11 Phrases That Are A Part Of Your Kid’s Vocabulary That You Don’t Understand

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Nothing makes a parent feel old and outdated than listening to their kids’ use of slang. With the rise in social media and pop culture references, kids are exposed to languages, memes, and phrases that parents are unfamiliar with. Sometimes they make no sense at all because it’s a combination of words you have probably never heard. Your kids say phrases that perhaps confuse you and make you feel like a million years old. It’s worse when you try to decipher the meaning because they don’t hold back from making fun of you or letting you know that they are embarrassed (Could they be any more rude?). If you wonder what your kids mean when you hear them speak sometimes, don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Here are 11 phrases that millennials and gen z throw around every day that you don’t understand:

1. “Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO)”

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You have probably heard your kids saying they have FOMO, and you get worried and wonder what it is. Because let’s be real, it does sound like a health condition or a disease. Your kid can have FOMO when they are not a part of a social event but can see what’s happening on social media. They fear being left out of the fun.

2. “Joy Of Missing Out (JOMO)”

Like FOMO, but here, your kid is glad they are not a part of the social event, usually because it’s not cool or “lit”. Therefore, they feel the joy of being absent from the event.

3. “Sorry Not Sorry”

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If your kid uses this phrase, don’t be fooled because they are not apologizing. They basically mean that they are not sorry for what they did/didn’t do, but they apologize for not feeling sorry. Confused? Yeah, we are too!

4. “Can’t Even”

Can't Even
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You’re probably wondering, “can’t even what?”. It means that they are losing patience and cannot handle it anymore. So the next time you hear your kids using this phrase, don’t ask them “can’t even what” cause that might push them over the edge.

5. “On Fleek/Point”

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Common language on Instagram, “on fleek/on point”, is used to say that something is perfect. For example, “Her outfit is on point” or “His beard is on fleek”. Tell your kids that your language skills are “on fleek”, and watch their reaction.

6. “It Me”

It Me 
Image: Shutterstock

A phrase used to suggest that something is relatable. When your kids use this phrase, they mean that they can relate to something they see, read, or hear.

7. “G.O.A.T”

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If you’re a fan of the legendary Pink Floyd and you heard your kids say, “Yeah, Pink Floyd was the GOAT”, don’t get furious or offended. They mean well. GOAT refers to the “greatest of all time”.

8. “No Cap”

No Cap 
Image: Shutterstock

Tell your kid, “I really want you to clean your room right now, no cap”, and watch how they react. They will probably take you a lot more seriously because you spoke their language. The phrase “no cap” means “I’m being serious/seriously”, in your kids’ vocabulary.

9. “The Struggle Is Real”

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When your kids use this phrase, it means they are finding it hard to deal with a problem. It usually refers to first-world problems or frustrating daily situations that are given undue importance. It goes something like this, “My WiFi is slow, and I can’t stream the latest episode of Money Heist. The struggle is real”.

10. “What’s The Tea?”

What's The Tea
Image: Shutterstock

A phrase used to find out the latest “tea” around the block. It’s a way of asking someone for the latest gossip in town.

11. “Weird Flex But Okay”

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This phrase is appropriate when someone boasts about something strange or something that no one cares about. If you tell your kids that you walked miles just to get to school, they would probably say, “Weird flex, but okay”.

Languages evolve with time, but with the internet being at the tip of every kids’ fingers, words are getting new meaning with the blink of an eye. We understand that it’s hard for parents to keep up with youngsters’ lingo and hope this helped. How many of these phrases did you know? Share this article with fellow parents who struggle to understand their kids’ vocabulary!

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Bency Sebastian
Bency Sebastian
Writer, dreamer and a moon child. Bency believes that music, words, and little precious moments of life add color to a world that is black and white..

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