Youth Slang - McCrindle Research

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YOUTHSLANG
Chapter 3
Youth Slang
People have been inventing slang forever, and while some slang
words last for centuries, the slang lexicon is always changing.
Each budding generation comes up with its own language or
languages, generally used among peers.
A young person’s choice of slang is quite often an extension of the
particular youth subculture he or she belongs to or identifies with.
While new words are born with each generation, young people also
adopt terms that were popular when their parents, grandparents and
even great-grandparents were young. Sometimes young people change
the meanings, spelling or pronunciation of these words. They mix slang
up, and personalise it. And just as there are words unique to particular
generations, there are youth words unique to particular Australian
regions.
Youth slang across the generations
Slang means “words, expressions, and usages [which are] often shortlived, and are considered unsuitable for formal contact.”54 Much of
current youth slang originates from previous decades and although
most of these terms have not made it into dictionaries, they have
enjoyed long lives. The life of a slang word depends on whether or not
it is adopted by the mainstream or a dominant culture. This is sparked
53
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by the amount of interaction between the dominant culture and the
subculture that coined the slang word.55 In the case of the word “cool”,
pioneered by the black American jazz subculture of the 20s, 30s and
40s, it was the popularity of jazz, especially among the young people of
the day, that led the word into mainstream youth circles from the 1950s
onwards. It is reported that African slaves transported to America in
the 1600s used the word cool to mean “it’s got soul”, and it is thought
to have survived with that meaning to become part of the wider youth
lexicon. It is probably the term most people think of when they think
of youth slang.
In fact, many of the terms used today to mean fashionable or popular
either began in the Jazz Age or evolved in reaction to terms that came
into use then. Why has jazz made such an impact on youth slang across
the generations and the globe? Well, it was jazz that overhauled high
culture for the first time in the history of the English-speaking world.
African American culture and music continue to coin much of youth
slang and to influence popular culture generally.56
Boomers
X-ers
Y-ers
peace
bodacious
bounce
way-out
major
bling
skag
dweeb
da bomb
truckin
gross out
brutal
teach
rad/radical
foo’
cherry
not
chica
clyde
tubular
duh
dream on
wicked
crunk
the man
ace
a’ight
be cool
airhead
fo’ shizzle
While many 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s terms, including those listed in the
table, have been dropped from the youth lexicon, others, like “cool”,
54
Y outh S lang
have remained in vogue. They often evolve
as they are passed on from one generation
to the next. There are different forces
which determine this. Popular culture and
subculture are two forces responsible for
changes in the meaning, spelling and pronunciation, as well as for the invention and
re-adoption of youth slang. To the youth
of today “cool” is no longer exclusively
pronounced “cool”, but “kewl”, “koo-wel”
or “coo’”, and it is often used by young
The rise of retro. Interestingly,
people to simply mean “ok”, “satisfactory”
many who wear the image of
or “good” – for example, “yeah, I’m cool”.
the cassette or walkman were
born after its demise.
It was with the advent of the teenager
in the 1950s that the concept of “cool” really became common in
youth circles. While the attainment of cool has been an aspiration of
young people for a very long time, the difference today is that “cool” is
in a constant state of flux. To Gen Y, trying to be cool is uncool, while
trying to be uncool is cool. It’s confusing for parents and kids alike!
“Cool” has been packaged up and sold for so long now that it’s
becoming more and more difficult to define it, let alone attain it. The
youth of today are being bombarded with more messages, more pressure, than any other generation, but they are also more savvy than
ever, and more cynical. Constant advertising and product placement,
subliminal and otherwise, are often contradictory, so the fact that being
uncool is cool actually begins to make sense.
Writing for New York-based Paper magazine, Fenton Bailey points
out that cool:
belongs neither to the marketers who would peddle it, nor to the academics
who try to colonize it through definition. Cool, like quicksilver or moonshine,
slips through the fingers of all who try to capture and possess it.57
Not only does it evolve from one generation of youth to another,
“cool” also takes on new meaning between youth subcultures. Similarly,
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what the hippies of the 1960s found cool was strikingly different from
what their sophisticated contemporaries, the mods, found cool.
