Slanguage Arts

While I’m “hep” to the latest “lingo,” I know to stay in my conversational lane. Aiden has brought the wonderful world of 2025 middle school slang to our household, with vocab including: "bussin’ "(delicious—NOT big orange buses), "rizz" (charisma—like his Nana? Nah), "low-key" (doing something half-heartedly, like homework) and "cringe" (awkward, embarrassing—like Nana saying ANY of this). Oh, and there’s “6 7” (pronounced six seven), which is either NBA star LaMelo Ball’s height, the song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla, or something else entirely. I’d feel pretty silly talking this way! I’m seriously only tempted to use “skibidi” because I have a thing for nonsense words, and “skibidi” is literally a “nonsense word.”

Instead, I’m studying the more age-appropriate “in” words and phrases to be found on cooking shows and in the New York Times food section. Am I artfully arranging a platter of scrambled eggs, artichokes, beef jerky and blueberry muffins for my guests? That’s an “anything-cuterie board” to you! “Umami” has been around the block a few times, yet still manages to sound both nouveau and pretentious whenever it’s written or uttered. “Umami” is a flavor profile that would describe mushrooms, miso, Parmesan cheese and soy sauce—kinda fermented (one might even say a bit “off”). I am SO tired of this or that gourmet/gourmand pronouncing a dish “full of umami flavors!” Whatever happened to “yummy” or “tasty” or “not half bad”? Scraping the bottom of the barrel (barrel of...sardines, perhaps? How umami!), we come to the words “swicy” (sweet+spicy) and “swalty” (sweet+salty). Who SAYS things like that, without sounding just like Elmer Fudd?

Then there’s fashion! One can look “lit” and “fire” (call 911!) when one is "flexin’" or "drippin’" one’s new “fits” (wearing new clothes). When one improves one’s appearance, that’s a “glow up,” and if the glowing goes well, you’re now “snacc” (attractive, not a bag of Doritos). Sadly, I find just typing these words to be very "cringe." I’m never going to tell a fellow fashionista that she “slays.” No, I will fall back on: “you look elegant, or cute, or like you just left the gym.” That last one is me, by the way, who never goes to the gym, but still always captures that disheveled, even “swalty,” look.

I guess my slanguage is still stuck in the 1980s ("Bodacious"? "Radical"? "Gnarly"?) Or not. Maybe I’m more in sync with the 1970s ("Copacetic"? "Dorky"? Bummer?) Not quite. How about the 60s? The 50s? Hmmm. I rarely say “Dullsville,” “Out of Sight,” OR “Groovy.”

It is with a shock that I realize my preferred slang words hearken back to the 1920s and 30s, long before my natal day. “Bingo,” “Fave,” “Snazzy,” and “Gunky,” are all “Boffo” in my book! If that dates me, so be it. I’ll let people think I look “boffo” for a 90 year old.

I can’t imagine Dimitri's slanguage as a teen in the 2040s, so I won’t try.

Guess I’ll just “23-skibidi.” Toodle-oo!