Ever found yourself squinting at your teen’s text messages like you’re deciphering ancient hieroglyphics? Same. One minute they’re telling you something is “mid,” the next they’re “aura farming,” and suddenly you’re spiraling, wondering exactly when you became so … not with-it.
Teen slang has always been its own wild little ecosystem, but today’s Gen Z and Gen Alpha wordplay is evolving at warp speed, thanks to the internet’s hyper-powered influence. If you need proof, look no further than this gem we dug up from the SheKnows archives — a roundup of teen slang from 2018 which, these days, practically reads like an ancient manuscript (“Whatever you do, don’t go sliding into your teen’s DM. Bible, that’s a cringy AF way to try to figure out WTF your kid is talking about”). … LOL
TikTok trends, meme culture, gaming lingo, and group chat inside jokes all collide to create a slang stew that’s equal parts hilarious and head-scratching. And while it might feel like these kids are just inventing words to keep us on our toes (or out of the loop entirely), this language actually says a lot about how they connect, express themselves, and shape culture.
This glossary isn’t meant to make you cool (that ship sailed when you said “cool” unironically). But it will help you decode your teen’s cryptic comments, avoid embarrassing missteps (nobody says “cringy” or “sus” any more!), and maybe even share a chuckle with your kid instead of getting the dreaded side-eye.
Bookmark it, revisit it, refresh it. Like teen slang itself, this list is a living, breathing thing that we’ll be updating regularly — because we’re here to keep you (okay, and ourselves) up to speed … or at least slightly less confused.
Kevin
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “Kevin” mean?
The use of “Kevin” is attributed to TikToker @druskidrinker, in a video that gained more than 2 million views in the span of a week. Kevin basically means anything bad; as an example, the video’s original creator said, “Yo bro this food is Kevin asf.”
Buns
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “buns” mean?
“Buns” is a slang term meaning something low quality or unimpressive — much like “mid” or “ass.” Alternately, we’re also hearing “cheeks” — as in, “You missed that easy shot?! You’re cheeks at basketball.”
Rizz
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “rizz” mean?
Oxford Dictionary’s 2023 Word of the Year is still going strong! It first appeared around 2021 and was popularized by YouTuber Kai Cenat. Rizz is said to come from the word “charisma” and basically means exactly that: if someone has rizz, they’re charming. To “rizz someone up” means to flirt.
Slop
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “slop” mean?
You know how we use the word “spam” to refer to low-quality or junk emails? Well, “slop” is basically the same thing, only with a broader definition. If something is sloppily or hastily produced or has poor quality, it can be called slop — anything from AI generated content to fast fashion.
Cracked
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “cracked” mean?
It might sound like something faulty — but if you’re “cracked,” it means to be really good at something. “Bro, I’m cracked at Fortnite!”
Sweat
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “sweat” mean?
Originating with the gaming world, a “sweat” is a person who plays so well, so fiercely, and so competitively that they don’t even have fun with the game any more; they’re obsessed with winning, and that’s it.
Lock In
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “lock in” mean?
In today’s slang, “lock in”, or to be locked in, means focusing intensely on something: “I’ve got a big test coming up, so I better lock in and study.”
Gurt/Gurting
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “gurt” mean?
We have an in-depth explainer on this one: read it here! “Gurt” or “gurting” is arguably one of the most confusing slang terms used today (at least for us oldsters!), but in a nutshell, “gurt” comes from the viral “Gurt: Yo” meme — wherein someone says “yogurt,” and a character named Gurt responds “Yo” in greeting. It morphed into an entirely separate meaning thanks to an April 2025 TikTok video, in which creator @jdawg.157 defines gurt and gurting as “When you do something that’s very smart but also very dangerous.”
Six Seven
Image Credit: SheKnows What does six seven mean?
Whether you spell it six seven or 6-7, you have to pronounce it “six sevennnnn.” (See another in-depth explainer here!) Especially popular with the tween set, it originated with the song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla. To add to the allure, videos of NBA player LaMelo Ball set to “Doot Doot” went viral because Ball is, you guessed it, 6’7″. It’s one of those tween and teen slang phrases that really means nothing, but apparently sounds so cool it needs to be said on repeat.
Cooked
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “cooked” mean?
If someone is in big trouble, they’re “cooked” — “My parents are gonna kill me when they find out about this F. I’m so cooked.” BUT! This is not to be confused with cooking, which means someone is doing something very well.