Reinventing the wheel: old words, new spin
Then
Now
cool – adj. hip, happening
coo’/kewl – adj. okay, good.
Still used to mean “hip”
major – adj. really cool
majorly – adv. extremely, totally
dang – adj. mighty fine
interj. used to express disappointment or
surprise
chick – n. attractive, hip young woman
n. any young woman
funk – n. fear and panic and then,
depression or anxiety
funky – adj. cool
Also used this way by the Boomers and
X-ers when they were young
roll – v. engage in manual labour (original
slang meaning)
v. to leave or act (from 80s onwards) –
“okay, let’s roll”. Can also mean to steal
from (“rolled” – from the 60s onwards)
freak out – v. go crazy (on the dance floor
– “aaaaaaaah, FREAK OUT!”)
freaked out – frightened, shocked or
angry. Sometimes used to refer to an
episode that is drug-induced
freak – n. weirdo
n. very good-looking person.
Still used to mean “weirdo”
bananas – adj. crazy
adj. hot, cute or adorable
dude – n. male (usually a friend or
acquaintance)
n. any male or female at all, friend or not
“Dude” is another slang term which has been around for a while.
First used in the 1850s in New York to refer to a well dressed male, it
then shifted to mean a city person in the country in the 1890s. In the
1970s, the term was taken up by the surfer subculture to address any
male at all and it became popular in Australian youth circles. Today, it
can even be used to address a female.58
The term phat (awesome, cool) derived from African American
Vernacular English (AAVE or Ebonics), has been a slang term used
56
Y outh S lang
by African Americans since the 60s. It is now popular among Australian youth. Not simply a misspelling of the word “fat”, it actually has
nothing to do with being overweight. It is said to be an acronym for
“Pretty Hot And Tempting”.59
“Groovy” has been used by young Australians since the 60s and 70s.
It too began life back in the Jazz Age. It comes from the expression “in
the groove”, referring to a phonograph record of good jazz music.56
This table lists examples of youth slang which have survived and
evolved with the generations.
Old is new again
Boomers
X-ers
Y-ers
dude
bogus
yuppie
chill/chill out
totally
dawg
man
awesome
the bomb
far out
bad
oh snap
groovy
way out
dope
funky
betty
chick-flick
baby
bitchin
fly
chick
chillin
bling-bling
crazy
bunk
all that
dang
deck
as if
Characteristics of youth slang
Gen Y and Z slang is not a mishmash of words. Much of youth slang can
be categorised according to shared characteristics. Chapter 1 discussed
two types of youth words used today: contrarian and contradictory. A
common word is flipped to take an opposite meaning (e.g. sick means
great); or a word is used in both its positive and negative connotations
simultaneously. Below, a further five have been identified:
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1. Blended words: Single words made from two words. For example,
“crunk” is a combination of “crazy” and “drunk”, used to describe
someone who is between drunk and crazy.
chillax
chill out and relax
credlocks
dreadlocks worn for street credibility
wigger
a white male who acts like a black male
bootylicious
describes an attractive female (delicious) with a great behind
(booty)
blinglish
ghetto English (derived from the “bling” often desired in lowincome neighbourhoods)
2. Virtual words: Computer terminology.
cyberslacking
surfing the internet during work time
cyberloafing
same as cyberslacking
blogosphere
that part of the internet dominated by blogs
3. Analogous words: Words used to refer to something that bears
some sort of resemblance to the thing or action it denotes. For example,
ice refers to stone jewellery, particularly diamonds, because of the close
resemblance to frozen water.
donut
circular car stunt
blouse
an effeminate male
dogger
a policeman, from the verb, “to dog”
solid
genuine and down-to-earth
4. Onomatopoeic words: Imitations of the sound associated with
the thing or action they denote.
bling-bling
jewellery
doof-doof
electronically generated music (i.e. techno)
moshing
dancing to rock music in a frenzied and violent way
cha-ching
said when one comes into money
58
Y outh S lang
5. Gender-specific words: Words that are generally used by
members of only one sex, and/or are used to refer to or address only
one gender. In our lexicon of youth slang, there is only one word used
by Gen Y and Z females exclusively to address other females (girlfriend).
