What Does that Even Mean?

July 15, 2016 | Ian Clark

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Sayings and phrases will come and go, as do all trends. Things used to be "cool", then they were "bad" and for a while they were "rad" or "sick" now everything is "fire" and "lit." It can be tough to keep track of it all. What was once a popular, common phrase can quickly become no more recognizable than Latin.

Here's a guide to what some of today’s slang terms mean.

Disclaimer: Parents, do not use this language as an attempt to connect with your kids; this is simply meant to allow you to better understand them.

Thanks to the Wichita Heights Forensics Team for their input and definitions!

Terminology:

BAE- acronym for "Before Anyone Else"; used romantically as a term of endearment
"BAE and I went to the Warren last night."
Basic - to be simple or stereotypical.
"She so basic she always wears Ugg boots, a Northface jacket and loves pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks."
Bet - Alright or Okay
"We're going to order Knolla's Pizza." "Bet."
Curve - Formerly swerve; to counter or indirectly counter and avoid someone's romantic advances.
"I got curved by that girl I tried asking out in Old Town."
Feels- Emotions
"Finding Dory caught me right in the feels."
Fetch- Cool, awesome
"Stop trying to make fetch happen, it's never going to happen"
Fleek- Looking good, perfect
"Barleycorn's was on fleek the other night."
Fresh - clean, new, nice
"The new airport terminal is looking fresh"
Fam - Close friend who you consider family.
"Want to go look at the ring of fire at the keeper, fam?"
Gucci - used interchangeably with the word Good.
"I'm sick of Kellogg construction, but it's Gucci, I know it'll pay off eventually.

Hype - Excited, Exciting
“the party was hype.” or “let’s get hype.”
J’s - shoes, in reference to Jordan's (the brand)
"Did you see he has the new J's?"
Kicks - Shoes
"Her new kicks are looking fresh."
Lit - Fun, cool, awesome, the bomb, rad
“This party is pretty lit." “Riverfest concerts were pretty lit this year.”
Peep- Look at something
"You should peep the sunset down by the river sometime."
Squad- Group of friends
"The squad and I like to chill at the Donut Whole."
Turnt- the past tense of turn up; to get excited, to start partying
"People like to get turnt, in Old Town."
Yass- Like yes, but so much more than that
“So much Yasssss.” “OMG yassssss.”
Yolo - acronym for You Only Live Once
"I shouldn't go out tonight I have a test tomorrow but, whatever YOLO."