Trying to decipher what exactly you’re tweens are saying? Popular brands? YouTubers you’ve never heard of? TikTok trends or a bizarre new acronym?
Use our handy A to Z guide of Tween Terminology to get to grips with a whole new parenting lingo!
We’re adding to this list as we go, and for the latest trends that are emerging in the ’20s, so bear with us as we get to the bottom of the magical and often confusing world of tween talk!
AF – as f^ck – usually added to the end of a sentence
Aura – the vibe or energy someone gives off
Aura points – a measure of coolness, mythical points ‘earned’ for doing something cool or on point (or lost for doing something bad/stupid)
Bae – “before anyone else” babe, or baby – an endearing term for a romantic partner or close friend
Basic – boring or unoriginal, someone whose conformist or common
Brain Rot – consuming too much online content
Bruh – same as Bro
Bussin – very good (usually food)
Cap/Cappin – fake or lying; ‘no cap’ is being truthful
Clap Back – a comeback delivered with attitude
Crashy – describe someone considered crazy and trashy
Cray – crazy
Cringe – someone displaying embarrassing behavior (probably you!)
Delulu – delusional, having unrealistic expectations
Dope – cool or awesome (not the drug..)
Drip – someone with clothing or fashion sense
Emo – emotional person
Era – phase someone’s in
Extra – unnecessarily dramatic
Fam – group of close friends
Fire – hot, trendy, or amazing
Flex/Flexing – to show off/brag
FOMO – fear of missing out
FYP – For Your Page (TikTok)
Ghost – when someone suddenly cuts off all communication
GOAT – greatest of all time
GTG – got to go
Gucci – something good or cool
GYAT (pronounced ge-yaht) – refers to a voluptuous bottom
Hangry – a combination of hungry and angry
ICYMI – In case you missed it
IKR – I know, right?
I’m dead – laughing so hard you’re dying of laughter
iPad Kid – someone who overuses technology, hence has a short/distracted attention span
IRL – In real life
It’s Lit – cool/ awesome
IYKYK – If you know, you know
Jelly – Jealous
L – loss or lose (or a loser act – often directed at something you have done!)
Left on read – when you can tell a message has been seen but not responded to
Lit – something that’s amazing, cool, or exciting
LMAO – Laughing my arse off
Mewing – the act of making the jawline look good, usually boys
NGL – not gonna lie
No Cap – totally true, no lie, for real
Noob/Newb – Newbie, a person who is new at something or doesn’t know what they’re doing, often used in gaming
NP – No problem
Ok, Boomer – disparaging response; you are saying something outdated
On Fleek – someone who is fashionable, on point
OMG – oh my gosh/god
Periot/Periodt – ending a sentence with emphasis
Phubbing – ignoring someone by paying attention to your phone instead
Pick me girl – a girl who goes out of her way to impress boys by claiming/acting she’s not like other girls, seeks sympathy or attention
Preppy – usually an aesthetic that involves girly, bright colors and popular brands (think Pink Stanley Cup)
Ragequit – so angry at a game they immediately switch off
Rizz – an ability to charm effortlessly (having charisma)
Roasted – making fun of or insulting someone, usually in an insulting way
RN – Right now
Salty – being bitter, someone who is upset, mad or agitated
Savage – another way of saying cool, but clearly cooler
Sic – something that’s cool
Sigma – someone who’s independent, self-reliant, stands out from the crowd in their own way (as supposed to the Alpha male)
Shook – to be shaken up by something
Simp – a guy being too attentive or submissive to a girl
Skibidi – nonsense word, often paired with Skibidi Toilet, Skibidi Ohio (originated from a popular YouTube video, though the terminology has evolved; could mean anything from cool to bad to an acknowledgement, or just to annoy you on repeat)
Slay – when someone has done something particularly well
Smacks – something is good
Snatched – looking fabulous or fashionable (similar to on fleek)
Squad – close group of friends
Swole – someone who is physically fit, muscular or works out
Sup – short for What’s Up
Sus – someone who is shady or suspicious, not to be trusted
Talking smack – belittling someone
Tea – gossip or hot story, also sipping tea (to gossip)
TBF – to be fair
TBH – to be honest
Thirsty – someone who is eager or desperate for approval/attention (usually romantic)
Throw shade – give someone a dirty look or talk poorly about someone, also ‘shading’
Tight – when two people are in a close relationship
Tool – a person who is stupid, obnoxious or an ass
Touching Grass – usually an insult to someone who never goes outside
W – Win (when someone has done something good/achieved well)
Woke – someone who is up with the latest news and social issues
YAAS/Yaaasss/Yeet – an empathic Yes
Yeet – can also mean to throw something with excessive force
YOLO – you only live once
9 or CD9 – a parent is watching/listening
We hope you’ve found this guide to tween terminology helpful. Got any others you can think of? Drop them in the comments below, and we’ll get them added!

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