Aura
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “aura” mean?
“Aura” is basically a measure of how cool a person is. If they have a lot of aura, they’re effortlessly cool — they don’t have to try too hard, their aura level is just naturally high.
What the Helly
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “what the helly” mean?
Can’t say “what the hell” in school? Then just say “what the helly” or “what the hellyante!” It originated with Rob49’s song “WTHelly” but has woven its way into teen slang as an exclamation or interjection.
Unc
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “Unc” mean?
An oldie but goodie that’s made a comeback in Gen Alpha and Gen Z slang, “Unc” simply refers to a man who is seen as old, acting old, or out of touch with current trends. It is, of course, short for “uncle.”
Steezy/Steez
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “steez” (or “steeze”) mean?
Speaking of oldies-but-goodies, this one goes all the way back to the ’80s – but has been polished up for use in tween and teen slang! Kind of like aura, “steez” (which is said to come from a combination of the words “style” and “ease”) indicates someone who is confident and effortlessly stylish. If you admire someone’s style, you might refer to them as “steezy.”
Big Back
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “big back” mean?
“Big back” is basically just a new way to call someone fat — but it’s also sometimes used in a self-deprecating and jokey way, like “I’m putting extra whipped cream on my pie ’cause I’m a big back.”
Chopped
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “chopped” mean?
Nope — this one has nothing to do with cooking. In teenage slang, “chopped” means ugly. As in, “I don’t know why anybody thinks he’s cute … he’s lowkey chopped, bro.”
Crash Out
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “crash out” mean?
If someone says they’re going to “crash out,” you should probably run for cover — because to crash out means to have an angry fit: “Bro, if I get another detention I’m finna crash out.”
Huzz
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “huzz” mean?
Back in the day, women were referred to in a derogatory manner as “hoes.” These days, it’s morphed into “huzz” — which is used in a general sense to refer to a group of girls: “Man, I tripped in the school parking lot right in front of the huzz.”
Glaze/Glazing
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “glazing” mean?
To “glaze” someone basically means that you’re excessively praising or overhyping them, usually to an annoying degree.
SYBAU
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “SYBAU” mean?
There’s no nice way to say it … SYBAU is an acronym for “shut your b**** a** up.”
Aura Farming
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “aura farming” mean?
Now you know what “aura” means, but what does it mean if you’re “aura farming?” You can see an in-depth explainer here — but basically, aura farming is doing things to gain more aura: i.e., trying to make yourself look cool. The point, though, is to look like you’re not even trying.
Sigma
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “sigma” mean?
Well technically, sigma is the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet. But in teen slang, it means something totally different: someone who is well-liked, independent, and successful.
Chuzz
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “chuzz” mean?
This one’s a slang-word combo: “chopped” and “huzz” come together to create “chuzz” … i.e., ugly hoes. And if you hear “gruzz”? Well, that’s old hoes.
Selling
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “selling” mean?
If you’re “selling” at something, it means you aren’t doing a very good job. Often it’s used in the context of someone who is playing poorly to the detriment of the team — perhaps even on purpose.
Packed
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “packed” mean?
For this one, we have to look at the YouTuber PACKGOD, who’s known for his relentless roasting of other content creators. To get “packed” is to be flooded with rapid-fire insults so quickly that you can’t even get a word in edgewise.
Fine Shyt
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “fine shyt” mean?
If someone is considered exceptionally attractive, they’re “fine shyt.” It’s pretty obvious what the last word is based on, but the amended spelling and pronunciation is twofold: one, so it won’t get snagged by filters on TikTok and other social media platforms, and two, so kids don’t get in trouble for saying it in school or other public locations.
Chat
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “chat” mean?
“Chat” doesn’t mean what it used to — it’s no longer used to refer to a casual conversation. Rather, it’s used to refer to a person or group of people. It started when gaming livestreamers would address the people who had tuned into their livestream — i.e., the chat. Now, it’s basically the equivalent of “you guys” … like someone is addressing a fake audience. But you can also call a single person chat: “You’ve got a test coming up, so lock in, chat.”
Gyatt
Image Credit: SheKnows What does “gyatt” mean?
It seems fitting to end this teen slang gallery with a pertinent word — so bringing up the rear, we have “gyatt” … which means a nice, shapely behind.
