If you have children aged 15 to 24 at home, and their conversations using new English slang expressions confuse you, you are not alone. These young people, born between 1997 and 2012, actively use new slang and abbreviations in communication.
These terms are not insults or incorrect words; rather, they are a unique coded language that has emerged due to the internet and social media. In the era of Instagram Reels, knowing the meaning of ten words such as 'Cooked', 'Rizz', 'Delulu', 'No Cap', 'Aura Points', 'Ghosting', 'Main Character Energy', 'Sus', 'Flex', and 'Bet' becomes necessary to understand youth communication.
1. Cooked means being in serious trouble. If a child says 'I am cooked', it is not related to cooking; it directly indicates that they have gotten into big trouble, messed up work, or made a mistake.
2. Rizz refers to charm or personal magic. This term originates from the word 'charisma' and is used when someone talks about a friend who possesses this quality, implying that this person is capable of quickly influencing others through their behavior and speech.
3. Delulu is an abbreviation of 'delusional' and means being in delusion or illusion. Friends might call someone 'Delulu' if they harbor hopes whose realization is extremely unlikely, i.e., building castles in the air.
4. No Cap is used to denote absolute truth, equivalent to phrases like 'I swear' or 'truth'. If young people state: 'This pizza was very tasty, no cap', it means they are speaking completely honestly.
5. Aura Points is an imaginary rating system for respect or style. When a young person does something smart or cool, they are awarded '+1000 Aura Points'; conversely, points are deducted for foolishness.
6. Ghosting means suddenly ending communication without explanation. If a child reports that their friend 'ghosted' them, it means that this friend unexpectedly stopped replying to messages and answering calls without any reason.
7. Main Character Energy describes the state of a person who behaves with complete confidence at an event, as if they are the main character of that place.
8. Sus is an abbreviation of 'suspicious' and means suspicion. If something or someone raises the slightest doubt, children immediately say: 'This matter seems a bit sus'.
9. Flex is demonstrative behavior. Young people use this term when showing off a new item on social media, such as a watch or phone, or demonstrating an achievement.
10. Bet is used to express agreement or confirm an arrangement. If you suggest going out for dinner with a child in the evening, and they simply reply 'Bet', it means 'agreed, we will definitely go'.
Knowing these ten expressions will help parents understand youth jargon, and communicating with children will stop seeming incomprehensible.