Does your middle or high school student seem to be speaking a language all their own? Do they have words in their vocabulary that you aren't sure even exist? Keeping up with it all can be a bit of a chore. For folks who are finding difficult to keep up, maybe this will help.
- Yolo - You Only Live Once
- Although you would expect this to be used in situations where one is being encouraged to take a risk or explain a mistake, it's often used as a synonym for good. i.e., "that movie was so yolo". The actual intention has to be derived from the context.
- Swag - Ridiculous Clothing or Behavior - Secretly We Are Gay
- This term is usually meant as an insult to say a person is behaving badly or wearing ridiculous clothing or jewelry. It's usually used in phrases like "That guy is oozing swag." or "You are dripping with swag". Note that for people over 30, Swag used to mean the stuff you get at conferences or things given away at parties. This meaning appears to have expired, but it's similar in that it can refer to little shiny trinkets of stuff.
- Pawned - Owned, Defeated
- This is pronounced "powned" and is a derivative of PWNED from Leet. The person who was "pawned" is the one who lost a game, argument, or competition. It's typically a very solid defeat. i.e. "12 frags in a row, I totally pwned him".
- Hash Tag - "#" meant to signify an interest, significance, or subject in a phrase
- Hash tags are used on social media and chat applications to signify a subject or interest. i.e. "Having dinner with old friends is such #goodtimes." Using a hash tag allows others to "follow" conversations about this subject and search on when a subject was discussed. In most cases, hash tags can be created "on the fly" and be whatever you want them to be. This can be used in speech as well. If you spend some time in a middle school classroom you may hear the word used repetitively to give emphasis to what someone is trying to say. For example, "that minecraft mod is so hash tag awesome".
- Noob - Someone with little knowledge, experience, or ability.
- Noob often also implies that someone thinks they know more than they actually do. This is usually used as an insult. For example, "He's such a Noob!". If you want to add extra emphasis, you can call them a "Nooblet", like. "You are totally a Nooblet!"
- R-Tard - Retard, someone who is not intelligent.
- This is just a newer version of the age old insult, "retard".
- LOL - Laughing out Loud" or sarcastically, 'I don't really care. "
- LOL started as a texting shortcut for "Laughing Out Loud". It is used in spoken language as well by just saying the letters "LOL" or sounding it out "lol". Over time, it became so over used, it started to be used sarcastically. Now, when used, it could mean either that the speaker thinks that something you said is funny, is signaling a complete lack of interest, or just has nothing to say and wants to break the silence. i.e. Teacher: "Class, we have a paper due tomorrow." - Student to his friend: "LOL".
- XD - "XD Face", from the emoticon XD.
- The XD emotocon is a smiling face with crossed eyes. When used in spoken language, you can say "XD Face" or just "XD". It is similar to LOL in that it can be used as an acknowledgement, or to show that you were entertained by what someone else has said.