Feel like teens are speaking a different language?
Technology is advancing with accelerating speed and so is how we use it. In 1998 we were using 2 billion floppy disks a year, and now over 20 years later, the only reference to one is the ‘save’ icon on Microsoft Word.
As our use of technology evolves- acronyms, slang and emojis have created a new language for young people. This list gives you general phrases to watch out for, and words or emojis that may not have obvious meaning.
Please Note: The children in your care will not see this list on their version of the site (we don’t want to give anyone ideas!). You should be mindful that these words and phrases often depend on the context of conversations, the only way to be sure of implied meaning is to talk to young people.
The Basics
LOL: Laughing out loud
BRB: Be right back
FO: F*** off
IDC: I don’t care
BFF: Best friends forever
NSFW: Not safe for work
WYD: What you doing?
LMAO: Laughing my a** off
GTG/G2G: Got to go
TBF: To be fair
STFU: Shut the f*** up
POV: Point of view
OMW: On my way
WUA: What you at?
TTYL: Talk to you later
FU: F*** you
TBH: To be honest
ILY: I love you
DM: Direct message
NP: No problem
JK: Just kidding
General Phrases
LOML: Love of my life
IMO: In my opinion
SMH: Shaking my head, can also be ‘so much hate’
BAE: Before Anyone Else; a favourite friend or partner
IKR: I know, right?
AFAIK: As far as I know
TFW: That feeling when
AF: ‘As f***” e.g. ‘cool AF’
KMT: ‘Kissing my Teeth’ (used as a sign of disrespect/disapproval)
PM/Private: Short for private or personal message
‘Netflix and Chill’: To watch TV and have sex
SUS: Suspicious
RN: Right Now
Ship: Abbreviation for relationship
Basic: Someone, or something, that is ordinary (usually an insult)
SLAY: To do something amazing
PMOYS: Put me on your Snap Story
Shading: Gossiping about someone without naming them
Butters: Unattractive or ugly
Fresh: Used to describe something good or cool
Sick: Means the opposite of its original meaning (positive/good/amazing)
NGL: Not going to lie
Tea: Interesting gossip
Thot: That ‘hoe’ over there – often derogatory
ICYMI: In case you missed it
Fam: Very good friend
L4L: Like for Like (on social media)
IDEK: I don’t even know
OFC: Of course
TFW: That feeling when
DILLIGAF: ‘Does it look like I give a f***’
TFW: That feeling when
Bants: Short for banter (to joke or mess around)
Allow it: Means the opposite of its original meaning (negative/stop/disagreement)
FB: Facebook
TF: The f***?
Watch out For
ASL?: Age, Sex, Location?
WTH: What the hell
99: Parents are gone
121: Talk in private message
SWYP: So what’s your problem?
GNOC: Get naked on camera
RU18: Are you 18?
WTF: ‘What the f***’
IWSN: I want sex now
WTTP: Want to trade pics?
Cheugy: A term used to describe something ‘basic’, or trying too hard.
c2c: cam to cam
TDTM: Talk dirty to me
IRL: In real life
F2F: Face to face – video chat or in person
KMS: Kill myself
KPC: Keeping parents clueless
GTFO: Get the f*** out
YWS: You want sex?
CU46: See you for sex
Pic: Picture
Insta: Instagram
PFP: Picture for proof
9, CD9, Code 9: Parents are nearby
S2R: Send to receive (pictures)
Sugarpic: Suggestive or erotic photograph
KYS: Kill yourself
MPFB: My personal f*** buddy
THOT: ‘That hoe over there’
FINSTA: Fake Instagram account
GYPO: Get your pants off
Snap Snapchat
FWB: ‘Friend with benefits’ (casual partner)
Drugs
Yellows, Blues, Vallies, Diazzie: Diazempam/Xanax (Benzodiazepines)
Bud, Blunt, Hash, Ganja, Weed, MJ, Smoke: Cannabis
Blow, Charlie, Snow, Coke, Gear, White, Bump: Cocaine Powder
Mandy, Molly, X, MD, Pills: MDMA (Ecstasy)
Pick up: To buy drugs
420: Usually a reference to cannabis
Emojis to watch out for
Snake: To snitch on someone or do something behind their back
Eggplant: Penis
Banana: Penis
Peach: Bum
Tongue: Oral sex
Cherries: Touch my breasts
Camel: Hump(ing)
Fire: To let someone know they are good looking (hot) or something is good
Smirk: Flirting face
Flex: To show off (flex)