Walking in my house with my best friend Alyssa following, we can’t help but discuss the ratchet girl that we saw in the hallway or the salty look on her face. My dad looks up, obviously confused again. I always catch myself explaining the meaning of “ratchet” or “thirsty” to my parents and end up leaving them more confused than they were before. Sometimes I even hear a parent completely misusing the term “hold it down.” These types of situations are common with my parents and it got me to thinking. Most of the words we use now really make up our generation.

All of my dad’s stories from his high school days that consisted of words I don’t understand either. “That’s fly”, “true dat” or even “punk” are terms I wouldn’t dare use. These phrases are often brought up at family get-togethers and I always make fun of them for using words like “roguish” which now means “ratchet”.

Now, we all deny using “yolo,” even though most of us have said it at least once thanks to Drake. These words are dumb and sometimes don’t even relate to the actual meaning. Since when does “salty” refer to being mad? Yet, these sayings make our generation. Just as the 20s is known for “bees knees” or from the 80s “I’m stylin’ and profilin”, we will be known for “turn up”.

Even though phrases like “swag”, “or nah” and “beef” may seem dumb, they are what really make our generation distinct. Before we know it, we will be the old crowd and be clueless to the newer generation’s slang. Let’s give in to the trend and use a slang word or two every once in awhile. So we can laugh when we remember all the dumb things we used to say in high school. Are you down or nah?