"I" Slang

i and i

General

A Rastafarian expression replacing 'you and I' or 'me', stressing the unity of all people with Jah within each person.

i dey

Street

The default answer to "How far?" or "How you dey?", meaning "I am/I'm doing fine." "Dey" itself is the Pidgin existence verb, roughly "to be."

i dey kampe

Street

A stronger, more enthusiastic reply to a greeting than plain "I dey," implying you're doing great, solid, and strong.

i eat crayons

Internet

Self-mocking disclaimer used by WSB posters to undercut their own takes. The bit: the poster is so dumb they literally eat crayons, so obviously this isn't financial advice. Often deployed before or after a perfectly reasonable trade idea, as plausible deniability and as in-group signalling. The crayon-eating image is borrowed from US Marine Corps lore.

i got you

General

An assurance that you'll take care of something or support the other person.

i like the stock

Internet

Post-GameStop catchphrase used to express conviction in a position while sidestepping anything that sounds like financial advice. The flex: you don't need a thesis, you just like the stock. Said straight-faced during pumps, said sarcastically during 80% drawdowns. The phrase has become a piece of meme-stock liturgy.

ị nọ n'ofe

Street

Tells someone they're part of a respected in-group, or that they're up to date with what's happening — being 'in the soup' as a good thing, not a bad one.

i spell

General

A procedure word announcing "I shall spell the next word phonetically," so an unusual or ambiguous word can be transmitted letter by letter using the phonetic alphabet.

i stan

Internet

A short-form declaration of support, used way past the original 'obsessive fan' meaning. 'We stan a queen.' 'I stan one (1) icon.' 'We stan a multilingual king.' It's how stan Twitter hands out gold stars — half ironic, half genuinely meant.

i-fan

Internet

A fan based outside Korea, contrasted with K-fans; the two groups often have different perspectives and access to content.

i'll bring a bar

General

An offer to contribute homemade dessert bars (like lemon or seven-layer bars) to a potluck or gathering.

i'll swan

Street

A polite Mid-South stand-in for 'I swear,' used the way Yankees would say 'I declare' or 'well I never.' Common with older Memphis and Appalachian speakers who didn't want to take the Lord's name in vain. Heard as an exclamation of surprise more than an actual oath.

i'm not being funny

General

A Welsh conversational opener signalling that the speaker is about to say something frank or critical.

iama

Internet

Reddit shorthand for 'I Am A,' used as the setup line for an AMA. Originated on r/IAmA, where posters introduce themselves ('IAMA former NASA engineer') before opening the floor to questions. The IAMA is the bio; the AMA is the invitation. The two grew up together and still get mashed into one phrase by old-school Redditors.

ianal

Internet

Stands for "I am not a lawyer," a disclaimer before offering legal-sounding opinions online.

iawn

General

The Welsh-language workhorse that covers 'alright?', 'okay', 'fine', and 'yeah'. Used as a greeting ('iawn?'), an answer ('iawn, ta'), and as an intensifier meaning 'very' ('da iawn' = very good). Pronounced roughly 'YOWN'. If you only learn one Welsh word, this one carries you furthest.

ib

Internet

Caption tag that points back at the creator whose video gave you the idea, when you've twisted it rather than copied it. The unwritten rule on TikTok: if you didn't invent the format, drop an IB or get dragged in the comments.

ice

Street

To ice someone is to murder them. Separately, as a noun, 'ice' is slang for diamonds or jewels.

ice (jewels)

Street

'Ice' is slang for diamonds and jewelry, valued by thieves for their portability and resale.

ice cold

General

Shooting very poorly; the opposite of being hot.

ice the kicker

General

When the opposing coach calls a timeout right before a field goal attempt to disrupt the kicker's rhythm and increase pressure.

iced out

Pop

Wearing lots of diamond jewelry; covered in 'ice' (diamonds). The more bling, the more iced out you are.

icepick

General

A grind performed on just the rear peg, with the front wheel lifted up and over the rail or ledge. It demands strong balance since only one contact point is grinding.

ick

General

Used widely in modern dating talk about fleeting, irrational turn-offs.

ick factor

Internet

The measure of how off-putting or repellent a trait or thing is. A high "ick factor" means strong instinctive disgust.

icl

Internet

Initialism for 'I can't lie'. Front-loaded onto a sentence to signal that what follows is genuine, even if it's unflattering. The TikTok equivalent of 'no offence but'.

icon

General

Icon is the highest honour in ballroom — the rank above Legendary, reserved for the few who've left a permanent mark on the scene's history. Decades of dominance, mentorship and influence get you there. An icon isn't just winning categories; they shaped what the categories are. The word also lives outside ballroom now as casual praise ('you're an icon'), but in the ball scene it's a hard-earned crown.

icp

General

The pressure within the cranium; dangerously high ICP from bleeding or swelling can damage the brain.

icu

General

The hospital unit providing the highest level of monitoring and support for critically ill patients.

icy pole

General

A flavoured frozen treat on a stick; an ice lolly or popsicle.

icydk

Internet

Stands for "in case you didn't know," used before sharing information the reader may not have. Variant of ICYMI.

icymi

Internet

Stands for 'in case you missed it,' used to re-share news or a post for people who weren't around the first time.

idan

Street

Literally 'magic' in Yoruba, repurposed in Lagos street slang to describe a resourceful young OG who works hard, plays hard, and never turns down a money-making opportunity.

idc

Internet

Stands for "I don't care," used to signal that a choice or outcome doesn't matter to you. Tone can read as casual or dismissive.

ideate

General

To brainstorm or form ideas, usually as a distinct phase in a creative process.

idek

Internet

Stands for "I don't even know," an emphatic version of IDK expressing bafflement.

idiot stick

General

Electrician slang for a non-contact voltage tester — the pen-sized gadget that lights up and chirps when you wave it near a live conductor. Called an idiot stick because (a) any idiot can use one and (b) trusting it blindly will make an idiot of you. Notorious for false positives on ghost voltage and the occasional terrifying false negative, which is why old sparkies always confirm with a meter.

idk

Internet

The literal meaning: 'I don't know.' You're being asked something and you genuinely have no answer.

idle

Internet

On Discord, the yellow-moon status the app auto-assigns after roughly five minutes of inactivity. You didn't choose it — your keyboard just went quiet. Often used as proof someone's actually around but AFK, vs deliberately invisible.

idlh

General

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health. Any atmosphere that would either kill you, do irreversible damage, or stop you escaping under your own power within 30 minutes. Triggers the two-in/two-out rule and mandatory SCBA.

idol

Internet

A young performer trained by an entertainment company in singing, dancing, and multiple entertainment skills. The core professional category of K-pop.

idts

Internet

Stands for "I don't think so," used to express doubt or gentle disagreement.

iechyd da

General

The Welsh toast you raise before the first sip. Literally 'good health' (iechyd = health, da = good). Pronounced roughly 'YACH-ee-da' with that throaty 'ch' Welsh does so well. Used by Welsh speakers and English speakers alike when the pints land.

ied

General

'Improvised Explosive Device' — a bomb constructed and deployed outside conventional military production, frequently used in insurgency and roadside attacks.

if i had my druthers

General

Used to state what one would choose if given the choice.

if it was a snake it would've bit me

General

Said on finding something that was in plain sight.

if the creek don't rise

General

A qualifier meaning "if nothing goes wrong," attached to plans.

ifak

General

'Individual First Aid Kit' — the personal medical kit each service member carries for immediate self-aid or buddy-aid, typically including a tourniquet and hemostatic dressing.