Study Examines American Slang Trends and What Words We Want to Revive

Words that were once at the cutting edge of language and culture are quickly dumped into a bin of corny, outdated phrases that might get a chuckle if you use them in earnest. Slang is meant to reflect the times, but it’s also intended to express a feeling we don’t have other words for. Preply examined the ins and outs of slang culture in their new study that asked Americans their favorite slang terms, their slang use habits, and which words they would love to see make a comeback.

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Words that were once at the cutting edge of language and culture are quickly dumped into a bin of corny, outdated phrases that might get a chuckle if you use them in earnest. Slang is meant to reflect the times, but it’s also intended to express a feeling we don’t have other words for. Preply examined the ins and outs of slang culture in their new study that asked Americans their favorite slang terms, their slang use habits, and which words they would love to see make a comeback.

Words are ever-evolving, and sometimes retro slang makes a big comeback. For example, “cool” is a slang term we’ve used for decades, but there are also countless examples of slang that offer us another way to say “cool” without seeming cliché. It might surprise you to learn which phrases were the most popular choices to revive.

Here’s the list of top terms:

• Baloney
• Take a chill pill
• Bogus
• Cruisin’ for a bruisin’
• Groovy
• Spiffy
• Heebie-jeebies
• Gnarly
• Knuckle sandwich
• Rad
• Wassup?
• Chillax
• The bee’s knees
• Da bomb
• Mellow out
• Keep on truckin’
• Booyah!
• As if!
• Made in the shade
• Snafu

Over 50% of respondents chose those top three terms. Each term comes from a different decade, and “bogus” and “baloney” mean more or less the same thing. But bogus and baloney give a cheeky flair and a sense of outrage to the alternative, which is to say, “that’s absolute nonsense.” Slang usually sounds informal and adds another layer of emotion to what the speaker tries to express.

The respondents said that ‘90s slang was their favorite of all time, except for baby boomers, who all prefer slang from the 1960s. Interestingly, men preferred ‘70s slang and women preferred ‘90s slang. Gen X is the most nostalgic about slang from their childhood, which might account for the popularity of ‘90s and ‘80s slang.

Gen Z is most likely to use old slang as a joke or ironically. They’re also the quickest to flinch over outdated slang, and their slang changes quickly as it’s based on social media trends and memes that feel passe within a few weeks. Gen Z is also the most unfamiliar with older slang, with 80% having had to Google the meaning of a slang word from the past.

Slang captures who we are in cultural moments, whether we’re talking about the pre- or post-Internet age. Slang unites us with phrases that allow us to share humor, rebellion, or a sense of identity. The study shows fascinating patterns of language, too. We can say something is rad, lit, or fire, and they all generally mean the same thing (“cool”), but the people using those words are probably from different generations. People who feel nostalgia for slang are reminded of what they saw as a simpler past, or they yearn for the pop culture that spawned these phrases. Preply’s work is a true celebration of language and culture!

Words are ever-evolving, and sometimes retro slang makes a big comeback. For example, “cool” is a slang term we’ve used for decades, but there are also countless examples of slang that offer us another way to say “cool” without seeming cliché. It might surprise you to learn which phrases were the most popular choices to revive.

Here’s the list of top terms:

• Baloney
• Take a chill pill
• Bogus
• Cruisin’ for a bruisin’
• Groovy
• Spiffy
• Heebie-jeebies
• Gnarly
• Knuckle sandwich
• Rad
• Wassup?
• Chillax
• The bee’s knees
• Da bomb
• Mellow out
• Keep on truckin’
• Booyah!
• As if!
• Made in the shade
• Snafu

Over 50% of respondents chose those top three terms. Each term comes from a different decade, and “bogus” and “baloney” mean more or less the same thing. But bogus and baloney give a cheeky flair and a sense of outrage to the alternative, which is to say, “that’s absolute nonsense.” Slang usually sounds informal and adds another layer of emotion to what the speaker tries to express.

The respondents said that ‘90s slang was their favorite of all time, except for baby boomers, who all prefer slang from the 1960s. Interestingly, men preferred ‘70s slang and women preferred ‘90s slang. Gen X is the most nostalgic about slang from their childhood, which might account for the popularity of ‘90s and ‘80s slang.

Gen Z is most likely to use old slang as a joke or ironically. They’re also the quickest to flinch over outdated slang, and their slang changes quickly as it’s based on social media trends and memes that feel passe within a few weeks. Gen Z is also the most unfamiliar with older slang, with 80% having had to Google the meaning of a slang word from the past.

Slang captures who we are in cultural moments, whether we’re talking about the pre- or post-Internet age. Slang unites us with phrases that allow us to share humor, rebellion, or a sense of identity. The study shows fascinating patterns of language, too. We can say something is rad, lit, or fire, and they all generally mean the same thing (“cool”), but the people using those words are probably from different generations. People who feel nostalgia for slang are reminded of what they saw as a simpler past, or they yearn for the pop culture that spawned these phrases. Preply’s work is a true celebration of language and culture!