the name of American rapper Khia. ;Kirkifying :Use of deepfake softwares to put Charlie Kirk's face to pictures of already popular online memes. ;KMS :Acronym for "kill myself". ;KYS :Acronym for "kill yourself". Can also be used humorously as "keep yourself safe". == L ==

; :Insult used primarily online. Combined form of the L and ratio slang terms. Became popular in 2020. ;L :Short for "loss," used to indicate failure, defeat, or something negative. Often contrasted with "W" (win). ;larp :A term for someone being fake or performative, similar to calling them a "poser." Derived from the acronym for live action role-playing, it suggests their persona is a form of role-playing rather than their true self. ;lit :Remarkable, interesting, fun, or amusing. ;locked in :A state of total concentration on a task. Similar to flow state. ;looksmaxxing :An attempt (often pseudoscientific) to maximize physical attractiveness. ;lowkenuinely :A portmanteau of 'lowkey' and 'genuinely'. Used to express a mix of emotions from both words. ;lowkirkenuinely :A portmanteau of 'lowkey', 'kirk', and 'genuinely'. Used as a stunt word form of lowkenuinely. Other iterations include flowkirkenuinely and lowkirksixsevenuinely. == M ==

;main character (MC) :Someone who is or wants to be the star of their life. Often refers to someone who strives to be the center of attention. ;mew :A pseudoscientific method to restructure someone's jawline by pressing their tongue to the roof of their mouth. Coined by controversial British dentist John Mew and his son, Mike, the term became popular in the late 2010s and on TikTok. ;mid :Average, mediocre, not bad or not special. Often used in a negative or insulting way. Sometimes used to emphasize the approachability of a conventionally attractive woman (e.g., "beautiful mid"). ;mog :To look significantly more attractive than someone or something, causing them to appear inferior in comparison. Derived from AMOG, or "alpha male of the group". ;mogging :to dominate, outclass, or look significantly better than someone else, typically in terms of physical appearance. Derived from mog, Mainly used as a verb eg. framemogged ;moot(s) :Short for "mutuals" or "mutual followers". == N ==

;nugu : Relatively unknown, obscure, or new groups that have not yet gained significant recognition or popularity among the K-Pop fandom. nga Filter-avoidance spelling of the N-word. == O ==

;only in Ohio :Internet slang used to describe strange or surreal occurances humorously attributed to Ohio; compare Florida man. ;OK boomer :Pejorative directed toward members of the Baby Boomer generation, used to dismiss or mock attitudes typically associated with baby boomers as out of date. ;oof :Used to express discomfort, surprise, dismay, or sympathy for someone else's pain. It also is the sound of a Roblox avatar when it dies or respawns. Thus the verb "to oof" can mean killing another player in a game or messing up something oneself. ;oomf :Acronym for "one of my followers" or "one of my friends". Can be turned in to "oomfie" to represent affection towards another individual. ;opp :Short for opposition or enemies; describes an individual's opponents. A secondary, older definition has the term be short for "other peoples' pussy". Originated from street and gang culture. Dexerto claims that the primary definition stems from the secondary one, which was derived from a 1991 Naughty by Nature song titled "O.P.P.". The initialism was derived from the acronym "OPM", which was used in the neighborhood the group grew up in and stood for "other people's money". An example of the term being used in popular culture is also in the Gangsta rap scene, with YBN Nahmir and his song "Opp Stoppa". Dictionary.com implies that the origins for the two meanings had little to do with each other. ;out of pocket :To act (or say something) crazy, wild, unexpected, or extreme, sometimes to an extent that is considered too far; or unavailable. ;owned :Used to refer to defeat in a video game, or domination of an opposition. Also less commonly used to describe defeat in sports. Originated in the 1990s as a term used to describe hackers gaining administrative control over another person's computer. == P ==

;periodt () :Used as an interjection to indicate that the preceding statement is final and that there is nothing more to be said about it; similar to the British term "full stop". Originated as "period" in the early 1900s, spread in the 2010s via the City Girls rap duo and Black Twitter, and entered into the mainstream by 2019. The addition of the T stems from a common trend in Black English where T is used as a replacement for D. ;pick-me :Someone who seeks validation by trying to stand out, often putting down others in their gender or group to gain favor or attention. This is most commonly done by degrading one's self. ;pmo :An acronym that stands for "piss me off", used to express discontent or anger at a certain topic. Often utilized alongside ts and icl. ;pookie () :An endearing nickname for a close friend or lover. Also used as a pet name, or in mocking sarcasm. ;pushing P :A phrase meaning acting with integrity and style while maintaining and displaying one's success. The P in the phrase is most often interpreted as standing for the slang word "player". Originated from the song "Pushin P" by the rappers Gunna, Future, and Young Thug. == Q ==

;queen :A gay slang term for a homosexual male – it was once considered pejorative but has been completely reclaimed, and is often used in combination with other words to describe subcommunities. == R ==

