The other day, I was just sitting in my room watching Netflix when I realized that the slang us college and high school kids use today doesn't make much sense to anyone outside of our generational bubble. It's not a bad thing — every decade has had its own slang. If you really think about it, it's so interesting how a group of people can morph words into new meanings and have it make sense to all of us, right off the bat. In the spirit of my new realization, I decided to ask my aunt what she thought of these 16 slang words I use in my everyday life.
1. Receipts
Real definition: proof, evidence
My aunt: "If you say 'I have the receipts,' it means you've got the stuff."
LOL, this is not a drug deal, just somebody about to get what's coming to them.
2. Mood
Real definition: how you're feeling
My aunt: "Mood? It's a question, like, 'what's wrong with you?'"
This is actually smart. When someone's hitting you with attitude, all you gotta say is "mood?"
3. Sus
Real definition: short for suspicious or suspect
My aunt: "A group, it's short for 'it's us' - sus."
That's the most clever contraction I've ever seen, but sadly, it's not that creative.
4. Thirsty
Real definition: horny, basically
My aunt: "I need a drink."
Explaining the real definition to her afterward was uncomfortable, to say the least.
5. High-key/low-key
Real definition: high-key is a known thing while low-key is secretive
My aunt: "High-key is cool, and low-key is lame."
I guess these slang words are pretty low-key.
6. Yeet
Real definition: yeet can mean any number of things - it can express excitement or be used as a phrase of approval
My aunt: "Is it an affirmation?"
I don't care how old you are, if you've never heard someone say "yeet," there's a good chance you're deaf.
7. Thirst trap
Real definition: a sexy post/picture intended to gain attention, often from a specific person
My aunt: "Ooh based on what thirsty meant I'm gonna guess that it's a hot guy, a hunk."
Another awkward explanation.
8. Thicc
Real definition: curvy, full-bodied, often used humorously
My aunt: "She's got some meat on her!"
Everybody knows the word thicc! It's just universal knowledge, no matter how many c's you add.
9. Gucci
Real definition: good, cool, fine, etc.
My aunt: "I know this one! It's swag, awesome. I'm Gucci."
Her son helped her out with this one. Apparently, Gucci is a major part of his vocabulary.
10. Tea
Real definition: gossip
My aunt: "Is it the truth?"
She was basically right with this one, but she'll never understand the rush of excitement you get when your best friend turns to you and says she's ready to spill the tea.
11. Snatched
Real definition: looks good, on point
My aunt: "Taken? Oh! It means hot! It means I look Gucci."
To be honest, I'm not sure how she guessed this one, but I was very impressed.
12. Clock
Real definition: to clock is to hit someone
My aunt: "Another question. Clock? What time is it?"
She's really got a good idea going with these one-word questions.
13. Oof
Real definition: expressing discomfort, apathy, or literally anything. Similar to yeet, it is a response for when you have nothing to say.
My aunt: "When you fall, you say oof."
I probably said oof about 27 times during this interview.
14. Put on blast
Real definition: embarrass someone, usually on social media
My aunt: "When you put someone on blast, you put them on speakerphone."
Good try, good try.
15. Don't @ me
Real definition: don't come at me - usually follows an unpopular opinion
My aunt: "Don't look at me! Don't talk to me!"
Oh, if that's what it meant, I would say it a whole lot more.
16. Canceled
Real definition: if something is canceled, it's irrelevant, we don't like it anymore
My aunt: "Duh, it's not gonna happen, it's canceled."
I hope she's not too embarrassed and decides that I'm #canceled.
