Slang Through the Decades
Think
today's slang is confusing? Every generation has had its own vocabulary. Here's a quick trip through the decades:
1920s
Bee's knees (excellent)
Cat's pajamas (outstanding)
Hotsy-totsy (perfect)
Giggle water (alcohol)
The berries (the best)
1930s
Swell (great)
Keen (excellent)
Ducky (very nice)
Jake (okay,
fine)
Applesauce (nonsense)
1940s
Jeepers (an expression of surprise)
Golly (surprise)
Sharp (stylish)
Square (old-fashioned)
Solid sender (someone popular or impressive)
1950s
Cool (fashionable)
Hip (in the know)
Daddy-O (friend)
Dig it (understand)
Cruisin' (driving around for fun)
1960s
Groovy (great)
Far out (amazing)
Bummer (disappointment)
Bread
(money)
Pad (home)
1970s
Right on (I agree)
Funky (cool or unusual)
Can you dig it? (Do you understand?)
Outta sight (excellent)
Catch you on the flip side (see you later)
1980s
Rad (awesome)
Totally (absolutely)
Bodacious
(excellent)
Gnarly (amazing or extreme)
Gag me with a spoon (disgusting)
1990s
Whatever (dismissive response)
As if! (I don't think so)
Phat (excellent)
All that (impressive)
Talk to the hand (I'm not listening)
2000s
Chill (relaxed)
Sweet (great)
My bad (my mistake)
Crunk (excited, energetic)
Bling (flashy jewelry)
2010s
YOLO (You Only Live Once)
Selfie (self-photograph)
FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)
Lit (exciting)
On fleek (perfectly done)
2020s
Sus (suspicious)
Rando (random person)
Bruh (anything from agreement to frustration!)
No cap (truthfully)
Rizz (charisma)
The funny thing is that every generation thinks its slang sounds perfectly normal. Meanwhile, their parents and grandparents are wondering what happened to the English language.
A hundred years from now, someone will probably be chuckling at the word "rizz"
just like you may smile when you hear "the bee's knees."?
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