You may have thought that the language you speak at home would be all you'd need to communicate with your child. If only that were true...there's a whole other language that isn't entirely intuitive. To make it easier for you, below is a tool to help clarify the confusion. (Warning: to be a useful tool, we believe it needs to be authentic...which means that some terms may be offensive. As such, please be careful not to share this section with your child.)

BTW (yes, "by the way"), if you identify either an Instant Message phrase or a Tween Dictionary word, phrase or expression that isn't included, please share it with us below!

Please type in the word, phrase, expression or IM abbreviation below:

salty: Angry, upset or embarrassed.
scrab: short for scrabble
screepy: A combination of creepy and scary.
shizzle: 1. For sure (example: "Fo shizzle."). 2. Something good (example: "That's the shizzle.").
shook: Scared, terrified. Originates from a line in the rap group Mobb Deep's song "Shook"; "They scared to death, they scared to look, they shook... cause ain't no such thing as halfway crooks."
sick: Crazy, cool, insane.
skanky: Looking cheap or unkept, can also mean promiscuous.
sketchball: Weird person or someone who is shady. Sometimes used as endearing. The adjective: sketch.
smokin': Attractive, hot
snap: Darn it.
spim: An online solicitation like spam, but sent via an Instant Messenger program. Often contains a link to a website featuring services such as pornography, credit repair, or prescription drug sales. Like spam, these communications can be sent under the guise of being a message from a friend. The links enclosed may also be used to spread viruses.
spun: 1. Cool in the context of liking the way something looks, (example: "Those new jeans are so spun."). 2. To be under the influence of methamphetamine.
squash the beef: End an argument with either an apology or a physical fight.
stoked: To be intensely excited.
straight: To be okay with how things are going.
subwoofing: Playing a car stereo at full blast to either show-off or annoy those around you.
swagga: Personal style or anything that is cool.
sweet: Used to express anything positive, (example: "I just got an A in English! Sweet!").