;ratio :When a post, particularly on X (Twitter), receives more replies than retweets and likes combined. It can also be used for when a reply has better reception and more likes than the original post being replied to. Originates from the mathematical term "ratio" which compares the quantitative relationship between a set of numbers. ;rage-bait :To elicit rage within an individual or group. Usually for an increase in web traffic, or personal enjoyment. ;red flag :A warning sign indicating behaviors or characteristics within a relationship that may potentially be harmful or toxic. Oppositely, a green flag indicates positive aspects or healthy behaviors. The use of the term red flag as a warning traces back to the 18th century. Historically, red flags were used as signals during wars or battles to indicate danger. The term green flag comes from the use of green-colored flags indicating permission to proceed. The concept of 'beige flags' has gained popularity to represent behaviors that are neither positive nor negative, but rather depend on individual preferences or boundaries. ;rizz :One's charm/seduction skills. Derived from charisma. ;Roman Empire :A random event, person, incident, or thing that fascinates or intrigues one to the point that one is frequently thinking about it. Originated in 2023 after influencer Saskia Cort encouraged her Instagram followers to ask their male partners how often they thought about the Roman Empire, to which many answered quite often. The term spread internationally and evolved to mean something that frequently occupies one's thoughts. It has also morphed into a joke about how often people think about/mention the Roman Empire. == S ==

;salty :Used to describe someone who is behaving or expressing themselves in a resentful, bitter, or irritated manner. Originally referred to "racy" or "vulgar" sailors in the 1800s. ;SDIYBT :Acronym for "Start digging in your butt, twin." Used ironically. ;serving cunt :To behave in a bold, confident, feminine manner. ;sheesh :To praise someone when they are doing something good. The vowels are often emphasized, as in "sheeesh". The one being praised is to do the "ice in my veins" pose popularized by basketball player D'Angelo Russell. Believed to be a variation of another word such as "jeez", "Jesus", or "shit". First used in 1955 as a word to express "disappointment, annoyance or surprise". ;shook :To be shocked, surprised, or bothered. Became prominent in hip-hop starting in the 1990s, when it began to be used as a standalone adjective for uncontrollable emotions. One famous example is Mobb Deep's 1995 single "Shook Ones, Part II". ;sigma/sigma male :A person that is individualistic, self-reliant, successful, and is non-conforming to existing social norms. Used predominantly by the manosphere. Can also mean something that is good. ;simp :Sycophancy, being overly affectionate in pursuit of a sexual relationship. ; :Refers to an ambiguous romantic relationship in which both parties have feelings for one another, but said feelings are not clearly defined: a mid-point between dating and not dating. ;six-seven (6-7) :A nonsense word derived from the song "Doot Doot (6 7)" by Skrilla. Inspired multiple numerical meme variants. Originating from TikTok. ;skibidi :Adjective that derives from the meme Skibidi toilet, with no real meaning. ;skill issue :Refers to a situation where a person's lack of ability or proficiency is seen as the cause of their failure or difficulty in completing a task, sometimes used ironically. ;sksksk :Used to convey happiness/laughter. A form of keysmashing. The earliest known usage is by Brazilian users on Twitter. Used by various British, African-American, and gay communities before becoming associated with stan Twitter in 2019. Became associated with VSCO girls alongside 'and I oop'. Similar forms can be found regionally, like the Indonesian "Wkwkwk" or the Korean "kkkk". ;slaps :Used to refer to something that is perceived to be good, particularly used when referring to music. ;slay :To do something well. ;slop :Low-quality internet content, particularly that which was created by generative artificial intelligence. ;snatched :Amazing, attractive, or flawlessly styled. Sometimes used to particularly describe a person as having a narrow waist. ;spiritually Israeli :A pejorative term implying something gives off the vibe of supporting Israel. Commonly used for things seen as culturally empty. ;stan :Supporting something to an extreme degree. Specifically used in cases of overzealous or obsessive support of celebrities, originating with the eponymous song by Eminem. ;sus () :Short term for suspect/suspicious. Popularized in 2018 by players of the online video game Among Us and received mainstream usage with the game's explosion in popularity in mid-2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Merriam-Webster, the term has been in use among English speakers since at least the 1960s. ;sussy baka :A combination of "sus" and "baka", the Japanese word for "fool". Stemmed from TikToker Akeam Francis. ;sybau :Acronym for "shut your bitch ass up" ;syfm :Acronym for "shut your fucking mouth", originally a meme taken from a scene in the movie Bronson. == T ==

;tea :Secret information or rumors. Originates from Black drag culture of the 1990s, where the letter "t" was used to mean "truth". "Spilling the tea" means to share gossip or rumors. Another meaning was popularized on TikTok, using 'tea' when referring to a person, action, outfit, or thing to mean it's fab, cute, iconic, etc. ;touch grass :A way of telling someone to "go outside", usually after said person is believed to have been online for too long. Believed to have originated in 2015, before experiencing a resurgence in 2020–2021. ; ;truth nuke :An impactful telling of factual, or sometimes opinionated, information; Sometimes spelt as "trvthnvke" ;ts :An abbreviation for "this shit", however it is also often used as a short form of "this". Often accompanied by pmo and icl. ;tweaking :To be acting strangely or thinking that someone is hallucinating. ;twin :A term of endearment for a close friend, indicating a strong, sibling-like bond. == U ==