10 New English Slang Words You Need to Know

Slang words have become part of our everyday life, whether we realize them or not. You may have heard a few of them over the past few years, and each year they grow and get even more creative.

Every part of the world has its forms of slang and funny ways to express themselves through the use of slang.

English is a very popular language and with its many regions and dialects, there is a lot of slang that you may come across.

Before we begin with 10 new English slang words to know, let's dive into what slang is.

What Is Slang?

The term "Slang" often called "informal words" is a collection of words or phrases that belong to a specific kind of region or dialect. These can be very creative that often change throughout the years and new ones are created with new generations.

1. Ghosted

To be ghosted means to have someone abruptly cut all kinds of communication with you, without any explanation or warning.

This could mean leaving someone’s text messages left on "read" or going on a date and never speaking to them again. 

"Ghosted" is mostly used in romantic relationships, but it can be used in any situation where contact with someone abruptly stops.

2. Low-key/Lowkey

Meaning either quiet, relaxed, or plain.

"The party was pretty chill this weekend".

If spelled "lowkey" this is used to describe someone’s thoughts, feelings, and/or desires, sort of like a secret, "I’m low-key obsessed with Harry Styles".

3. Salty

Meaning: angry, irritated, or upset.

Most often used in games as a result of losing and not taking it well. 

Can be used in many other everyday things, like "He is salty because his parents took his car away".

4. Iykyk (If you know, you know)

This is a short way to say the phrase "if you know, you know" and can be used for a lot of different things. You can use it for an inside joke, or to reference something only a few people may know or understand. 

Often seen with a hashtag (#iykyk) on social media, for example, "This trip to London turned out crazier than expected #iykyk". 

5. Slay

Meaning: to do something well.

Although the original meaning of "slay" means to - "kill someone/something violently" since social media, the word has a whole new meaning. 

You can use slay when someone did a good job on something, or when talking about fashion, and many other things.

"Beyoncé’s new album slayed!"

6. All the feels

Meaning: Overwhelmed with emotions

Usually used in music, All the feels are a phrase to describe a particular song that makes you feel good or gives you good vibes.

"This song gives me all the feels"

7. Devo 

Meaning: Devastated, or feeling sad and/or disappointed

You can use this in your everyday situations where things may not have gone to plan, or something happened unexpectedly.

"I’m so devo that he broke up with me"

8. Rent-free

Meaning: can't stop thinking about/or obsessing over something or someone

Rent-free in non-slang terms means that someone "is not paying rent" and is living "rent-free". In social media and slang terms, it means that someone is obsessing over something or someone.

"I don’t know what I’m feeling, but I know for sure that in my mind they are living rent-free"

9. Sus

Meaning: Suspicious

This is a short way to say suspicious and means that if a person starts to act weird around somebody or moves in a way to hide something.

Things you may find on the internet may also be "sus", a link that someone on Facebook sends you for example, or a product you find online.

"He looks sus, should we leave?"

10. ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

A shortened form of, "In case you missed it". Mostly used or seen online and is a way to get your attention or direct you towards something that they want you to see, or that may be interesting for you.

You may see ICYMI in a lot of promotional emails - "ICYMI 35% off Winter Jackets, Ends tomorrow!"

Conclusion

We hope you found some new English slang words that you can use every day. Keeping up with slang words and phrases can be fun and another way to stay in touch with youth. 

You can always find new slang words through movies, TV shows, and social media, but do keep in mind slang can change and evolve.