Slang time machine
Every English slang term has a moment it first showed up in print or on someone's lips. We've tagged 1,000 terms with a first attested decade — from 18th-century thieves’ cant through to 2020s internet vocabulary. Pick a decade below.
2010s — 138 terms
Showing top 120 by viewssituationship
2010💘 Relationships & Dating
the ick
2017🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
ghosting
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
era
2010🚀 Emerging / Viral
soft life
2016🌱 Lifestyle & Wellness
catfish
2010💘 Relationships & Dating
cuffing season
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
love bombing
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
ratio
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
Stanley cup
2016🍔 Food & Drink
yeet
2014🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
red flag
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
living rent free
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
poggers
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
W
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
bed rot
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
delulu
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
sigma
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
based
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
flex
2019🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
caught in 4k
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
GG
2017🎮 Gaming
L
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
simp
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
amapiano
2012🎵 Music & Lyrics
beige flag
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
green flag
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
main character energy
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
ohio
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
MVP
2011⚡ Tech, Dev & AI
sweat
2018🎮 Gaming
NPC
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
gatekeep
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
big yikes
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
bffr
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
boujee
2016🌐 Internet & Memes
cheugy
2013🌐 Internet & Memes
noob
2017🎮 Gaming
EZ
2017🎮 Gaming
superintelligence
2014⚡ Tech, Dev & AI
valid
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
hyperpop
2019🎵 Music & Lyrics
git gud
2010⚡ Tech, Dev & AI
G Fuel
2012🎮 Gaming
phonk
2017🎵 Music & Lyrics
inference
2010⚡ Tech, Dev & AI
cottagecore
2018👗 Fashion & Lifestyle
🤝
2010✨ Emoji & Symbols
dark academia
2014👗 Fashion & Lifestyle
🙄
2015✨ Emoji & Symbols
Spotify Wrapped
2016🎵 Music & Lyrics
🤨
2018✨ Emoji & Symbols
👑
2010✨ Emoji & Symbols
🦋
2010✨ Emoji & Symbols
🤓
2015✨ Emoji & Symbols
walking date
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
green-flag spotting
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
group-chat approval
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
slow dating
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
chronically online
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
SoundCloud rap
2015🎵 Music & Lyrics
third-date rule
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
dunking
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
gymcel
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
hybrid date
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
dirty soda
2010🍔 Food & Drink
finsta
2015🌐 Internet & Memes
cringe
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
humble brag
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
algospeak
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
periodt
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
butter board
2017🍔 Food & Drink
in my feelings
2018🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
ragequit
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
living for this
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
feta pasta
2019🍔 Food & Drink
understood the assignment
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
touch base with reality
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
self-own
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
dry humor
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
drill
2011🎵 Music & Lyrics
shadow ban
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
big mad
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
glow up
2013🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
not me
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
guilty pleasure
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
doomscrolling
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
ASMR
2010🚀 Emerging / Viral
main account
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
plugg
2016🎵 Music & Lyrics
mother
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
situational cringe
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
the algorithm
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
milkshake duck
2016🌐 Internet & Memes
the girls are fighting
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
breadcrumbing
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
sliding into DMs
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
engage
2010🎮 Gaming
orbiting
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
embedding
2013⚡ Tech, Dev & AI
salty
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
dry spell
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
gorpcore
2017👗 Fashion & Lifestyle
dating app fatigue
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
receipts
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
simping
2010🌐 Internet & Memes
shook
2010🔥 Gen Z & TikTok
beige flagging
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
75 hard
2019🌱 Lifestyle & Wellness
trad wife
2010👗 Fashion & Lifestyle
third wheel
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
DTR
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
rizz up
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
slow fade
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
clout chaser
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
golden retriever boyfriend
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
zombieing
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
talking stage
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
the ex files
2018💘 Relationships & Dating
bae
2013💘 Relationships & Dating
Attestation dates come from etymologies originally sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0) and editorial expansion authored on Slangora. They reflect the earliest documented use we found for each term, not necessarily the moment it was coined.