What Do They Mean? The Oddest American Slang Words Explained

Slang is an entire vocabulary all on its own, and American slang is no different. It’s quirky, strange and sometimes outright confusing if we’re being honest! American slang is filled with phrases and words that leave outsiders confused and wondering what that even means. It’s an ever-evolving mix of creativity and humor. Today we’re exploring odd American slang that’s commonly used across the country, their meanings and how they’re used in everyday language. Ready to be perplexed, confused and amused? Let’s get into it.

GRWM

GRWM is American slang you see more often than you hear. Though it looks peculiar, as a couple of letters thrown together, it’s not random at all. GRWM is an acronym for “get ready with me.”. It refers to a certain type of content where the creator takes you through getting ready. Sometimes these videos are informative about the products being used, and other times they’re used as a great opportunity to share a story with an audience. The acronym has been around since the early 2000s, and beauty YouTuber Shaaanxo is credited with uploading one of the first YouTube videos in a GRWM style.

IYKYK

IYKYK is another American slang acronym that’s a staple in Gen-Z culture. It’s used to gently indicate something is an inside joke without blatantly saying that it is. IYKYK stands for “if you know, you know.”

Mid

The slang term “mid” is used to describe something as average and unimpressive. It’s very popular in online culture, with people describing things like a movie, a meal, or an outfit as “mid. It’s been circulating since the early 2000s but recently became even more popular.

Tea

“Spill the tea!” If you hear this phrase, it’s not actually a phrase telling you to spill your drinking tea. Instead, it’s a phrase asking to tell all the juicy details. “Tea” is an American slang term meaning gossip and secrets. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the phrase originated from, but it has been in use for a long time.

Vibe Check

“Vibe check” is a clever American slang way to check in if everything is okay with a person, place or thing. It’s used to assess the mood, energy and overall atmosphere of a situation, person or place. It’s often used in a humorous way to indicate that something feels off. For example, “This place needs a vibe check” could be said about a dull party. 

Basic

If you’re wanting to call something out for being stereotypical and/or overly trendy, you might use the American slang term “basic.”. It’s used to describe things that are mainstream, predictable and unoriginal. For example, during the fall season, if someone posts a picture with a pumpkin spice latte and UGG boots, they might be called out for being “basic.”.

Bestie

“Bestie” is a playful and affectionate way to refer to a friend. The American slang term adds a fun and friendly vibe. For example, “Bestie, you look fantastic today!”

Cray Cray

If you’re wanting to describe something crazy but it’s even more than just regular crazy, you could use the American slang term “cray cray.”. Cray cray is like an exaggerated and playful way of saying something or someone is crazy. It’s often done in a lighthearted and humorous way.

Ditch

“Ditch” is a slang term that refers to abandoning something, leaving something behind or skipping something entirely. The term “ditch” implies that it’s being done sneakily. People can ditch plans, other people and responsibilities.

Freshman 15

“Freshman 15” is an American slang term that is commonly used to refer to weight gain that many college freshmen experience during their first year of postsecondary school. It’s often as a result of night snacking, cafeteria food and stress eating. It usually refers to 15 pounds but could be any sort of weight gain.

Bougie

The term “bougie” is American slang for something or someone luxurious and/or fancy. A place, person or thing can be bougie. For example, “She’s so bougie” or “This trip is so bougie.”.

Y’all

The American term “y’all” is extremely common, especially in the southern states. It combines the two words “you” and “all” and is used to signify a group of people. It is informal and usually used in friendly contests.

FOMO

“FOMO” is an acronym for “fear of missing out.”. It’s a slang term to describe anxiety or regret people feel when they think they’ve missed out on something exciting or important. For example, if all your friends are going to a Taylor Swift concert and you’re not able to go, you might have major FOMO.

Hangry

“Hangry” is a combination of the words “hungry” and “angry,” and it’s used to signal someone’s irritable or angry mood they feel as a result of being hungry and angry. It’s often used to describe why someone is acting the way they are. For example, “Sorry I acted that way earlier; I was hangry.”

Lit

“Lit” is an American slang term that people use to describe something fun, energy-packed, and/or exciting. For example, “This party is lit!”

Bonus American Slang Words & Definitions

• Throw Shade—To subtly insult or criticize.
• Ghosting—suddenly stop communicating without explanation.
• No Cap—a way of indicating you’re being completely honest.
• Squad: a group of friends or companions.
• Flex—show off or boast about something.
• Clout—Influence or power.
• Low Key—subtle and understated.
• Salty—upset or bitter.
• Woke—being socially aware.
• Sus—suspicious and/or shady.
• Tight—close, good and tight-knit.

Final Thoughts

In the end, it’s quite “cray cray” when you think of American slang language! There are so many words that sound like they mean one thing and then really mean something entirely different! Whether it’s your best friend who ghosted you last night, your FOMO you have from missing that event, or how you behaved when you were hangry, these slang terms are widely used all across the nation every day. How many of these American slang terms have you heard of?