I’ve tracked youth language for years, and the newest slang heading into 2026 deserves a clear parent guide. This post explains 25 new slang terms you might hear at the dinner table, in messages, or on TikTok.
I’ll show what each word really means, when to worry, and how to respond without overreacting. Parents will get practical tips, safety signals, and simple scripts to keep conversations calm and useful.
Knowing these words helps you spot bullying, risky trends, or mental health warning signs early. Use this guide to stay calm and prepared.
Table of Contents
Why this matters
Slang is an easy way kids mark group membership. Knowing keywords helps you spot bullying, risky trends, or mental health cues early.
For instance, the concept brainrot was widely discussed in mainstream publications as a catchall for low value, addictive online content.
“Slang isn’t the problem. Silence is. When parents understand the language, they unlock honest conversations instead of arguments.” — Slangwise
25 New Slangs Words Parents Should Know in 2026
1. Brainrot
Excessive bingeing of low-value, repetitive online content that dulls attention and mood and replaces richer activities.
In short: addictive, attention-rotting media.
Example: “She got brainrot after hours of endless meme loops instead of studying.”
2. Skibidi
A nonsense word from the Skibidi Toilet craze used to label things as weird, creepy, or oddly cool depending on context.
In short: a flexible meme for absurdity.
Example: “That TikTok audio is pure Skibidi, I can’t stop watching.” .
3. Clanker
An insult for anything that seems robotic, AI-generated, or emotionally flat; used to dismiss automated content or stiff behavior.
In short: anti-AI or robot jab.
Example: “That comment thread feels clanker, probably all bots.”
4. Shrekking
Choosing a partner mainly for kindness or stability despite low attraction; the term jokingly references dating an ‘ogre’ for safety.
In short: settling for care over chemistry.
Example: “She’s shrekking because he’s kind even if he’s not her type.”
5. Gurt / Gurting
Pulling off a risky, clever move that unexpectedly succeeds; used to praise sly wins or bold creativity.
In short: risky brilliance that pays off.
Example: “He gurted the hack and fixed the site in minutes.”
6. Chopped
Calling someone or something unattractive, badly edited, or sloppy; blunt slang for poor appearance or low quality.
In short: ugly or messed up.
Example: “Those filters made the photo look chopped.”
7. Huzz
A derogatory term for girls twisted from older slurs; it often appears in mean online speech and can escalate into bullying.
In short: misogynistic insult.
Example: “They called her a huzz after the post, which was hurtful.”
8. Gruzz
A dismissive tag for older people or anyone seen as out of touch; used jokingly or spitefully to socially age someone.
In short: out of touch.
Example: “My uncle is gruzz for not using emojis.”
9. Wabi Sabi
Borrowed from Japanese aesthetics, it praises beauty in imperfection; kids use it sincerely or ironically to praise rough, handmade looks.
In short: imperfect beauty.
Example: “The cracked pottery is totally wabi sabi.”
10. Unc
Short for uncle, slang for an older, uncool person; a light roast that can feel dismissive when aimed at adults.
In short: uncool older adult.
Example: “My dad is such an unc with his old jokes.”
11. Lock In
To focus intensely and commit fully to a task, shutting out distractions; often used for study sessions, workouts, or creative marathons.
In short: intense focus and commitment.
Example: “I’m locking in for four hours to write this draft.”
12. Menty B
Short for mental breakdown; used to describe feeling overwhelmed or stressed, sometimes casually but it can signal real distress that needs attention.
In short: intense stress or meltdown.
Example: “After exams I had a menty B and slept all day.”
13. Chungus
A playful meme term for something comically large or chubby, usually affectionate and used humorously rather than meanly.
In short: comically oversized.
Example: “That couch is chungus, two people might fit.”
14. Six seven (6-7)
A vague, so-so rating or filler phrase from viral songs and edits; people use it to shrug about quality or mood in a deliberately meaningless way.
In short: meh or middling.
Example: “How was the show? 6-7, not great but okay.”
15. Crash Out
To suddenly lose control emotionally and act irrationally or have a big meltdown; frequent crashes can be a warning sign.
In short: sudden emotional collapse.
Example: “He crashed out when the stream died and left angry.”
16. Aura Points
A playful way to score someone’s vibe or coolness; losing points signals a drop in status, style, or social capital.
In short: vibe or coolness score.
Example: “She lost aura points for canceling plans last minute.”
17. Steez
Effortless style and confident ease; someone with steez looks naturally cool without trying hard and is admired for it.
In short: stylish ease.
Example: “His outfit had so much steez at the skatepark.”
18. Demure
Demure describes a modest, shy aesthetic or behavior, sometimes used sincerely and sometimes performed as an online persona.
In short: modest or shy vibe.
Example: “She acted demure to seem mysterious at the meetup.”
19. Cooked
When someone is embarrassed, defeated, or completely messed up; also used to call a situation hopeless or ruined.
In short: utterly ruined.
Example: “He was cooked after tripping during his presentation.”
20. Ohio
A meme shorthand for something weird, ridiculous, or absurdly unexpected, drawn from the “only in Ohio” joke culture.
In short: weirdly absurd.
Example: “That parade was so Ohio, nothing made sense.”
