Teen Slang Decoded: How to Understand What Your Kids Are Saying

As a parent of two teenage boys, I’ve learned that every generation has its own secret code of slang. Growing up, we had words like rad, bogus, and totally. Now? It’s a jungle of phrases like sus, no cap, and rizz. At first, I tried to pretend I understood what my kids were saying. I’d nod vaguely when they called something drip or accused someone of being sus. Eventually, I realized there was a better way to connect with my teens: embrace their slang and use it in the most embarrassing ways possible.

Here’s a guide to some of the hottest teen lingo right now, complete with their meanings and a few tips for how parents like us can hilariously misuse them to horrify our kids.

But before I begin, let me just say no teenager will agree that I am in any way accurate with the following information. There is an even a good chance by the time you read this, the words have all changed.

1. No Cap 🧢

• Translation: “No lie” or “I’m being serious.”
  
• How Teens Use It:
  • “That pizza was amazing, no cap!”
    
• How Parents Can Use It:
  • POV: You’re serving up meatloaf for dinner. Look your kid straight in the eye and say, “This is the best meatloaf you’ll ever taste. No cap.”

2. Bet

• Translation: “Okay” or “Challenge accepted.”
  
• How Teens Use It:
  • “Wanna bet I can finish this level before you?” “Bet.”
    
• How Parents Can Use It:
  • The next time your kid promises to clean their room, just respond with a sly, “Bet.”
  • Alternatively, use it during board games to confuse the whole family: “You’re moving to Park Place? Bet.”

3. Sus

• Translation: Short for “suspicious,” often implying someone is acting shady.
  
• How Teens Use It:
  • “Why’d you take so long in the bathroom? You’re acting sus.”
    
• How Parents Can Use It:
  • After dinner, stand over the sink, holding a dirty dish. Narrow your eyes at your kid and say, “Who put this here? That’s pretty sus.”

4. Drip

• Translation: Cool clothes or impressive style.
  
• How Teens Use It:
  • “Check out his new shoes—total drip!”
    
• How Parents Can Use It:
  • Show off your old sweatpants and say, “Look at this drip. I’m killing it.”
  • I knew this one was uncool the second I heard Jack Armstrong saying it on Raptors broadcasts.

5. Sheesh

• Translation: An exclamation of excitement, amazement, or disbelief.
  
• How Teens Use It:
  • “Sheesh! Did you see how high he jumped?”
    
• How Parents Can Use It:
  • The next time your kid mentions getting an 8/10 on a test, respond loudly with, “Sheeeeeesh!”

6. Rizz

• Translation: Charisma, especially in the context of flirting.
  
• How Teens Use It:
  • “He’s got so much rizz, all the girls love him.”
    
• How Parents Can Use It:
  • After successfully convincing your dog to sit with one treat, announce to the family, “Your dad’s got rizz. Watch and learn.”
  • Rizz is one of my favourites to say way too much.

7. Slay

• Translation: To do something exceptionally well.
  
• How Teens Use It:
  • “You slayed that presentation in class today!”
    
• How Parents Can Use It:
  • Dust off the lawnmower or rake the leaves, then proudly declare, “I just slayed the yard work.”
  • The more mundane the activity, the funnier it gets. Slay is a great one to make the teens eye-roll.

8. Yeet

• Translation: To throw something with force or excitement.
  
• How Teens Use It:
  • “He yeeted the ball right into the basket!”
    
• How Parents Can Use It:
  • Toss a crumpled receipt into the trash and yell, “Yeet!”
  • Use this word every time you throw anything—keys, laundry, your back out—until your kids can’t take it anymore.

9. Aura

Throwing this one in because it came up at the dinner table when the boy’s Grandparents were over.

• Translation: It’s the energy or vibe someone gives off. Think of it as the “feel” of a person, place, or situation without needing words—like how someone’s presence can feel chill, chaotic, or inspiring.
  
• How Teens Use it:
  • When someone seems confident or magnetic, teens might say, “They’ve got a powerful aura.”
    
• How Parents Can Use It:
  • Walk into their bedroom and say something like “Your aura smells like Febreze and bad decisions. What are you hiding?”

The secret weapon: overcommitment

The real joy in learning teen slang is misusing it with such confidence that your kids are left wondering if you’re genuinely confused or just messing with them. For example:

• Kid: “Can we go to the mall later?”
  You: “Bet. I’ll wear my drip. No cap.”

Combine three or more slang words in one sentence, and you might just achieve Peak Dad. Your kid will groan, roll their eyes, and possibly beg you to stop—but deep down, they’ll know you’re the funniest person alive (even if they’d never admit it).

Why bother?

You might be wondering: why go to all this trouble? The answer is simple—parenting teens is equal parts survival and sabotage. Using their slang in ridiculous ways not only gives you a way to bond with your kids, but it also reminds them that you’re still their parent. Your job is to make them laugh (or cringe) and show them you care, even if it’s through bad jokes and questionable lingo.

So, go ahead: slay dinner, show off your drip, and yeet yourself into the world of teen slang. No cap.

What’s your favourite slang term your kids use? Have you ever tried using it in front of them? Let me know in the comments.

I really apologize to all the people who read this because it’s about as cringe as it gets.