From groovy '60s vibes to the rad '80s and lit '2000s, each era boasts its unique slang words and phrases. Join us as we dive into the dopest slang through the decades, revealing how these colorful terms have shaped conversations and captured the spirit of youth.
Whether you're looking to flex your knowledge or just feel nostalgic, you'll find this linguistic journey totally tubular.
What Is Slang?
Slang words are informal and often unconventional terms used within specific groups or communities to convey meaning in a playful, humorous or emphatic way. Slang adds emphasis and color to communication, making it more engaging and relatable.
These new words and phrases often emerge from real-life interactions and pop culture, with current trends frequently spreading through social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok. As a general rule, slang is not typically appropriate in a professional setting but thrives in casual conversations and online interactions.
Some older generations may view slang as too informal or disrespectful, but slang itself isn't inherently negative. It's all about context. The key is to avoid using slang that is rude or inappropriate.
Origins
The origins of slang are deeply rooted in the diverse and dynamic aspects of human culture and society. Youth culture has always been a significant driver of slang, as young people often seek to distinguish themselves from older generations through innovative and creative language.
Many slang terms originate from subcultures and marginalized communities, reflecting their unique experiences and perspectives. In fact, Black Americans have profoundly influenced the development of American slang, particularly in the realms of music, fashion and social movements. African American Vernacular English (AAVE) has introduced numerous slang terms into mainstream usage, influencing the way people speak globally.
LGBTQ culture has also contributed significantly to the slang lexicon. LGBTQ slang often reflects the community's unique experiences and has been popularized through media, drag culture and social activism.
Now that we've learned a bit about the origin of these unique words, let's dive into a century of the coolest and most iconic slang terms.
1920s Slang Examples
Step back into the Roaring Twenties, a time when jazz was hot, flappers were the cat's meow and the nightlife was as illicit as it was exhilarating. Get ready to scram from the humdrum and dive into the giggle water of the past with these top 20 slang terms that defined the Jazz Age.
Bee's knees: An outstanding person or thing
Blotto: Extremely drunk
Cat's meow: Something splendid or stylish
Dapper: Neat and stylish in dress and appearance
Doll: An attractive woman
Ducky: Charming or delightful
Gams: Legs, especially a woman's legs
Giggle water: Alcoholic beverage
Heebie-jeebies: The feeling of anxiety or fear
Hooch: Illicit liquor
Jake: Okay or fine
Keen: Attractive or appealing
Moll: A gangster's girlfriend
Petting party: A social gathering for kissing and light making out
Scram: Leave immediately
Speakeasy: An illicit bar or nightclub selling alcoholic beverages during Prohibition
Whoopee: To have a good time or celebrate boisterously
1930s Slang Examples
The 1930s were an era defined by the grit and resilience of a nation grappling with the Great Depression. Amid the economic hardships, people found solace in swing music, Hollywood's Golden Age and radio shows that provided an escape from everyday struggles. The slang of the 1930s reflects the spirit of the times, full of creativity, humor and a touch of defiance.
All wet: Completely wrong
Big house: Prison
Bumps: Whispers or rumors
Cactus: Dead or finished
Cat: A cool person, often a jazz enthusiast
Cheesed off: Annoyed or angry
Crumb: A despicable person
Darb: Something or someone wonderful
Dish: An attractive woman
G-man: FBI agent
Hard-boiled: Tough or unemotional
Hooey: Nonsense
Moxie: Courage or nerve
Patsy: A scapegoat or someone who is easily duped
Ritzy: Elegant or fancy
Socko: Impressive or powerful
Yegg: A safecracker or burglar
1940s Slang Examples
The 1940s were an era forged by the trials of World War II and ignited by the hopeful dawn of the post-war boom. This decade was a melting pot of resilience and innovation, where slang terms bubbled up from the battlefields, glittered under Hollywood's spotlights and peppered everyday conversations.