Gender-specific words used by males to address or refer to females
are usually positive while these for referring to other males are usually
negative. Words used by males to address females and vice versa are
mostly gender-neutral (e.g. boo).
Some of the slang can be used by both sexes (generally words that
carry negative connotation). Others that can only be used by one sex
are generally words that carry positive connotation and express attraction for a member of the opposite sex. However, there are no Gen Y
and Z gender-specific words in the lexicon used by females to refer
to males in a positive way, although the Boomer terms “hunk” and
“spunk” are still used by young women.
Male referring to female (positive)
bootylicious, fine
Male referring to female (negative)
ho, skank
Male referring to male (neutral)
cuz, dawg/dogg
Female referring to male (negative)
cretin, player
There is also youth slang used by only one sex to refer to activities.
These words are mainly used by males to refer to activities usually
engaged in by males, such as fast driving, fighting and playing computer games. Burnout, donut, deck, pwn and slaughtered are a few examples.
Youth terms can often be terribly confusing – they have strict rules
with some words, then others (like “crunk”, for example) can be used by
both males and females, referring to a member of the same or opposite
sex, and can be criticising or praising them. Its negative connotation,
as in “That skank was crunk!” contrast with the positive – “Man, you
were totes crunk on Saturday, it was sick!”
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Another curious feature of youth language is that multiple words
can have very similar meanings. Words meaning drunk for example,
include crunk, bloddo, fap, off chops, off your face/head, sloshed, maggot, maggoted and wasted.
Youth slang rarely refers to mundane activities like homework or
housework. Much of it refers to parties and music, as well as risk-taking
or anti-social activities, such as drinking, drug-taking, fighting and dangerous driving. This is a feature of youth slang that has not changed
since the Boomers were young. Other terms are used to express approval
or disapproval of something or someone and to classify other people,
situations and scenarios.
Youth slang words – prevalence by function
To express approval of something or someone
18%
To express disapproval
12%
To classify (negative)
11%
To label risk-taking or anti-social behaviours
10%
To classify (neutral)
7.5%
To classify (positive)
5%
To refer to technology (gaming, social-networking, the Internet, etc)
4%
To refer to parties, dancing, music and hanging out
3.5%
Said when arriving or leaving/departing
3.5%
To address others
3%
Other
23%
Spelling and pronunciation of words are often altered by generations
Y and Z to sound cool or tough. This is particularly common in African
American street talk and has become popular in Australia. Dropping
“er” (gangsta), “g” (playin’), “l” (coo’), “h” (wit) and “u” (yo’), and adding
a “z” (coz/cuz) and “ie” (homie) to words are particularly common. Also,
many of the popular terms used by youth are shortened – for example,
bro or bra instead of “brother” and “sis” instead of “sister”. Australian
60
Y outh S lang
youth, however, rarely give their entire conversations that “street” edge
(as do their American counterparts from the hood, or at least those in
’da hood on ’da telly). They are more likely to drop in just the one or
maybe two words in the course of a conversation.
coo’
cool
homie
homeboy
coz
because
playa
player
cuz
cousin
playin
playing
da
the
ta
to
dat
that
thang
thing
fo’
for
wit
with
foo’
fool
whassup?
what’s up?
gangsta
gangster
yo’
you
harda
harder
ax
ask
Youth slang across subcultures
Slang spoken by a particular group of people is often deliberately
created and used to exclude people outside the group.57 Youth slang is
notorious for baffling parents and is a tongue reserved for peer-on-peer
communication. Just as youth slang excludes parents, sub-sets of youth
slang exclude fellow-youth. These sub-groups correspond with distinctive subcultures. Many of these subcultures can be found internationally,
although their names may vary from place to place. These subcultures
are often influenced by American culture and are traditionally set apart
by styles of music and fashion in addition to slang.