21. Mog
To outshine or dominate someone, usually in looks, confidence, or presence; rooted in online looks culture and comparison trends.
In short: visually or socially overpower.
Example: “He mogged everyone in the group photo without trying.”
22. Slop
Low-quality, mass-produced online content, especially obvious AI text, images, or videos flooding feeds without creativity.
In short: lazy or junk content.
Example: “My timeline is full of slop after that update.”
23. Delulu
Delulu is short for delusional; used jokingly when someone believes something unrealistic, especially in dating or ambitions, but can hint at denial.
In short: unrealistically hopeful.
Example: “Thinking he’ll text back is delulu at this point.”
24. Peak
Used sarcastically to describe the height of bad behavior, chaos, or ridiculousness rather than excellence.
In short: maximum absurdity.
Example: “Arguing in comments at 3 a.m. is peak internet behavior.”
25. What the Helly
A playful, cleaner exclamation of shock or disbelief from viral audio; often replaces stronger language.
In short: surprised disbelief.
Example: “What the helly just happened in that video?”
Some Notable Late 2025 Slang Trend Notes
- Brainrot went mainstream — The term (and the idea of addictive, low-value scrolling) was widely discussed across culture press as a shorthand for attention-eroding feeds and meme loops.
- Skibidi/Skibidi Toilet became a Gen-Alpha meme engine — The surreal YouTube series drove a flexible catchword “skibidi” that kids use to label weird, creepy, or oddly cool things.
- “Clanker” emerged as an anti-AI slur — Online discourse turned a sci-fi insult into a popular jab at obvious AI or robotic content, sparking debate about dehumanizing language.
- “Shrekking” flagged toxic dating behavior — Coverage in culture outlets spotted a trend of “dating down” for stability, with commentators calling out the practice’s ethical pitfalls.
- The “6-7” meme blew up (and even forced retail changes) — A nonsensical TikTok chant tied to a viral song spread so widely it disrupted places like In-N-Out, illustrating how meaningless phrases can become mass youth rituals.
- “AI slop” captured cultural anxiety about generative tools — Dictionaries and cultural critics named terms like “AI slop” as 2025 markers for poor, repetitive machine output flooding feeds.
- “Delulu” earned dictionary recognition — Short for “delusional,” delulu’s inclusion in major dictionaries reflects how playful self-mocking language has become standardized.
- “Mog” moved into mainstream slang references — The looks-maxxing / outshining sense of “mog” was documented by major language authorities, showing how social-comparison slang formalizes.
- “Aura points” became a TikTok social currency — Coverage broke down the joking system of imaginary points for “vibe” or coolness: a lightweight way kids rank social status online.
- “Crash out” / “menty B” signalled mental-health language spreading into memes — Media and support orgs noted that words for sudden meltdowns or “menty B” are being used casually: sometimes as cries for help, so parents should watch for repeated usage.
How parents should respond, short checklist
- Ask, do not accuse, when you hear new slang. Curiosity keeps kids talking.
- Ask for examples, and ask if it is used to hurt others. If yes, intervene calmly.
- Keep boundaries around harmful language such as gendered slurs like huzz. Explicitly state your household rules.
- If a phrase signals distress like menty B or crash out, check in on mental health. Offer support and professional help if needed.
- Teach media literacy so kids spot low quality AI content and slop.
Practical tips & troubleshooting
- If your child uses a term you do not like, name why with a short sentence, then offer alternatives.
- If a classmate is being targeted by a slang based insult, document examples and speak with the school if it continues.
- For slang that is aesthetic or ironic like wabi sabi or steez, lean into curiosity, ask what they like about it, celebrate safe creativity.
Safety and best practices
- Do not normalize slurs, even if they are disguised.
- Watch for collective harassment that hides behind joking language, especially where AI metaphors are used to dehumanize people.
- Keep mental health lines and school support contacts handy if you notice persistent crash out behavior.
Conclusion Thought
Slang changes fast, but the goal stays the same: understanding your child without panic or judgment.
Knowing these newest slang terms helps parents spot warning signs, set healthy boundaries, and talk with confidence instead of fear.
Language reflects mood, belonging, and pressure. When parents stay curious and calm, kids feel safer opening up. Listen first, ask questions, and guide without lecturing.
Respect and awareness will always matter more than keeping up.
FAQs
You can playfully ask what a word means, but dropping slang to show off usually backfires. Use curiosity instead.
Often delulu is playful. If it signals real detachment from reality or risky behavior, take it seriously and talk more.
Calmly collect examples (screenshots, messages) and talk to your child about impact, not just intent. If it continues, share evidence with the school so staff can address the behavior and protect the target.
If a word is repeated alongside withdrawal, sudden mood changes, talk of self-harm, or targeted harassment, take it seriously. Persistent hostile or self-destructive language warrants a deeper conversation and possibly professional help.
Ask open questions: “What does that mean?” or “When do you say that?” Let your child teach you. Listen more than you speak, and avoid dropping slang just to impress — curiosity beats imitation.
Validate feelings first: “That sounds rough — tell me more.” If the language is frequent or tied to sleep loss, isolation, or risky behavior, arrange a deeper talk and consider professional support (counselor, GP).