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Home / Lifestyle

Baby boomer's guide to millennial slang

NZ Herald
28 Aug, 2017 09:36 PM5 mins to read

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Want to low key stay woke? Don't get salty, just read on. Photo / Getty

Want to low key stay woke? Don't get salty, just read on. Photo / Getty

Is the seemingly simple task of conversing with a young person making you feel old these days?

"One hundred per cent," you say? That's Hundo P to a millennial.

You may have thought you were up with the kids by employing terms such as totes and amaze balls. In truth, these have been well buried in Facebook conversations circa 2014. Or, in millennial speak, they're so done.

Alas, even the trendiest - for which the preferred millennial term is "dope" - among us now struggle to keep up with the cool new words that have been inexplicably appropriated to the point that trying to guess their new meaning is nigh on impossible.

Some of these millennial slang terms sure are fun to say, not to mention real sentence enhancers for when you want to be "extra". Don't worry, we'll get to that.

So are you ready to be super relevant, hip and down with the kids? Then let's go.

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1. LOW KEY

Baby boomer translation: Subtle

The term low key implies you need to keep something, usually a bit of good gossip, secret. It can also be used to identify something that is underrated.

• Use it in a sentence: "That was low key the greatest bagel place I have ever been to."

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2. GOAT

Baby boomer translation: An admirable person

Yes, it's a farm animal. But to the millennial it's an acronym first and foremost.

GOAT stands for Greatest Of All Time and can be used to describe anyone from sports stars to a regular all round good person.

via GIPHY

• Use it in a sentence: "Dave took in my washing when it was raining. Dave's the GOAT."

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3. SALTY

Baby boomer translation: Angry

If someone has really annoyed you or caused you to dislike them, the feeling you are experiencing in millennial terms is "salty".

If you are feeling salty AF (As F***), you are significantly madder than usual.

• Use it in a sentence: "She stole my boyfriend and I am salty AF about it."

4. DONE

Baby boomer translation: Fed up

Use the term done when you are so completely fed up with something or someone and couldn't possibly deal with said thing for one moment more.

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• Use it in a sentence: "She stole my boyfriend. We are so done!"

5. DEAD

Baby boomer translation: Overwhelmed

Technically dead still means dead. Millennials get this. However those dramatic, avo smashing youths have taken to using the word for much more low key (refer to point number one) incidents, some of which are completely positive too.

via GIPHY

For example, should a celebrity wear an outfit that is particularly incredible, or you are served up a meal that is overwhelmingly delicious, you would be correct to describe yourself as "dead". Extra points: The wearer or cook has "slayed" with their level of "extra".

Still with me?

• Use it in a sentence: "Did you see my girl RiRi wearing those Karen Walker sunnies? I am dead, I just died right now."

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5. TD

Baby Boomer translation: Very nice or to die for

While we are on the topic of millennials dropping dead, TD means "To Die". It is most likely an adaptation of the more familiar phrase "to die for".

• Use it in a sentence: "Did you see the new Deadly Ponies handbag? OMG TD."

6. WOKE

Baby boomer translation: Alert

The #woke phenomenon continues to trend online.

via GIPHY

So what does it mean? A statement deemed woke is one that will likely stir some controversy and give rise to the need to stay alert and knowledgeable or, that's right, woke.

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A man who describes himself as a feminist is definitely woke and encouraging your friends online to "stay woke fam" is particularly appropriate in times of political turmoil.

• Use it in a sentence: "Did you guys see what Trump just did? You all need to stay woke fam."

7. SAVAGE

Baby boomer translation: Vicious behaviour

Again, this word still holds its original meaning, however the millennial set have managed to utilise it for far more menial occurrences than you might have thought necessary.

• Use it in a sentence: "She just blocked her on Facebook. That is so savage."

8. FAM

Baby boomer translation: Nearest and dearest friends

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Your fam is your group of close friends who you consider family.

• Use it in a sentence: "Hey fam, what we doing this weekend?"

9. EXTRA

Baby boomer translation: Too much

Describing someone as extra is another way of saying they are over the top, or "too much".

via GIPHY

• Use it in a sentence: "Damn, that girl was wearing two pairs of false eyelashes. She was so extra."

10. TFW

Baby boomer translation: A relatable emotion

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This is an acronym for "That Feel When" and describes a feeling or emotion at any given moment.

• Use it in a sentence: "TFW your online shopping arrives and nothing fits. *Sad face emoji* "

11. KEEP IT 100

Baby boomer translation: An authentic individual

To keep it 100 insinuates you are staying true to who you are and your beliefs.

• Use it in a sentence: "Don't budge on it, man. Keep it 100."

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