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Teaching Profession

The Top 10 Slang Terms Teachers Never Want to Hear Again, Explained

By Marina Whiteleather 鈥 December 20, 2024 2 min read
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Has a student ever called you 鈥淏ruh鈥? Or have you ever scratched your head trying to figure out what 鈥渟kibidi鈥 means?

Student slang seems to change by the minute, making it tricky to keep up with the latest terms hitting the hallways.

We asked educators on social media to share the slang terms they wish students would stop using, and they did not hold back. Over 360 comments poured in on and with educators wanting to add their nominations.

Some teachers think slang is distracting, even going as far in some cases to . But, as Jill Davidson, a school psychologist, noted in a , slang can 鈥渆nrich our language, [and] encourage creativity. It鈥檚 important to know what they mean and how they鈥檙e used.鈥

To help educators better understand the most popular and prevalent slang, we鈥檝e rounded up the top 10 terms teachers told us they are sick of hearing. We put together definitions for each one and selected videos of teachers explaining how this inscrutable, secret language is used in schools.

Sigma

/蝉瑟伞尘蓹/

This is a slang term for 鈥渢he best鈥 and can be used to describe someone who is an alpha male.

What the are these kids saying?

Drip

/drip/
It is often used to describe clothes or accessories that are cool or stylish.

Replying to @authentic.homes time to expand your vocabulary!

Ate

/ate/
The verb is used to used to praise someone for doing something well or having good style. The phrase 鈥4+4" can also be used in the same way as 鈥渁te.鈥

Learning slang from Gen Z students 馃檮

Bruh

/产谤蓹/
This word is mostly used as a friendly way of referring to someone, especially a male friend, or as a way of expressing surprise or disagreement.

What is up with the phrases that students are using daily?

Skibidi

/蝉办瑟.产瑟.诲颈/
This can be used to mean 鈥渃ool鈥 or 鈥渄umb鈥 or 鈥渂ad鈥 depending on the context and is typically used as a filler word. It originated from a YouTube videos series called 鈥楽kibidi Toilet鈥 that featured animated talking heads.

Oh what do you mean?

Delulu

\dih-loo-loo\
The term is a shortened version of the word 鈥渄elusional.鈥 Most often it is used to accuse someone of having faulty judgment.

Asking our faculty and staff slang words 馃ぃ馃檲馃槄

Low-key

/濒艒藢办脓/
An adverb meaning 鈥渟ecretly鈥 or without intense emotions. It can also be used to describe doing something modestly or moderately.

21.

Bet

/bet/
It鈥檚 often used to mean 鈥淥K鈥 and is used to express agreement, affirmation, or approval.

What鈥檚 your favorite slang phrase kids have used in your class???

Crash out

/kraSH out/
A slang term meaning to become hysterical and do something reckless, or to pass out from exhaustion.

Crashing Out What does crashing out mean? Gen Z students keep coming up with different ways to say tantrum. Do your students say crashing out?

Rizz

/riz/
This term is a shortened version of 鈥渃harisma鈥 and refers to a person鈥檚 charm or attractiveness.

Asking LC teachers what our slang means Part One

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