A dictionary that decodes millennial speak

28 May,2017 08:36 AM IST |  Mumbai  |  Gitanjali Chandrasekharan and Aastha Atray Banan

If what today's teenagers say sounds like gobbledygook, this story is for you


Kopal Jain, 19
Lit
We say it to convey that something is awesome/amazing or great How it's used: How was the party? It was Lit!

Arnaz Khan, 19
Savage
Using sarcasm in a very brutal way, so that it's cool How it's used: I told him I had already replaced him. I was savage AF.

Shehzaan Peshimam, 23
Haard
Insane, but in a good way For eg: You're vibe is so haard.

Niharika Purohit, 19
Ballin' or Baller The art of being all over town, having a lot of fun How it's used: 'You've been ballin' it, or you're such a baller'.

Kavya Shah, 19
Gains
The muscle or the outcome of a workout How it's used: Last month, he made mad gains

Devashri Manohar, 19
Curving/squaring
Rejecting someone's advances How it's used: I went for a date, and got curved.

AF: As f'''.
Usually used to end a sentence. How it's used: My paper was great, I'm happy AF!

Yaaasss
A trendier version of yes. How it's used: Do you want to meet tonight? Yaaass!

K is not Okay
If you respond to a message with 'k', you sound nonchalant, almost as if you are replying for the heck of it. It's a rude one-word reply.

Ending a sentence with hashtag
You would use a hashtag even when texting or talking. It's an American trend, you can see it in Riverdale too. How it's used: Dude! I got phone numbers of 5 chics, yaya! #playa

No tea no shade
When someone wants to give you a reality check without being rude How it's used: Boy, no tea, no shade, but you really need to hit the gym!

Bae
Before Anything Else. Could be a lover, friend or even pizza How it's used: Travelling with my bae is the best thing ever!

Thang
A cooler way for saying 'thing' How it's used: Sure 'thang' instead of sure 'thing'

Woke
Means to be woken up, to be aware to the world. Social awareness, to be precise How it's used: I was sleeping, but now I'm woke'

Burn
To diss someone How it's used: She said that to you? That was a sick burn

Thot
That Hoe Over There. Calling someone sexually promiscuous How it's used: She is a thot

Cray
The 2017 term for crazy. It's a popular lyric from a Jay Z/Kanye West song. "Buuuut you could use something more like that boy is cray cray."

Double Texting
When you repeatedly send someone messages when they haven't replied, showing that you are desperate. Also, when you open someone's message and it gets blue ticked on Whatsapp, but don't respond, it's considered rude.

Adding 'x' and 'a' at the end of every word
How it's used: 'Chill Chicax'

Slay
Succeeded in something amazing How it's used: What Beyonce does every single day? She slays it!

Sick
Something that's so cool, it's sick, but in a good way. How it's used: That new Sia song is sick!

Obvio/no sh''
Means, of course, of course.

Brah
Replaces the ever-charming, 'Bro'!

Netflix and chill
Going to someone's house, watching Netflix shows with them and then the implied sex that follows How it's used: Let's Netflix and chill sometime

Naice
Nice that is nicer? Yes. You got it.

Waddap
No more 'what's up?' Make it as ghetto as you can.

Thenks
Why say thanks when you can say it like you mean it.

Vice-Versa
If you are a millennial speaking to a 30-something, here are a few conversation pointers Use Please, instead of pls / Thank you, instead of tks / That's fabulous, instead of that's sick / you're my one and only, instead of bae.

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