Have you guys ever read a YA novel where it's obvious that the author is an old person? Certain words are dead giveaways as to what generation the author is from. I used the word "teenybopper" in one of my first drafts of
Generations and luckily a beta reader caught this outdated slang and asked if I grew up in the 60's. Of course, anyone under the age of 40 (I said UNDER Paulashawn, so this doesn't include you.) knows that the word "tween" is now used instead of "teenybopper." Also, I read a book awhile ago where the author had the teenage protagonist use the word "dweeb" frequently. Um, hello 1980's, yo momma called and wants her banana-clip back.
In case you can't tell if you're old and out of touch with kids these days, here's a list that might help you.
You might be old if you use words like:
Rad
Radical
Gnarly
Groovy
Groovy Kind of Love
Funky
Funky Cold Medina
Gag
Gag Me With a Spoon
Gag Me With a Pitchfork
Grody
Grody to the Max
Max Headrom
Psychedelic
Spaz
And some say that this word is out as well:
Awesome. Which makes me 159 years old because I use that word to the Max.
But if you can't use all those words, then how will you speak? Will you open your mouth only to have silence come out? No! You will become a
hipstar! You will learn to be
dope. (Dope is now good, not bad. Which actually is a problem in and of itself, but we're not going to be down on Gen Y'ers.) Here's some words to add to your vocab:
Kicks: this is not what you do to your teen when they don't take the garbage out, even though you have asked them 1000 times; these are shoes.
Fly : this is not what Orville and Wilbur did; this means cool, hip, or attractive.
Hipster: this is when you bump your sister with your hip.
Creeper: In high school, this was the type of guy who would constantly ask me out, even after I said no at least 53 times.
Emo: the type of guy I dated in high school when I wanted to give my parents a heart attack.
Chillaxin': a type of laxative that leaves your insides feeling wintery fresh.
Swagger: A yummy odor of Old Spice.
# : what you use when you think you are funny on Twitter or Instagram.
Like: what you do on FB so people feel popular.
YOLO: This is said by people who don't believe a word Shirley Maclaine says.
Sick: the month of February at the Folkman household.
Now it's time for you to confess: what words do you use that are no longer en vogue? Hopefully no one lists words like Daddy-o or "The Fonz."
What new words have you added to your verbage? And by all means, if you've heard kids saying something you don't understand, ask me to define it for you; I would be glad to help. (But use caution. Not all words used these days are appropriate. Shocking, I know!)
Peace out.