If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, you’d be forgiven for not knowing what on earth “spilling the tea,” “clap back,” or “fleek” means. (That goes especially for the latter, since no one seems to know what “fleek” means.) However, if you want to talk to millennials on their own terms-and to truly decipher what it is they’re saying-it would behoove you to learn. That’s why we put together this definitive list of millennial terminology that every person should know. So read on, take notes, and try to use them all in a sentence. (Don’t have time? Well, then I guess #thestruggleisreal.) And if you’re a millennial, it’s your turn to bone up on the words only your elders use.
It’s the more polite way of saying “Let’s turn on this movie we have no intention of watching and then fool around on the couch.” Speaking of: if you’re looking a classic way of courting someone, don’t miss these 23 Old-Fashioned Etiquette Rules That Still Apply.
It’s when you want to make it crystal clear to somebody exactly how un-remorseful you really are about something. And for more great trivia, here are the 30 Words That Will Make You Sound Instantly Smarter.
It started with a meme of Kermit the Frog sipping tea, which included the caption, “But that’s none of my business.” It basically means pretending not to notice when something crazy or salacious is happening. When you’re spilling the tea, that usually signifies that gossip is being shared, and therefore the tea is a little more difficult to swallow.
You may notice the lack of “up” following this word. If we know nothing else about millennials, it’s that they’re far too busy for modifiers. In this context, it’s not even just about being awake. It’s about suddenly springing to life, either out of alarm or determination. You’re woke, so now things are, you know, real.
It means you’re in the wrong lane-metaphorically speaking. When somebody requests that you “swerve,” they’re saying, “You’re not welcome here. Get lost, leave us alone, swerve!”
It sounds like a word only George Takei could pull off, but it’s become a favorite among millennials. It means being in a bad or grumpy mood.
Spoiler alert: if someone says this to you, you’re being made fun of. They’re saying that the thing you’re taking so seriously, that you consider such an egregious tragedy, might not be as bad as you think. The struggle is, in fact, not real, and you should learn to recognize sarcasm.
It’s the one you love “before anyone else
Older millennials got tired of being called millennials, so they invented a new name for themselves. If you were born between 1977 and 1983 and don’t feel like you belong in either Generation X or millennials, you’re an xennial. File this one under “nobody cares, please stop inventing new words for stupid things.” Oh, and speaking of newly created words, here are 10 Things “Polyamorous” People Want You to Know about Their Relationships.
It could be anything from more Instagram followers or that woman you just spotted across the club. Can also be used in a self-deprecating manner; if you want it so much that you’re thirsty, it might be time to calm down.
They don’t live under a bridge and they won’t ask you to answer these riddles three before passing. They’re just jerks who say nasty things to strangers online.
It’s not an insult necessarily, just a suggestion that your personality and opinions and physical attributes are particularly standard and middle-of-the-road. It’s like saying, “Oh, you have basic cable. That’s…. Okay, I guess.” Okay fine, it’s a total insult. And for more on millennial behavior, read about why The Pasta Selfie Is Here and Carbs Never Looked So Chic.
You’re craving something, and it’s not a tasty beverage
It’s a shorthand for “Whatever we are discussing includes things I’ve like to achieve or possess in my life.” It could be a sweet new tech gadget, or a beautiful woman you’d love to see on your arm. The AF (an acronym means “as [F-word]”) just supplies emphasis.
” This word likely started as an attempt to say “baby” or “babe” but then they realized mid-way through the word that they just didn’t have the energy for that last vowell.