10 Essential English Slang Terms Trending in 2023
Slang, the ever-evolving language phenomenon, has swiftly shifted gears into 2023. Bid farewell to the slang of 2022; it's time to embrace
Slang, the ever-evolving language phenomenon, has swiftly shifted gears into 2023. Bid farewell to the slang of 2022; it’s time to embrace a fresh wave of words, phrases, and acronyms seamlessly weaving into everyday conversations.
1. Unveiling Vibes with “It’s Giving”
Elevate your conversational game by using “It’s giving” to articulate the essence or vibe of a situation. Is that dress a tad too formal? Maybe it’s giving prom vibes. Your friends busted out a cheesy dance routine? It could be described as giving “High School Musical.” Feel something is exceptional? A simple “It’s giving” serves as a standalone compliment.
2. Embracing Your “Era”
Swap out “phase” for “Era” as a descriptor. Are you deeply into ramen these days? Congratulations, you’re in your ramen era. Encountering someone causing a stir? They might just be in their villain era.
3. The Simplicity of “Iykyk”
“Iykyk” stands as an acronym for “if you know, you know.” Now, you’re in the loop.
4. The Resurgence of “Slay”
“Slay” isn’t a newcomer; it’s practically vintage slang. However, it’s making a comeback, evolving into both a verb and an adjective. “She slayed that” translates to an outstanding performance, while “That’s so slay” signifies something amazing, cool, or great. You can also offer a straightforward compliment with just “slay.”
5. Assessing Celebrity Status with “Fell Off”
Has a once-revered celebrity lost their touch or vanished from the limelight? For such instances, the phrase “fell off” perfectly captures the decline.
6. Unveiling Secrets with “Gatekeep”
While “gatekeep” retains its core meaning, it finds a new context. Hesitant to reveal a newly discovered café or withholding information about a stylish top? That’s gatekeeping. Notably, the cool kids don’t engage in gatekeeping.
7. Navigating the Grey Area with “Situationship”
Not just friends, yet not firmly in a relationship? Enter the “situationship.” A term tailor-made for those ambiguous zones where the relationship status remains uncertain.
8. Critiquing Opinions with “Bad Take”
When a friend shares a cringe-worthy opinion, let them know it’s a “bad take.” This applies to poorly-formed stances or opinions you vehemently disagree with, regardless of the context. Dislike bananas? That’s a bad take.
9. Distinguishing Privacy from Secrecy with “Private Not Secret”
In the realm of social media, this term finds relevance in couples sharing photos with a touch of privacy but no secrecy. Whether it’s hands intertwined at the dinner table or a selfie strategically hiding a partner’s face, they’re keeping it private, not secret. It can also be used as a verb, like “Oh, she’s private not secreting him.”
10. Grounding Moments with “Touch Grass”
Replace the old adage “get a grip” with “touch grass.” When someone goes off the deep end, spirals, or utters something inappropriate, it’s time to advise them to “touch grass” and ground themselves.
Bonus: “Rizz” – Charisma Personified
Coined in mid-2021 and gaining popularity, someone with “rizz” exudes charisma. Use it to describe individuals who are exceptionally engaging and possess a unique ability to charm others, especially in romantic contexts.
