Text Speak Codes Every Parent Should Know
Article written by Becky White, Marketing Director, THINK Program
We’ve created a list of text speak that teens are using these days. Some of this slang you’ll be familiar with, but much of it may surprise you! Note: this is certainly not a comprehensive list, and is ever-changing.
Text Speak Decoded
AF — As f**k
A mood — A relatable feeling or situation (often shortened to the single word, “mood”)
And I oop — Used when something is really surprising or provocative
ASL — Age/sex/location
Bae — Significant other or crush
Basic — Someone who is viewed as boring or a conforming person
Bet — A response indicating agreement.
Example: “Wanna go to the store?” “Bet.”Bih — Short form of b*tch
Body count — The number of people someone has slept with
Bruh — “Bro”; can be used to address anybody
Cappin’ — Lying
CEO of [something] — To be a representative of some activity or thing. Example: “Taylor is the CEO of sleeping in late.”
Cursed — Used to describe something (usually an online image) that is unsettling or creepy
Cringe — Causing feelings of embarrassment or awkwardness
Daddy — An attractive man, usually older, who conveys a sense of power and dominance
Ded — Used when something is really
funny or embarrassing. Example: OMG that meme has me ded!Dope — A way to describe something as cool or awesome
DTF — Down to f*ck
Egirl / Eboy — A young person with emo-inspired, punk-rock style
Extra — To be “extra” is to be unnecessarily dramatic or over the top
Facts — An emphatic way to acknowledge the truth of someone’s statement
Fam — Friends
FBOI — F**k boy; a guy just looking for sex
FINSTA — Fake Instagram account
Flex — To describe someone showing off, gloating, or parading around
FOMO — Fear of missing out
Fire — Amazing
FWB — Friends with benefits
Ghosted — Ending a relationship by completely disappearing with no further communication
Goals — Something you want or aspire to
GOAT — Greatest of all time
GTG — Got to go
Gucci — Something good or cool
Hentai — Graphic anime pornography
High key — 1. Very interested in 2. Actively spreading information
Hits different — When something is better than it normally is because of different circumstances. Example: “A cold soda just hits different when it’s super hot outside.”
ISO — In search of
IYKYK — “If you know you know”; meant to imply that there’s an inside joke
Juul — Type of e-cigarette that is small and discreet; ‘pods’ are used for smoking
Karen — Used to refer to an entitled mom
KMS — Kill myself
KYS — Kill yourself
Lit/Turnt/Turnt Up — Something that’s active or popular, can also refer to being stoned or drunk
LMAO — Laughing my ass off
LMP — 1. A term that means “like my pic”
LOL — Laugh out loud
Low key — 1. Somewhat interested in 2. Keeping information secret
Meal — Someone who looks good enough to eat. See also: “Snack” or “snacc”
Mood — Used in lieu of “same here;” relatable; summing up one’s life
Netflix and chill — Getting together and hooking up
No cap — Used to indicate that someone is not lying
NP — No problem
OFC — Short for “of course”
OK, Boomer — Calling out an idea that is outdated or resistant to change
OMFG — Oh my f**king god
On Fleek — Describes perfection. Example: Her eyebrows are on fleek.
PMOYS — Acronym that stands for “put me on your Snapchat”
Salty — To be bitter or cranky about something
Same — “I can relate”
Shading — Where teens gossip about another party without naming them; also “throw shade” means to talk about someone
Ship — Short for “relationship”; also used as a verb to indicate a desire to see two people together. Ex.: I ship Taylor and Jamie.
Shook— If someone is “shook,” they are affected by something, usually negatively and very emotionally. It can also mean shocked, surprised or scared.
Sis — Short for “sister” but can be used to address anybody; usually used to express that drama has occurred
Skeet — To ejaculate
Slay — To “slay” is to do really well or succeed at something
Slide into DM's— A phrase used to signify that one wants to send a flirtatious message over social media (private messaging)
Smash — Means to have casual sex
SMDH — Shaking my damn head
SMH — “Shaking my head,” meaning “I don’t believe it” or “that’s so dumb”
Snack or Snacc — Describes an attractive person
Snapstreak — Created when friends send snaps every day, creating a streak
Snatched — On point, very good, or well styled
Spam — A fake social media account
Squad — Close friend group
STFU — Short for “shut the f**k up,” can be used as an expression of disbelief or to cyberbully
Swoop — To be picked up in an automobile
TBH — To be honest
TDTM — Talk dirty to me
Tea — Gossip or interesting news shared between friends
Thicc — Having an attractive, curvy body
TF — The f**k, as in “who TF you think are?”
Thirsty — Desperate for attention, usually sexual attention
Thot — Stands for “that ho over there” and is often used instead of “slut”
Trash — “Terrible,” “unacceptable
Triggered— Upset, sad or disgusted; has evolved from its original definition of being reminded of a negative situation
V — “Very”
Vide/Vibes— To vibe describes the overall mood of the situation; the aura
Vibing — Chilling out, having a good time, or identifying with a certain kind of energy
VSCO girl — A style characterized by Hydro Flasks, Crocs, and scrunchies
Woke — Socially or politically conscious
WTF — What the f**k?
WUF — Where you from?
WYA — Where you at?
WYD — What you doing?
YAAS — A very emphatic yes
YEET — 1. A very strong word for yes. 2. To throw something.
Zaddy — A well-dressed, attractive man of any age
These Aren’t Really Around Anymore But You Still Hear Them Sometimes
420 — Marijuana reference
11:11 — Popular time to make a wish
ASB — As balls. Example: I’m high asb.
Chad — A hyper-sexual young man
Chill — Relaxed or laid back
Coney — Slang for “penis”
CYA — “Cover your ass” or “see ya”
Dabbing — Refers to concentrated doses of cannabis; also a dance craze
Dongle — Slang for penis
ILY — I love you
IRL — In real life
JK — Just kidding
OKURRR — Variation of “OKAY” made popular by rapper Cardi B who defines it as something that is said to affirm when someone is being put in their place
SH — Sh** happens
SUFF — An acronym meaning “Shut up, f**k face”
TDTM — Talk dirty to me