Language is always changing. Every year we get a bunch of new slang words that capture the spirit of the times. In 2024, social media and pop culture brought us some fresh slang that’s really catching on. These new terms aren’t just fun; they also tell us a lot about what’s happening in our culture. Whether you’re scrolling through TikTok, getting into debates on Twitter, or just chatting with friends, these 11 slang words will keep you in the loop.In this article, we’ll break down the meanings, origins, and how to use these popular terms.
Gyat
“Gyat” is like a shortened form of “god damn.” It’s an interjection expressing excitement. For instance, “Check out her style, GYAT!” means “Wow, check out her style!”
Bet
“Bet” originally means a wager in gambling. Now it’s used to express full agreement. Instead of saying “okay” or “sure thing,” you can say “Bet!” For example, “Wanna go to the beach tomorrow afternoon? — Bet!”.
Whale
While not entirely new, ‘whale’ has become even more popular in 2024. In the online casino world, a ‘whale’ is someone who bets huge amounts of money. These big spenders often get special treatment from the casinos because of their high stakes. It’s like being a VIP. The person who is not a whale prefers £5 minimum deposit casino without GamStop
Lewks
Unique fashion moments. “Your prom dress is a full lewk.”
Touch Grass
An insult suggesting someone needs to spend time outside or get real. “You need to touch the grass.”
Rizz
“Rizz” comes from “charisma.” It was named the word of the year by the Oxford Dictionary, beating “prompt.” “Rizz” refers to confidence, character strength, and attractiveness. For example, “He rizzed her up” means “He charmed her instantly.”
Side-eye
Giving someone a negative look. “No need for that side-eye.
-type-beat
Gen Z uses the suffix “-type-beat” similarly to how the previous generation used “vibe” to describe the atmosphere or impression a place, person, or situation. For example, “The restaurant has a chill Italian-type-beat” means “This restaurant has a relaxed vibe like in Italy.”
Receipts
Proof, like texts or screenshots. “I’ve got the receipts.”
Hot Take
A controversial opinion. “Hot take, school lunches are actually good.”
Bandwagon
“Bandwagon” refers to someone who joins in with popular trends. For example, “Jake suddenly loves soccer, he is a major bandwagon fan” means “Jake suddenly loves soccer and is a trend follower.”
Pressed
Annoyed by something. “I’m pressed about all this homework.”
Put on Blast
Publicly embarrass someone. “He cheated on the test! I’m putting him on blast.”
Rent-Free
When something occupies your thoughts. “That song lives rent-free in my head.”
Read
Pointing out someone’s flaws. “You just got read, sis.”
Left on Read
When someone sees your message but doesn’t reply. “He left me on read.”
Boujee
This word translates to “rich,” “luxurious,” or “extravagantly expensive.” It derives from the French word “bourgeoisie.” For instance, “My boujee friends just bought a new car and a vacation house on the beach” means “My rich friends just bought a new car and a holiday home on the beach.”
Amped
Excited. “I’m amped about the concert!”
Ick
This expression denotes disgust. It describes something that instantly kills any romantic interest. For example, “Cargo shorts gave me the ick” means “Cargo shorts are a complete turn-off.”
Dragged
Mock or humiliate someone. “Prepared to get dragged if you come for Taylor Swift.”
Facts
Agreed. “That’s facts.”
Drip
Anything trendy, stylish, or eye-catching. “Olivia is really drippin’ tonight” means “Olivia looks amazing tonight.” It can be a noun or a verb. Essentially, what “swag” was for millennials, “drip” is for Gen Z.
Heated
Mad or frustrated. “You don’t need to get heated.”
Sus
Short for suspicious. “That’s sus.”
Shook
Completely surprised or caught off guard. “I am fully shook.”
Hinky
If something is “hinky,” it looks strange, suspicious, and off. It’s synonymous with “shady” and “fishy.” You might say, “That guy is acting weird, there is something hinky about him.”
Throw Shade
It means making a subtle, often clever or indirect remark that criticises someone. It’s like expressing disapproval without being openly aggressive, but the message is still clear.
For example, if someone says, “Nice shoes, did you get them on sale?” with a sarcastic tone, they’re throwing shade by implying the shoes are cheap or unfashionable.
This term originally came from the drag and LGBTQ+ communities but has become really popular in mainstream culture and on social media to describe these indirect forms of criticism or insults.
Ship
It’s short for “relationship” and can be used as a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to a romantic pairing that fans support or find appealing. As a verb, “to ship” means to hope for or endorse a romantic relationship between two people.
For example, when someone says, “I ship Ron and Hermione,” they mean they support or want to see Ron and Hermione from the “Harry Potter” series in a romantic relationship.
This term has become really popular in fan communities on social media, where people love to talk about their favourite character pairings from TV shows, movies, books, and other media.
Situationship
This term describes an undefined romantic relationship where you’re more than friends but not a full couple. For example, “We’re not dating, it’s just a situationship” means “We’re not officially dating; it’s just casual.”
Pookie
“Pookie” is an affectionate term for someone dear to you, like a child, friend, puppy, or romantic partner. For example, “Hey pookie, I’m just at work but I won’t be long — do you want anything from the store?” means “Hey darling, I’m at work but won’t be long — do you need anything from the store?”
These new slang words can help you stay up-to-date with the evolving English language, especially when you are on social media platforms like TikTok. However, remember that while using slang might seem cool at first, overusing it can make you come across as immature or unprofessional. Plus, it can lead to misunderstandings, especially when talking to people from different cultures or age groups, as they often do not get the latest slang terms. And let’s face it, slang changes so quickly—what’s trendy today might be outdated tomorrow. It’s much better to use clear and precise language that everyone can understand and that shows you’re a good communicator.