A-1: Excellent or first-class
Applesauce: Nonsense or flattery
Beat feet: To leave quickly
Big cheese: An important person
Blockbuster: A huge success, originally a large bomb used in the war
Bombshell: An extremely attractive woman
Bum rap: A false accusation
Chicken: Cowardly
Cool: Stylish, sophisticated and composed, specifically derived from jazz culture
Crummy: Bad or of poor quality
Ducky: Great or fine
Flip your wig: To lose control
Gobbledygook: Language that is meaningless or hard to understand
Jive: Popular slang or talk related to jazz culture
Killer-diller: Excellent or impressive
Lush: A habitual consumer of alcohol
Pad: A place to live
Peepers: Eyes
Slick: Smooth or impressive
Snap your cap: To lose your temper
1950s Slang Examples
The 1950s saw a post-war world settling into a new era of prosperity and cultural shifts. Rock 'n' roll music, drive-in movies and the rise of the suburban lifestyle defined this decade. The language of the 1950s reflects the optimism and new cultural norms that emerged during this time.
Ankle-biter: A small child
Backseat bingo: Making out in a car
Cruisin' for a bruisin': Looking for trouble
Daddy-O: A term of address, similar to "man" or "dude"
Decked out: Dressed up
Dig: To understand or appreciate something
Dullsville: A boring or dull place
Hip: Cool or stylish
Hopped up: Under the influence of drugs
Knuckle sandwich: A punch in the face
Made in the shade: Successful or assured of success
Necking: Kissing and making out
Pad: Someone's house or apartment
Threads: Clothes
1960s Slang Examples
The 1960s were a time of profound social change, political upheaval and cultural revolution. From the Civil Rights Movement to the Summer of Love, this decade was all about challenging the status quo and exploring new frontiers. The slang of the 1960s reflects the rebellious and innovative spirit of the era.
Bogart: To hog something, usually a joint
Bread: Money
Far out: Amazing or cool
Fuzz: The police
Groovy: Cool or fantastic
Hang loose: Relax and take it easy
Hippie: A person of the counterculture, embracing peace and love
Jazzed: Excited or thrilled
Lay it on me: Tell me or give me the details
Mellow: Relaxed and calm
Outta sight: Excellent or impressive
Peace out: Goodbye
Righteous: Excellent or genuine
Split: To leave
Trip: A drug-induced experience or a strange situation
1970s Slang Examples
The 1970s were marked by disco, bell-bottoms and a laid-back attitude that permeated the culture. This decade saw the continuation of the counterculture movement and the emergence of new musical genres and styles.
Boogie: To dance
Bummer: A disappointment or bad experience
Burnout: Someone who is tired or lacks motivation, often due to drug use
Catch you on the flip side: See you later
Chill: To relax
Crash: To sleep or stay somewhere temporarily
Decked out: Dressed up or well-dressed
Dynamite: Great or awesome; popularized by the show "Good Times"
Foxy: Attractive, usually referring to women
Funky: Stylish or cool in an unconventional way
Groovy: Cool or fantastic
Outta sight: Excellent or impressive; widely used in the late 1960s and 1970s
Psyched: Excited or enthusiastic
Right on: In agreement or "exactly"
Threads: Clothes
Veg out: To relax and do nothing
1980s Slang Examples
The 1980s were a decade of excess, marked by bold fashion, blockbuster movies and the rise of video games and personal computers. The slang of the '80s reflects the vibrant and flashy culture of the time, filled with new technology and trends.
Airhead: A silly or foolish person
Awesome: Excellent or amazing
Bad: Good or impressive
Bogus: Fake or not cool
Bodacious: Excellent, attractive or remarkable
Cowabunga: An exclamation of excitement
Dweeb: A socially awkward person
Gnarly: Cool or excellent, sometimes also means something challenging
Like: Used frequently in speech to emphasize or fill gaps
Mallrat: A person who spends a lot of time at the mall
Rad: Short for radical, meaning cool or awesome
Stoked: Excited or thrilled
Take a chill pill: Calm down
Totally: Absolutely or completely
1990s Slang Examples
The 1990s saw the rise of the internet, grunge music and a more laid-back approach to life. This decade brought a mix of new technology and nostalgia for simpler times, reflected in the slang of the era.
All that and a bag of chips: Excellent; the best
As if!: No way or not a chance
Bling: Flashy jewelry or accessories
Boo-ya: An exclamation of triumph or excitement
Da bomb: Excellent or the best
Dope: Cool or awesome
Fly: Cool or stylish
Fresh: New and cool
Get jiggy: To dance or get into the groove
Homey: A close friend
Kickin': Great or excellent
My bad: My mistake or fault
No duh: Obviously or no kidding
Not!: Used to negate a previous statement
Phat: Excellent or stylish
Props: Respect or credit
Scrub: A guy who is unsuccessful or undesirable
Sike: Used to indicate that one was joking or not serious
Tight: Excellent or cool
Wassup: What’s up? What’s going on?
