Kids these days. I have no idea what they’re talking about. They have their own language, and I don’t get it. Do you? Help! Who can figure out this secret language? Other teens.
So, I turned to some of the best I could find and did some investigative reporting. Next time you see a teen in the wild, or maybe at a family gathering, sprinkle some of these terms into your conversation. They might actually put down their phones and look at you.
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Chopped — This has nothing to do with knives or the cooking competition show on the Food Network. Chopped describes someone with a rough look, or dare I say, ugly. You make zero effort to look presentable or show up with a haircut done with pruning shears instead of barber scissors, you’re chopped. It’s like the exact opposite of ungepatchked.
Ferda — Translation: fer da boyz. Translation of that: for the boys. You’re just shouting out your homies and showing loyalty. Saying something is ferda is like a tribute to your friends. When you find yourself doing something your friends like to do, going to a place you all like to go, it’s ferda. It can also involve doing something stupid, like shot gunning 10 beers and shouting, “Ferda!”
Switching up my day ones — Your day ones are your longtime friends. Your homies. Your crew. If you get rich and famous and ditch your hometown friends for your new rich and famous friends, if you leave for college and drop your high school buddies, you are switching up your day ones. That’s not very ferda. It’s like you don’t even remember that one is silver and the other is gold. Shame on you.
6, 7 — The modern version of 220, 221, whatever it takes (name that movie). Just a silly catchphrase that means nothing and is impossible to understand if you’re over 30, but say it around a teen in the know, and it’s hilarious. Once they laugh, you can follow it up with a well-timed “41.” I don’t know what that one means, either, but you’re sure to get a response.
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Face card — You’ve heard of playing the race card, which is an accusation that one is using their race to get an advantage of some sort. Substitute “race” with “face” and you’ve got the same game going but with a twist. Your face card is your beauty and, by playing that card, you’re using your gorgeousness to gain an advantage. You and I know the drill because our stunning beauty stops people in their tracks daily. Now, where are those advantages?
Low key — The true definition is modest, restrained and not showy. The teen slang low key isn’t too far off. Let’s say you’re meeting someone at Pilates but you’re not really into it. You low key don’t want to go. You low key don’t really care about disappointing your friend so you tell them you’re not feeling great. You low key just lied.
Bro/bruh — Short for brother but doesn’t actually mean male sibling. It could be any human. Probably even a dog. Mom could be a bro. Mom usually is a bro. That’s low key messed up, especially since Mom is your literal day one. 6, 7.