In the USA today, young white people who are into hip hop and rap
and talk its jargon are called wiggers. It has been observed that they talk
an “MTV” version of ebonics; that is, it is not authentic and is heavily
influenced by commercialisation. Young white people are usually the
consumers not the producers of this subculture and its lingo. Interest61
W ord U p
ingly, this lingo forms a large chunk of the lexicon of Australian youth
today. To young Australians, African American slang puts them “on the
edge” and is a way of rebelling against the white, middle-class value
system that they belong to.60
The evolution of youth subcultures
40s–70s
Trends and Associations
80s–90s
Trends and Associations
To
Bodgies
and
Widgies
Elvis, jukeboxes and milkbars
Punks
Anti-establishment, spiky hair,
mohawks, safety pins
Sk
Sk
Sk
Hipsters/
Beatniks
Jazz, slang, berets, cigarettes, poetry, underground,
anti-conformist, associated
with writers like Jack Kerouac
B boys
Breakdancers originating in
1970s New York City. Popularised by the movie Flashdance
and Michael Jackson film clips
Em
Surfers
Into surfing as recreation,
spirituality or both, coastal
lifestyle
Ravers
Going to “raves” (underground
dance parties), brightly coloured
clothing (hippie-punk mix),
ecstasy and illicit drug use
Go
Hippies
Countercultural values,
peace, love, activism,
psychedelic drugs and art
Skinheads
Named for their shaven heads,
into ska, punk and reggae
music, left, right and apolitical
Hi
ho
Mods
Sharp dressing, mopeds,
scooters, mini-skirts, popular
music
Bogans
Australian phenomenon, flannel
shirts, tight jeans, mullets, beer.
Think Farnsey, Barnsey and AC/
DC. White dominated
In
Hi
Glam Rock
David Bowie, Kiss-inspired,
extravagant haircuts, glitter,
platform shoes
Rappers
Basketball and rap music,
African American dominated
Va
Rockers
Leather jackets and
motorcycles, counter-culture,
tough
Grunge
Ripped and tatty clothing,
greasy long hair, music like
Nirvana and Pearl Jam
Ri
62
Y outh S lang
Youth subcultures have come and gone over the centuries, but they
rose to particular prominence in the 1950s. During this decade, it was
the hipsters, and bodgies and widgies, and in the 60s, it was the hippies,
mods and rockers. The hipsters, with origins amongst the hepcats of
the Swing Era,61 later evolved into
the hippies. This is an interesting
point to note, that although many of
Today
Trends and Associations
the stock standard youth subcultures
Skaters/
Skating as a way of life,
of the past aren’t around in obvious
Skaties/
originally a rebellious, nonforms today, there are noticeable
Skegs
conforming culture, is now
more commercialised
elements from the past influencing
Emos
Black, side-swept hair,
modern subcultures. Each subculture
facial piercings, eyeliner,
is influenced by those groups that
“emotional” or depressing
themes
have come before them.
Goths
Black clothing, tattoos and
It’s important to remember how
body art, dark music and art
significant sub-cultures are to young
people, and how the language they
Hip
Break-dancing, graffiti
use reflects this. As much as it might
hoppers
and hip hop music. Can be
seem that the words are used by
underground or mainstream
leaning
people and against people merely to
Indie/
Trendy, “alternative”, usually
exclude and define their own particuHipster
university-educated, into
lar group, they are also a signifier of
progressive art and music.
A spin-off of the Hipster
belonging. By utilising certain slang
movement
words and not others, a young person
Valley Girls Paris Hilton, celebrity-driven
identifies himself or herself as a part
ideals, valtalk and the latest
trends. Female dominated
of something, a group that reflects
Riot Grrrls
Originiating in the U.S. in the
its members’ stance on things. It is
1990s. Expressing feminism
therefore an easy, and usually fun,
through rock bands, zines
and a DIY aesthetic
way for them to express themselves.