2000s Slang Examples
The 2000s were defined by the explosion of the internet, reality TV and the first social media platform. This decade saw rapid changes in technology and culture, with slang evolving to match the fast-paced world.
BFF: Best friend forever
Bootylicious: Sexually attractive, popularized by Destiny’s Child song in 2001
Bromance: A close friendship between two men
Buff: Muscular or in good physical shape
Chillax: Chill and relax combined
Deets: Details
Fanboy/fangirl: An enthusiastic fan, often to an obsessive degree
Fo shizzle: For sure, popularized by Snoop Dogg in the early 2000s
Hella: Very or a lot
Holla: To call or shout out to someone
Home skillet: A close friend
Janky: Of poor quality or unreliable
Newbie: A newcomer; someone who is inexperienced
NSFW: Not safe for work (content that is inappropriate for viewing at work)
Peeps: Friends; people
Pwned: Completely dominated or defeated (originated in gaming culture in the early 2000s)
Rents: Parents
Salty: Bitter or upset
2010s Slang Examples
The 2010s were a decade of social media dominance, meme culture and a growing awareness of social and political issues. The slang of the 2010s reflects the influence of internet culture and the rapid spread of new ideas and expressions.
Adulting: Acting like a responsible adult
Bae: Romantic partner; short for “babe"
Boujee: High-class or luxurious; sometimes spelled "bougie," originating from "bourgeoisie"
Cancel: To reject or boycott someone or something, often used in the context of "cancel culture"
Extra: Over the top or excessive
Fleek (or "on fleek"): Perfectly stylish
Ghost: To suddenly cut off all communication
High key: Openly or obviously
Lit: Fantastic
Low key: Subtly or secretly
Mood: A relatable feeling or situation
Receipts: Proof or evidence
Savage: Bold or ruthless
Shook: Shocked or scared
Slay: To do something exceptionally well
Throw shade: To insult or criticize
2020s Slang Examples
The 2020s have been marked by global challenges, technological advancements and a heightened awareness of social issues. Gen Z slang in this decade continues to evolve rapidly, influenced by internet culture, social media and the ongoing changes in society.
Bet: Okay or yes, often used to express agreement or confirmation
Cap: Lie or falsehood (often used with "no cap" to mean "no lie" or "for real")
Cheugy: Out of date or trying too hard, often used to describe trends that are no longer in style, typically associated with millennial culture
Drip: Stylish or fashionable, particularly in reference to clothing and overall appearance
Extra: Over-the-top or excessive behavior
Green flag: A sign of approval or something positive, often used in dating to indicate a good quality or characteristic in a person; contrast with a red flag, or a warning that one should avoid
Hits different: Feels unique or particularly significant, often used to describe an emotional reaction
No cap: No lie or for real; used to emphasize the truth of a statement
Quarantine and chill: Staying in and relaxing during lockdown, similar to the phrase "Netflix and chill"
Rona: Short for "coronavirus" or COVID-19
Slaps: Describes something as excellent or enjoyable, particularly music
Tea: Gossip or news, often used as "spill the tea" to mean "sharing gossip"
Vibe check: Assessing someone's mood or the atmosphere of a situation
Yeet: An exclamation of excitement, approval or surprise, or to throw something forcefully
The Greatest Slang Word of All Time
The "greatest" slang word is subjective and can vary depending on personal preferences, cultural context and the time period. However, one highly influential slang word that has had a significant impact on language and culture is "cool."
"Cool" has been used for decades to describe something fashionable, impressive or socially acceptable. It originated in the early 20th century and gained widespread popularity in the 1940s and 1950s through jazz culture and the influence of Black Americans.
The term has remained relevant and adaptable, consistently used across generations to convey approval or admiration.
We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Helen Davies, Marjorie Dorfman, Mary Fons, Deborah Hawkins, Martin Hintz, Linnea Lundgren, David Priess, Julia Clark Robinson, Paul Seaburn, Heidi Stevens, and Steve Theunissen
Original article: 181 Slang Words by Decade: From 'Scram' to 'Slaps'
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