29 Middle School Slang Words Parents Should Know

When it comes to middle school slang, the first thing that comes to mind is Timothée Chalamet’s hilarious skit on SNL. And while kids today aren’t exactly that bad, some of the phrases they’re using are… confusing, to say the least. In a TikTok video, Mr. Lindsay, a middle school SPED teacher, shares all the words he’s heard in just one week. Though you’ve probably heard a few of them, most are going to require translation.

After all, as Mr. Lindsay points out, “If we don’t know what they’re saying, how do we know if they’re being inappropriate or not?” From “riz” to “left no crumbs,” here’s a breakdown of common middle school slang words parents should know. (Note: A number of these terms have been adopted from African-American Vernacular English.)

Related: There’s a Biological Reason Your Teen Does Dumb Things

On God: A way of saying someone is telling the truth, a version of “I swear to God.”

She ate: Describing someone who looked amazing or did something perfectly.

Left no crumbs: A shortened version of “ate and left no crumbs,” meaning someone did something so well they took all the talent or skills for themselves and left none for anyone else.

Riz: Romantic appeal or charm/charisma. Being a smooth talker, having that “something special,” willing to put oneself out there.

GYAT: A shortened version of Godd*&*, typically used when referring to someone with a curvy backside. You might even hear something like “level 1 GYAT” or “level 10 GYAT.”

Fanum Tax: This word originated with a Twitch streamer who would jokingly eat parts of his friend’s meals. According to this YouTube video, Fanum himself claims it means “feed your friends.”

Cap: Lying for no reason. “Bruh, why you capping? I know you’re grounded from your phone.”

Bet: Kids use this term for a few different meanings, but the most common use is as “okay” or “agreed.” It also is a way of confirming a true statement.

Bruh: While this term stems from the word “brother” or “bro,” nowadays, it can be used for just about anything: to say hello, to convey disappointment, excitement, boredom, or whatever.

Gassing you up: To inflate a person’s ego, give them props and compliments, or lift them up when they feel down.

It’s giving: This is used to convey a similarity to a person or thing or even an era. For example, “Her outfit is giving ’90s.” It can also be shortened to convey a positive vibe. “It’s giving,” meaning you like it.

For real for real: Used to emphasize complete honesty. “For real for real, I aced that test.”

This goes dummy hard: A term often heard on TikTok that’s used to express admiration for something or someone exceptionally awesome. If you hear your kid say, “He went dummy hard on the field,” it means the player had a fantastic game.

Simping: From the word “simp, which has been shortened from “simpleton.” It refers to a boy who is so into a girl they can’t do anything but think about them. Someone who is “simping” on someone else will do almost anything for that person. For example, Kid A says, “I can’t wait to leave class, find Annie, and see what she’s doing.” Kid B says, “You’re simping,’ bro.” Usually has a negative connotation.

You’re not him: You aren’t that guy, and you’ll never be that guy.

Yeet: To throw something fast and hard, preferably screaming “Yeet” while doing so. It’s typically used when throwing something forcefully that you don’t care about.

Snatched: Popularized by the LGBTQ+ community, it takes the place of “perfection” or “on point.” For example: Your makeup is snatched.

Pick-me energy: Comes from the term “pick-me girl,” a person who does almost anything for male validation, including changing styles, interests, and hobbies to be accepted. It has turned into an insult, not unlike “simp,” and is almost always used negatively.

Slay: First popularized among the Black LBGTQ+ communities in the ’80s and ’90s, this term describes incredible fashion, music, and dance performances; it has expanded to mean “amazing job” for almost anything, similar to the term “killed it.” “Yes, girl, slay!”

Dead a**: A Gen Z and Gen Alpha way of saying “in all seriousness.”

Drippy: Used to express something cool or awesome, especially regarding fashion and clothes. It can be used to emphasize that a person has so much swag.

Bussin: Something is delicious. “My mom’s chicken casserole is so bussin.”

Sigma: This middle school slang word is a way of telling someone they’re so cool. This person has all the rizz. Sigma is somewhat of a replacement for the term Alpha, so, if someone tells you that you’re not a Sigma, it means you’re not him, you’re not a baddie, you’re not cool. While usually used jokingly, it’s also a serious compliment.

Aura Points: Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids use this term to track their “coolness” level. So, let’s say you don’t greet your friend. You lose 100 aura points. Maybe you got someone’s phone number or were invited to a pool party, you gain 1500 aura points. Ultimately, it’s just a lighthearted way to quantify your cool and kids aren’t taking it too seriously.

4+4: We can’t help but give points for creativity with this term, which evolved from the middle school slang word “ate (see above definition). 4+4=8, eight equals “ate.” See what they did there?

Utah Fit Check: The term “fit check” isn’t new (a video showing off your OOTD), but the newer version of the term sprang to popularity after a TikTok video of a kid from Utah doing a fit check and adding a jump and a twirl went viral. Kids started making their own versions, usually set to the song “Harness Your Hopes” by Pavement.

Mewing: More a gesture, this stems from the action of “mewing,” an exercise that allegedly helps you define your jawline or get rid of a double chin. Lindsay explains, “When you’re mewing, you can’t talk because you have your tongue on the roof of your mouth, and you’re swallowing. Kids will put a finger to their lips like they’re shushing someone, then run their finger along their jawline, which, according to Lindsay, is a sign the kid doesn’t want to answer your question. Lovely.

Safe to say, middle school slang has changed drastically from when we were roaming the halls. But hey, now that you’re more familiar with these terms, you might be able to work them into conversation with your big kid. Whether that makes you cool or a total dork remains to be seen.