63
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Subculture
Slang
Mods
be cool
the man
clyde
Hippies
peace
way-out
square
Rappers
let’s bounce
freakin
bling-bling
Skaters
grommet
session
sketchy
Valley Girls
like
whatever
totally
Regional youth slang
Youth slang varies from one part of Australia to another. Many regions,
cities, and individual schools have their own slang terms which baffle
people from neighbouring areas. Even words that are understood more
or less nationwide can be much more prevalent or popular in some
parts than elsewhere, as noted by Randal Thomas. For example, while
the words sweet and rad are used and understood more frequently in
Queensland than anywhere else, both are used in other states and territories too.62
Word
State or territory where most popular63
When we dislike something
festy
Queensland
feral
Queensland
wrong
Queensland
hectic
New South Wales
bogus
Victoria
munted
Western Australia
gross
Tasmania
64
Y outh S lang
Word
State or territory where most popular63
When we like something
that’s rad
Queensland
sweet
Queensland
ace
Victoria
gun
South Australia
fully sick
New South Wales
mad
New South Wales
wicked
Western Australia
nuff
Northern Territory
awesome
Tasmania
The next table64 presents some more regional slang words used
mostly by youth – some have been around for a while, while others are
newer additions. The origin of some is uncertain.
Word
Meaning and usage
State or territory
of origin
Animal
Good, crazy person
South Australia
Bad devon
Something off, gross, not good
New South Wales
Blockie
To drive around the block, usually in a noisy,
pimped out car
Tasmania
Bogan
Uncouth and uneducated person. Now used
around Australia, but said to have originated
in Victoria
Victoria
Dance floor
action
Getting friendly with a member of the opposite
sex on the dance floor
Queensland
Dart
Cigarette
Victoria
Nags/nangs/
nitros
Containers of nitrogen dioxide intended for soda
stream bottles or whipped cream dispensers,
inhaled by some teenagers
Western Australia
Nanger
Eastern Melbourne suburbs term for an
uncouth person
Victoria
Nerpy
Good, cool
Western Australia
65
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Word
Meaning and usage
State or territory
of origin
Nigel
Someone who has no friends (“Nigel-nofriends”). Used by school children in the
Northern Territory (also used in the mainland
eastern states)
Northern Territory
Nof
Stands for “not one friend”. Same as “nigel” or
“scott”
Victoria
Not even
Used to mean that you are in fact doing
something
Queensland
Nuffest
Silly or stupid
Northern Territory
Peachy
A champion
New South Wales
PGB
Stands for “post grog bog”
Victoria
Phat
Stands for “pretty hot and tender” in
Queensland (referring to a young woman)
Queensland
Phoofy
(can rhyme
with either
“boofy” or
“goofy”)
Fluffy. “Phoofy” hair was popular in the eighties
Victoria
Piece
Sandwich
South Australia
Scott
As in “Scott (has got) no friends” – same as
“Nigel” and “nof”
Queensland
Westie
A resident of Western Sydney. A “bogan” in
other states
New South Wales
Your mum
Derived from “and so’s your mum”
(used throughout Australia) – “You cry like
a girl” “Yeah, your mum!” It comes from the
predominantly black American use of the
joking phrase, “Your Mum’s so ...”
[insert insult here].
Queensland
66
Y outh S lang
Originally a clothing company, the "Rockstar" brand has expanded into several
industries, including bars and restaurants, cosmetics, music events and energy drinks.
By manipulating social media such as Facebook, along with clever sponsorship deals,
it has positioned itself as a worldwide sensation, encouraging all-important brand
identification. The "Unit" car decal is a motocross, bmx and fmx clothing brand popular
with young men.
Filler words
Filler words are relied on by all age-groups to keep conversation flowing,
to avoid uncomfortable silences or to recall something. Sometimes
they are part of someone’s everyday spoken language simply out of
habit. Common fillers used by Aussies include “um”, “arr”, “mmm”,
“y’know”, “you know what I mean?”, “and stuff ” and “sort of thing”.
A certain subset of young people use filler words to reflect their
style. Valley talk or “valtalk”, mentioned earlier, is a style of jargon that
involves the excessive use of filler words. In Summer Heights High, a controversial ABC TV comedy series of 2007 and 2008 set in a Melbourne
high school, Ja’mie King speaks valtalk. Some of the fillers she – and
her friends in this subset of young women – use repeatedly are: as if,
seriously, whatever, like, totally, duh, stuff, so, way. “Seriously, as if. Like
you’re going to pass. Like, all that stuff is, like, so way over your head.
You’re, like, totally so stupid.” “Whatever!”
67
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