How to Speak and Understand Teen Lingo

"What the heck did he just say?" is a common question of today's parents who, try as they might, simply can't understand the language of their teens. If Swahili or some obscure language is what seems to be coming from your teen's mouth these days you can still make a language barrier break-through. Not that a parent wants to speak the same lingo as their teen - doing so would drive both teen and parent mad. Understanding a few words and phrases, though, can help you at least feel like you're on the same planet with your teen.

Of course, there are different words used in different communities. The teens of Australia won't use the same terms as teens raised in the streets of New York City. And, there's Teen Slang, Rap Slang, Surfer's Slang and other forms of language now being used, so listen closely when your teen is talking. Use the following guide, although it's liable to be outdated by the end of the week, to try and break through the barrier and communicate with your teen.


Aight or Ahight (one syllable) - alright, okay

All up in the kool aid - getting in someone's business

Baby daddy - the father of my baby

Baby mama - the mother of my baby

Bad - an adjective that means "good"

Baggin' - picking up someone of the opposite sex

Bail out - leave someone to fend for themselves, leave

Baked - on drugs

Baller or Balla - someone with a lot of money

Bam - used when you've just dissed someone

Bang - a party, usually referring to a party with a lot of available women present

Beeyatch - female dog

Big Up - praise

Biscuits - old shoes

Bling - anything shiny, specifically jewelry

Blow - cocaine

Blunt - a cigar filled with marijuana

Bobo - poor quality

Bone - to have sex

Bong - a pipe used to smoke marijuana

Boost - steal

Booty - butt

Bopper - a female that has sex with other girls' boyfriends

Booyah or booya - used to express happiness or accomplishment. Can also mean ‘gotcha'

Bowl - refers to a pipe used for smoking marijuana

B-r-b - means "be right back"

Breezy - a woman or girlfriend

Broad - a woman

Bounce - leave

Break out - leave

Breeze out - go away

Buff - an attractive-looking member of the opposite sex

Buggin' - getting upset

Busta - punk or jerk

Bust a cap - shoot someone