“Nobody types in complete sentences or uses punctuation when you text, Mom!”
Please tell me you have heard a similar lecture from your ultra-cool tween at some point? After all, as I listen to the middle schoolers chatting away in carpool, and as I glance at my own daughter’s texts, I realize that these kids speak an entirely different language than my own. They use Tweenspeak.
So I thought I’d try to put together a little primer with my daughter (who is way cooler than me) to help the parents out there decipher all of the “hip” jargon. (Is “hip” still even a cool word to use? I don’t know…)
Please tell me you have heard a similar lecture from your ultra-cool tween at some point? After all, as I listen to the middle schoolers chatting away in carpool, and as I glance at my own daughter’s texts, I realize that these kids speak an entirely different language than my own. They use Tweenspeak.
So I thought I’d try to put together a little primer with my daughter (who is way cooler than me) to help the parents out there decipher all of the “hip” jargon. (Is “hip” still even a cool word to use? I don’t know…)
Texting 101:
YOLO = you only live once
TTYL= talk to you later
SMH=smacks my head
LOL = laugh out loud
ROFL = roll on floor laughing
IRL = in real life
Awks = embarrassing
Jokes = funny
Totes = very
YOLO = you only live once
TTYL= talk to you later
SMH=smacks my head
LOL = laugh out loud
ROFL = roll on floor laughing
IRL = in real life
Awks = embarrassing
Jokes = funny
Totes = very
Advanced Texting Information:
Bae
What you think it means: When I first heard this one, I figured it was a version of “Babe”, and lazy kids were leaving out the “b.”
What it really means: Your person (either girlfriend or boyfriend) – the one who comes Before Anyone Else.
How to use it: “Love you bae.”
Shade
What you think it means: A nice cool spot protected from the sun.
What it really means: To diss someone, or send them a nasty look, attitude.
How to use it: “Ohhh…Deanna just threw shade at Darrin.”
Mirin
What you think it means: This one completely stumped me. I had no idea.
What it really means: If you say it out loud, you can see it is short for “admiring.”
How to use it: “I’m mirin on those shoes, girl!”
KK
What you think it means: Someone mistyped or were overzealous as they typed a “K.”
What it really means: Used when texting, the chill version of “OK.”
How to use it: Instead of OK, just respond with a “KK.”
YAASSS
What you think it means: Plural of Yea?
What it really means: Because a simple “Yes” just isn’t cool enough. Teens have taken the “E” and replaced it with an “A” and added a whole bunch of “Ss” – in all caps it shows that it is clearly on another level of excitement.
How to use it: “You got tix to that concert? YAASSSSSS!”
Creeper
What you think it means: A sneaky individual in the shadows.
What it really means: Someone who doesn’t really act “normally” or is a little bit stalker-like.
How to use it: “He just showed up at my house. Creeper!”
Doe
What you think it means: A female deer.
What it really means: It is used in place of “though” and adds emphasis.
How to use it: “Oh, that outfit, doe!”
Extra
What you think it means: In addition to, above and beyond.
What it really means: If someone is being difficult to deal with or being particularly high-maintenance.
How to use it: “Man, she’s an extra today.”
Snatched
What you think it means: Kidnapped, taken away.
What it really means: The same as “on point.” Something is looking good or “on fleek.”
How to use it: Those shoes are snatched.
Thirsty
What you think it means: In need of something to drink.
What it really means: Someone is trying to desperately get attention.
How to use it: “Why would she put herself out like that? She’s just thirsty.”
Squad
What you think it means: In need of something to drink.
What it really means: The closest group of friends that your teen hangs out with.
How to use it: “I’m just hanging out with the squad Friday night.”
FOR SUPER-SAVVY PARENTS OUT THERE:
These three terms mean that something is going down online and your tween doesn’t want you to catch on. Be on alert!
MOS = (Mom) watching (Over Shoulder)
PAW = (Parents) watching (Over Shoulder)
CD9 = Code 9, which means that parents are around.
OK, so let’s review:
No periods and no capital letters unless you are YELLING. Got it.
Throw in a few “LOLs” and a :) (smiley face) here and there.
And if all else fails, just text a string of emojis to them. That should work.
Hopefully this list starts you on the path to being able to communicate a little bit with your tween. As for me? I think I’m getting the hang of this stuff, but who can tell? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Bae
What you think it means: When I first heard this one, I figured it was a version of “Babe”, and lazy kids were leaving out the “b.”
What it really means: Your person (either girlfriend or boyfriend) – the one who comes Before Anyone Else.
How to use it: “Love you bae.”
Shade
What you think it means: A nice cool spot protected from the sun.
What it really means: To diss someone, or send them a nasty look, attitude.
How to use it: “Ohhh…Deanna just threw shade at Darrin.”
Mirin
What you think it means: This one completely stumped me. I had no idea.
What it really means: If you say it out loud, you can see it is short for “admiring.”
How to use it: “I’m mirin on those shoes, girl!”
KK
What you think it means: Someone mistyped or were overzealous as they typed a “K.”
What it really means: Used when texting, the chill version of “OK.”
How to use it: Instead of OK, just respond with a “KK.”
YAASSS
What you think it means: Plural of Yea?
What it really means: Because a simple “Yes” just isn’t cool enough. Teens have taken the “E” and replaced it with an “A” and added a whole bunch of “Ss” – in all caps it shows that it is clearly on another level of excitement.
How to use it: “You got tix to that concert? YAASSSSSS!”
Creeper
What you think it means: A sneaky individual in the shadows.
What it really means: Someone who doesn’t really act “normally” or is a little bit stalker-like.
How to use it: “He just showed up at my house. Creeper!”
Doe
What you think it means: A female deer.
What it really means: It is used in place of “though” and adds emphasis.
How to use it: “Oh, that outfit, doe!”
Extra
What you think it means: In addition to, above and beyond.
What it really means: If someone is being difficult to deal with or being particularly high-maintenance.
How to use it: “Man, she’s an extra today.”
Snatched
What you think it means: Kidnapped, taken away.
What it really means: The same as “on point.” Something is looking good or “on fleek.”
How to use it: Those shoes are snatched.
Thirsty
What you think it means: In need of something to drink.
What it really means: Someone is trying to desperately get attention.
How to use it: “Why would she put herself out like that? She’s just thirsty.”
Squad
What you think it means: In need of something to drink.
What it really means: The closest group of friends that your teen hangs out with.
How to use it: “I’m just hanging out with the squad Friday night.”
FOR SUPER-SAVVY PARENTS OUT THERE:
These three terms mean that something is going down online and your tween doesn’t want you to catch on. Be on alert!
MOS = (Mom) watching (Over Shoulder)
PAW = (Parents) watching (Over Shoulder)
CD9 = Code 9, which means that parents are around.
OK, so let’s review:
No periods and no capital letters unless you are YELLING. Got it.
Throw in a few “LOLs” and a :) (smiley face) here and there.
And if all else fails, just text a string of emojis to them. That should work.
Hopefully this list starts you on the path to being able to communicate a little bit with your tween. As for me? I think I’m getting the hang of this stuff, but who can tell? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