Our dictionary is always getting larger, so getting lost in the new lingo added to our vocabulary every year is easy. 2024 is no different. Plenty of slang has become a staple in conversations and online, so I thought I'd break down the meaning of some of the year's most used words and phrases.
Here are 24 definitions for slang terms that have been on the rise in 2024:
1. "Rizz"
One word you might hear constantly is "Rizz." It means having the ability to attract someone else with charm or style. It's short for charisma. Do you have rizz?
An example sentence: That guy's so smooth. He's got the rizz .
BuzzFeed Celeb / giphy.com 2. "Delulu"
(duh-loo-loo)
Delulu is simply abbreviated slang for the word "delusional," which means false beliefs about something despite evidence to the contrary.
Example: You're totally delulu if you think things are getting better between us.
First We Feast / giphy.com 3. "Bussin"
(bus-en)
Bussin is slang for something excellent, good, delicious, etc. It's used mostly when discussing food and fashion.
Example: This entire platter is bussin . I'm going to eat the whole thing.
NBC 4. "Gyatt"
(guy-ott)
Oh boy. Gyatt is something you exclaim when you see someone with a large ass. It's usually used at first sight of said large rear end.
Example: *looks at butt* GYATT!
Nickelodeon / giphy.com 5. "No crumbs"
"No crumbs" is the shorter version of "left no crumbs," which simply means the subject executed something flawlessly.
Example: "Did you see her performance? Two words. No crumbs ."
Volanthevist / Getty Images 6. "Lock in"
To "lock in" means to focus on a task to the extreme. It's usually used for tasks like studying and work assignments.
Example: For the rest of the weekend, I'm doing nothing but studying for my final exam. Time to lock in .
Showtime / giphy.com 7. "Boujee/Bougie"
(boo-jee or boo-zhee)
Someone who acts richer for the sake of seeming wealthy.
Example: "No, he's too bougie for me. He makes cheese platters every time we have company over."
Oscar Wong / Getty Images 8. "Drip"
Drip is slang used when discussing something you believe is fashionable/stylish.
Example: "Did you see that combo of the suit with the kicks? Drip ."
Victoria Bee Photography / Getty Images 9. "Situationship"
An undefined relationship status. Often used to ask about somebody's situation while trying to be a bit extra about it.
Example: "Oh, so he helps at the animal shelter. What's his situationship ?"
Anna Shelkova / Getty Images 10. "Ate"
(eight)
Like "left no crumbs," ate is slang used to describe someone who did something flawlessly.
Example: "She ate that makeup. Not literally, but she looked great."
MTV / giphy.com 11. "Caught in 4K"
A play on "caught red-handed," Caught in 4K means being found guilty for something with undisputable evidence against you.
Example: "Yup. I'm telling you, he just got caught in 4K . That's not his girlfriend's hand he's holding."
Sutiporn Somnam / Getty Images 12. "Cringe"
Cringe is a shortened version of cringe-worthy that has picked up steam over the past few years, especially among Gen Z. Anything that doesn't fit into the box of social norms...bam...cringe.
Example: "A grown man writing an article about 2024 slang is so cringe ."
Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images 13. "Doomscrolling"
You know when 15-plus minutes pass by after you're scrolling on your phone reading a bunch of negative crap...yeah, that's doomscolling. It's losing track of time while you scroll through the scummiest parts of the web, and it often happens while excessively scrolling through the comment section of posts.
Example: "It's an election year, man; I stay up doomscrolling until 3 a.m. every night."
Dragonimages / Getty Images 14. "Girl Math"
We use "girl math" when purchasing products we don't feel thrilled about spending money on, but we're getting it. It's a simple way to ease our minds when we buy something we don't need but want.
Example: "My girl math tells me that 10% off that book set is a steal. Checkout time!"
Stella / Getty Images/fStop 15. "Hot Girl Summer"
When one expresses their sexy side proudly and publically. It's a way of life once beach weather hits.
Example: "I'm breaking out my best bikini and hitting the beach. Hot Girl Summer has arrived."
Interscope / giphy.com 16. "Mid"
Mid means you believe something is not that great or average at best. Often directed at movies, music, or artists.
Example: The film's not that great. It's mid , at best"
TNT 17. "Opp"
This one's pretty simple. Opp is abbreviated slang for "opposition."
Example: "My man has a long list of opps . Everyone hates his guts."
John Rowley / Getty Images 18. "Unserious"
Unserious means exactly what it sounds like. When you use it to describe someone, it's usually acknowledging they are foolish in a self-aware way.
Example: "They are so unserious . Everything is a joke to them."
HBO 19. "Vibe Check"
Vibe check is slang used to gauge the mood and vibes of a person, group, etc. This is most often used to see if someone else "passes" the vibe check for whatever scenario.
Example: "You didn't pass the vibe check . Why are you bringing all that bad energy to my dinner table."
Nine Network / giphy.com 20. "Demure"
Being cutesy, clean, and mindful without the attempt to draw attention to one's self. It's all about someone's attitude, and in this case, it is used for someone often reserved and mindful.
Example: "That quiet individual is classy. Very demure ."
Kseniia Andreichenko / Getty Images 21. "Brain Rot"
"Brain Rot" refers to too much screen time leading to mental decline. This phrase is often directed at specific online content that kills brain cells.
Example: "There's too much brain rot on social media. You're better off unplugging for your mind's sake."
Fox / giphy.com 22. "Brat"
Bratty is no longer a negative. A brat in 2024 is looked at as someone independent and confident as an individual who knows their worth.
Example: "He hates me because I'm a brat . He can't handle someone who knows their worth."
Star World / giphy.com 23. "Manifest"
To manifest is to will something into existence. It can be spoken or done through hard work, but the endgame is accomplishing your goal.
Example: "I'm calling it. 2025 is the year I get a full-time position. I'm manifesting it."
E! / giphy.com 24. And lastly, "Let them cook"
The phrase is used when you want someone to continue doing something they are good at. Recently, this phrase has been used often when someone seems to be in the wrong initially (or an unpopular opinion), but people respond with, "Hold up, let them cook."
Example: "I mean, they're making some pretty good points. Let them cook ."
Square Enix What slang do you think we should leave behind in 2024 and why should it be skibidi? Comment below!