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Slang Dictionary — Modern Slang, Decoded

What does that word actually mean? Our slang dictionary explains modern slang clearly — Gen Z, internet, British and street slang — with real definitions, examples and where each term came from.

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Gen Z Slangrizz, delulu, slay Internet Slangbrainrot, based, mid British Slangpeng, bare, peak AAVEbussin, finna, cap

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Latest slang terms

An affectionate address for a partner or loved one, clipped from 'mi amor' (pronounced 'more-eh').

A casual greeting meaning 'what's up?' or 'how are things?'.

Suffix/infix that drops the back half of a word and tacks on '-izzle' — fo' shizzle, my nizzle, for rizzle. West Coast in origin, weaponised by Snoop Dogg until it colonised pop culture in the early 2000s.

Deliberately choosing optimism — Gen Z's self-aware, often ironic take on staying hopeful in a doomscrolling-heavy internet culture.

frictionmaxxing

Deliberately choosing the harder, less convenient option — cold showers, walking instead of driving, doing chores by hand — to build resilience and get out of your comfort zone.

Deliberately loading up on dietary fiber — beans, oats, chia, psyllium husk — to optimize gut and metabolic health.

Treating overall physical health and wellbeing as something to constantly optimize — diet, supplements, checkups, recovery — not just one specific habit.

Overhauling and optimizing your personal style and wardrobe to its fullest potential, usually all at once rather than gradually.

Deliberately working to become as socially skilled and connected as possible — practicing small talk, going to more events, treating your social life like a project to optimize.

Adopting everyday Chinese lifestyle habits — hot water over iced coffee, house slippers indoors, traditional skincare — as a self-improvement trend, usually more affectionate than serious.

Optimizing sleep as far as it can go — mouth tape, red light glasses, magnesium, weighted blankets, white noise — to squeeze the maximum benefit out of rest.

Treating your workout routine as an all-consuming optimization project — every set, meal, and rest day engineered for maximum results.

The extreme, invasive end of looksmaxxing — cosmetic surgery, steroid use, hair transplants — as opposed to everyday habits.

The mild, low-effort end of looksmaxxing — skincare, diet, exercise, a better haircut — as opposed to anything invasive.

Going all-in on optimizing your finances — aggressive saving, budgeting apps, side hustles, cutting every non-essential cost — often turned into short-form video content.

A suffix meaning to obsessively optimize one particular part of your life — attach it to almost anything (moneymaxxing, sleepmaxxing, gymmaxxing) to describe going all-in on improving it.

A spectacularly bad mistake or failure — one so complete, public, or badly timed that it loops back around to being funny. Used as a standalone reaction to a video, screenshot, or story of something going hilariously wrong.

Acting or living in a fancy, upscale way — sometimes admiringly, sometimes as gentle mockery of pretension.

Looking flawless or perfectly put-together, especially describing hair, makeup or an outfit.

Evidence — usually screenshots or messages — that proves a claim, especially in an online dispute.

Overeager for attention, approval or romantic interest — coming across as desperate.

A tight-knit group of friends — your regular crew for hanging out or supporting each other.

Over the top, dramatic or excessive — doing more than a situation calls for.

A sharp, effective retort to an insult or criticism — a comeback delivered with force.