The Youth Lab
YOUTH VERNACULAR
THE TOP 10 GLOBAL SLANG WORDS FROM 2023
As 2023 draws to a close, it’s time to finish off the year with the gift of the gab, a roundup of the top 10 youth buzzwords taking over the timelines and TikToks of young people all over the world.
So if you’re still using bae and not bussin’, slay and not sheesh, lean in and prepare to level up your conversations this Christmas.
WORD | MEANING | CAN YOU PUT IT IN A SENTENCE PLEASE? |
RIZZ | Short for charisma and also Oxford | “I was chatting to her last week and I had mad rizz!” |
NPC | Non player character, a background | “This party is full of NPCs, let’s leave.” |
BUSSIN’ | When something is INCREDIBLY | *Takes first sip at Christmas party… |
SHEESH | Dammmnnnnn! | *Your crush walks into the room |
DRIP | A term that compliments somebody | You see his trainers? He has some serious drip. |
SIMP | Somebody who does waaaayyyyyy | GUY: *buys partner house, car, new wardrobe, holiday |
MID | Describing something that is | I waited for that movie for months but it was mid |
SALTY | To be upset over something trivial. | Lol he was so salty when he lost Mario Kart! |
IT’S GIVING | When somebody embodies a | *Friend arrives dressed in pink. ME: “It’s giving Regina George energy |
OOF | When you don’t really care | FRIEND: “So I broke up with him, after nearly 4 years” |
BRAND TAKEOUTS
Words have consequences. Use them right, they can do wonders for your brand, use them incorrectly and honestly, game over.
We hope you thought this issue of 52INSIGHTS was bussin’. See you next week!