Whenever I log into onto Twitter, I am instantly bombarded by the words “bae,” “turn up,” and “on fleek.” At first, I shook my head and criticized anyone who used these words. I wanted nothing to do with them. I thought I was better than someone who would use such slang words.
Then, I started using the words sarcastically, as a further criticism to those who did. Before I knew it, I had fallen into the trap of these slang words, and suddenly I joined everyone else in “throwing shade,” “sipping my tea,” and making sure that my eyebrows were “on fleek.”
These have been some of the most well-known slang words of 2015. This year was full of girls being “basic,” and “squads” getting “turnt” on the weekends. But, especially with the nearing of the end of the year, which of these slang words will outlive the others?
For example, we still say “cool,” a slang word that has lived so long that maybe even our grandparents said it when they were young. People can still be “nerds” and we still “hang out” with our friends. These slang words have survived the decades, with no sign of stopping. Can one of our famous words from 2015 do the same?
Webster’s dictionary just added the terms “fleek,” “yaaas,” and “doge” for the meme lovers, among 150 other words. Those words will forever live on in written books, and hundreds of years from now, our ancestors can figure out what exactly we meant when we said that we had the “feels.”
But thousands of other words have lived on in the dictionary that we never hear or use in conversation today. For instance, when was the last time you were angry at someone for being a “hugger-mugger?” The answer is you probably never have, unless you were alive in the 1500s or enjoy 1500s slang.
Today, instead of calling someone a “hugger-mugger” for acting in a secretive manner, you simply call them a “snake” or “my ex-boyfriend.” I believe that some words should survive, and we should forget the others. I, with zero shame, am a huge advocate for the terms “fleek” and “slay.” They are empowering terms and serve as a compliment.
“Fleek” and “slay” cannot be used negatively. If your eyebrows, hair, or outfit is “on fleek,” then girl, you are “slaying.” Even if “fleek” dies out like many others, you can be sure that I’ll be eighty years old and still using it, telling my friends that their wigs and slippers are “on fleek.”
Some slang words I am indifferent to. I often text “TBH” and “IRL.” Both are just convenient shortcuts in the world of texting. If they faded out, I would simply go back to typing out the full words. It’s not like I still text people “BRB” or “TTYL” anymore.
I still think using hashtags before random words is amusing, but I would not be bent out of shape if we decided to stop doing so. #WHATEVER. Bae, to me, is just another term of endearment, and I can use it if I want, or I can use “baby” or “babe” instead.
I can understand how “squad” can be an endearing term for your friends as well, so if that words sticks around I’ll accept it, but I prefer my friends to be friends, not a part of some “squad,” which reminds me too much of “squids.” My friends are not part of the octopus family.
There are some slang words that I wish would fall off the face of the earth right this instant, however. “Basic” and “thot” are just two more words added to the collection of offensive and aggressive words. Unlike being “on fleek,” being “basic” or a “thot” is something that is looked down upon, joining the other existing words that hurt people for who they are.
“Turn up” and “turnt,” at this point, I feel are more over-used than any other of the popular slang words. Therefore, they seem almost cheesy and boring, and I think it is time we invent a newer, different word.
It seems like the words we use today will stay around forever. But remember “swag” and “YOLO?” Those were popular only two years ago, yet we do not often use them anymore, thank goodness.
I wonder which, if any, of the popular slang words we use today will survive to this time next year. Do you think any will…OR NAH?
Jill Augustine
Viewpoints Contributor