Dear Parents of Teenagers,
Wise parenting often includes being a student of your kids and knowing their world. But the world of teen culture is always changing, and it can be difficult to keep up. In case you are ever perplexed by Gen Z vocabulary, here’s a quick rundown of popular slang words. For fun, give yourself or your spouse a pop quiz. And then for extra fun, try out some of these on your teenager at the next family dinner conversation. Ha! They’ll love it!
Tea: Gossip. You can sip, spill, have, give, and get the tea. “Piping hot tea” refers to extremely juicy gossip. Also referred to simply as “T,” the term has recently been popularized by memes (most famously one featuring Kermit the Frog).
Shook: Past tense of “shake,” this term refers to being shaken up by something—possibly a piece of news, a new film or show, or the way someone looks. A 2017 (explicit) video clip of comedian Christine Sydelko exclaiming “I am shooketh!” gave the term mainstream attention.
Yeet: Originally a dance that began trending on Vine in 2014. However, recently the word has become more popular as an exclamation. It is typically used for excitement or approval, but nowadays has many meanings and uses.
Mood: At the moment, this word is being used to caption images that express a person’s current feelings. It can also be used to show what you’re in the mood for or to relate to something someone else has posted. “Big” and “whole” moods mean an even stronger emotion or desire.
Beat: A beauty term that has to do with applying makeup. As a verb, to “beat your face” means to put makeup on, and if someone is “beat,” it could mean their makeup looks good or that they have a lot of it on.
Gucci: Though still a high-end Italian fashion label, Gucci has grown to mean anything good, whether it’s how you feel (“I’m Gucci”) or what you love (“that’s so Gucci”). The word Gucci is also synonymous with “sounds good.” Hip-hop culture has popularized the term and the brand, with songs like “Gucci Gang” and artists like Gucci Mane (explicit).
Lit: Since the 1910s, to “get lit” was slang for getting intoxicated. Nowadays, its meaning has been broadened to simply describe something that’s really good. Often related to parties, phrases like “it’s lit” or “so lit” mean that the party is wild. Simply saying “lit” means “cool.”
Savage: Internet slang that relates to something someone does that is shocking, but done without care of the consequences. Though dehumanizing, the popularity of this term has allowed the sting of words to be watered down for entertainment purposes. Even Wendy’s social media has been deemed “savage.”
Clout: Influence and popularity. Whether it relates to money, social media followers, fancy clothes (even glasses), or actual status, the more of these things you have, the more clout you have.
Bet: Used when you are in agreement. If you make plans with someone and they say “bet,” they are confirming the plans.
Sus: An abbreviation for suspicious.
I hope you have enjoyed this special fun time of learning with Nathan. The world of teenagers can be a scary place, but it can also be a fun and exciting world of adventure. Your student ministry staff is on your side, so please never hesitate to get in touch with one of us so we can pray for you or help in any way.
Your Partner in Discipleship,
Nathan K.
High School Pastor
Additional Resources to Follow:
- Consider subscribing to Axis.org Culture Translator for a weekly email with teen culture updates and ideas to get conversations started with your kids.
