Slang of the 2010s
Terms first attested in the 2010s.
45 terms
To throw something with great force and very little care for where it lands. Also an exclamation ("Y…
A warning sign in dating or friendships — a behavior that suggests incompatibility or trouble. Compa…
When a reply to a post gets more likes than the original — signaling the replier dunked on the poste…
An exclamation of excitement, hype, or awe — "POGGERS!" dropped after a clutch play or a genuinely s…
When something occupies your thoughts constantly without your permission — a song, a memory, or some…
A romantic arrangement that's more than friendship, less than a relationship — deliberately vague ab…
A sudden, irrational feeling of disgust toward a romantic partner, triggered by something small they…
A directive to go outside and experience the real world — usually aimed at someone too invested in o…
A self-defined phase of your life that you're fully committing to — "my soft girl era," "my gym era,…
Ending a relationship by suddenly disappearing — no call, no text, no explanation. A specific 2010s+…
An assessment of someone's energy or mood — passing means they're cool to be around, failing means t…
A win. Used as a noun, adjective, or interjection — "that's a W," "W take," "W rizz." Can also mean …
South African electronic dance genre with deep log-drum bass, jazzy keys, and a rolling tempo. The c…
The skull emoji means "I'm dead" — i.e. dying of laughter. Replaced 😂 for Gen Z around 2019–2020; t…
The cold months (roughly October to February) when singles scramble to couple up for companionship, …
A lifestyle movement prioritizing ease, rest, and low stress over hustle and grind. Especially assoc…
Overwhelming someone with affection, gifts, and attention early on to fast-track emotional dependenc…
(Internet slang, chiefly, in the plural) A large female breast.
Spending an entire day in bed doing essentially nothing — scrolling, napping, eating in bed. Re-fram…
Delusional, affectionately — believing in something unlikely (usually a crush or dream outcome) desp…
Someone who pretends to be a different person online, usually with stolen or AI-generated photos, to…
A lone-wolf male archetype — independent, self-reliant, supposedly above the alpha/beta hierarchy. O…
"Good game." Typed in chat at the end of a match — politely, or sarcastically after a blowout. "GG E…
To show off — possessions, skills, achievements, partners, views. "Hard flex" = unmissable brag. "So…
A song so good you have to bop your head to it — the universal Gen-Z compliment for a track. "This i…
Agreeing with something strongly because it's bold, authentic, or unafraid to be unpopular. The oppo…
Someone who goes overboard showing affection or support for a person (usually a romantic interest) i…
To do something extremely well; to go off. "Let him cook" means let him keep doing what he's doing —…
"If you know, you know." An inside-joke disclaimer for references only a specific subculture, friend…
To single-handedly win a game when your team is underperforming. "He hard-carried that match" = did …
A loss. Opposite of W. "Take the L" = accept the defeat gracefully; "huge L" = embarrassing failure.…
A quirky, mildly weird trait in a partner that's neither a red flag (dealbreaker) nor green flag (id…
A player who takes every match extremely seriously — perfect meta builds, no fun allowed. "Sweaty" d…
A positive trait or behavior indicating someone is emotionally healthy, thoughtful, or a good match.…
Caught in the act with undeniable, high-resolution evidence. "Caught in 4K" = there is video, and it…
Non-Player Character. Insult aimed at someone perceived as having no original thoughts — just runnin…
The confidence and presence of someone who acts like they're the protagonist of their own story. Adm…
Did something so flawlessly there was nothing left to critique. Highest tier of praise for a perform…
To hoard access to something (a hobby, subculture, band, restaurant) by demanding newcomers prove th…
A distorted, cowbell-driven electronic genre rooted in 90s Memphis rap. Exploded on TikTok in 2021–2…
Adjective meaning bizarre, cursed, or deeply wrong. Gen Alpha's version of "only in Florida" — used …
"Be for real." A sharp reply to something outrageous, wrong, or naive. Shorter than "you can't be se…
Approved, legitimate, or acceptable. Used to affirm a feeling, opinion, or choice: "your rage is val…
High-class or fancy, often used playfully about small indulgences you wouldn't normally buy ("boujee…
The fire emoji 🔥 means something is excellent, stylish, or hot right now. The universal "this is go…