181 Slang Words by Decade: From 'Scram' to 'Slaps'

From groovy '60s vibes to the rad '80s and lit '2000s, each era boasts its unique slang words and phrases. Join us as we dive into the dopest slang through the decades, revealing how these colorful terms have shaped conversations and captured the spirit of youth.

Whether you're looking to flex your knowledge or just feel nostalgic, you'll find this linguistic journey totally tubular.

What Is Slang?

Slang words are informal and often unconventional terms used within specific groups or communities to convey meaning in a playful, humorous or emphatic way. Slang adds emphasis and color to communication, making it more engaging and relatable.

These new words and phrases often emerge from real-life interactions and pop culture, with current trends frequently spreading through social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok. As a general rule, slang is not typically appropriate in a professional setting but thrives in casual conversations and online interactions.

Some older generations may view slang as too informal or disrespectful, but slang itself isn't inherently negative. It's all about context. The key is to avoid using slang that is rude or inappropriate.

Origins

The origins of slang are deeply rooted in the diverse and dynamic aspects of human culture and society. Youth culture has always been a significant driver of slang, as young people often seek to distinguish themselves from older generations through innovative and creative language.

Many slang terms originate from subcultures and marginalized communities, reflecting their unique experiences and perspectives. In fact, Black Americans have profoundly influenced the development of American slang, particularly in the realms of music, fashion and social movements. African American Vernacular English (AAVE) has introduced numerous slang terms into mainstream usage, influencing the way people speak globally.

LGBTQ culture has also contributed significantly to the slang lexicon. LGBTQ slang often reflects the community's unique experiences and has been popularized through media, drag culture and social activism.

Now that we've learned a bit about the origin of these unique words, let's dive into a century of the coolest and most iconic slang terms.

1920s Slang Examples

Step back into the Roaring Twenties, a time when jazz was hot, flappers were the cat's meow and the nightlife was as illicit as it was exhilarating. Get ready to scram from the humdrum and dive into the giggle water of the past with these top 20 slang terms that defined the Jazz Age.

1. Bee's knees: An outstanding person or thing

2. Blotto: Extremely drunk

3. Cat's meow: Something splendid or stylish

4. Dapper: Neat and stylish in dress and appearance

5. Doll: An attractive woman

6. Ducky: Charming or delightful

7. Gams: Legs, especially a woman's legs

8. Giggle water: Alcoholic beverage

9. Heebie-jeebies: The feeling of anxiety or fear

10. Hooch: Illicit liquor

11. Jake: Okay or fine

12. Keen: Attractive or appealing

13. Moll: A gangster's girlfriend

14. Petting party: A social gathering for kissing and light making out

15. Scram: Leave immediately

16. Speakeasy: An illicit bar or nightclub selling alcoholic beverages during Prohibition

17. Whoopee: To have a good time or celebrate boisterously

1930s Slang Examples

The 1930s were an era defined by the grit and resilience of a nation grappling with the Great Depression. Amid the economic hardships, people found solace in swing music, Hollywood's Golden Age and radio shows that provided an escape from everyday struggles. The slang of the 1930s reflects the spirit of the times, full of creativity, humor and a touch of defiance.

1. All wet: Completely wrong

2. Big house: Prison

3. Bumps: Whispers or rumors

4. Cactus: Dead or finished

5. Cat: A cool person, often a jazz enthusiast

6. Cheesed off: Annoyed or angry

7. Crumb: A despicable person

8. Darb: Something or someone wonderful

9. Dish: An attractive woman

10. G-man: FBI agent

11. Hard-boiled: Tough or unemotional

12. Hooey: Nonsense

13. Moxie: Courage or nerve

14. Patsy: A scapegoat or someone who is easily duped

15. Ritzy: Elegant or fancy

16. Socko: Impressive or powerful

17. Yegg: A safecracker or burglar

1940s Slang Examples

The 1940s were an era forged by the trials of World War II and ignited by the hopeful dawn of the post-war boom. This decade was a melting pot of resilience and innovation, where slang terms bubbled up from the battlefields, glittered under Hollywood's spotlights and peppered everyday conversations.

1. A-1: Excellent or first-class

2. Applesauce: Nonsense or flattery

3. Beat feet: To leave quickly

4. Big cheese: An important person

5. Blockbuster: A huge success, originally a large bomb used in the war

6. Bombshell: An extremely attractive woman

7. Bum rap: A false accusation

8. Chicken: Cowardly

9. Cool: Stylish, sophisticated and composed, specifically derived from jazz culture

10. Crummy: Bad or of poor quality

11. Ducky: Great or fine

12. Flip your wig: To lose control

13. Gobbledygook: Language that is meaningless or hard to understand

14. Jive: Popular slang or talk related to jazz culture

15. Killer-diller: Excellent or impressive

16. Lush: A habitual consumer of alcohol

17. Pad: A place to live

18. Peepers: Eyes

19. Slick: Smooth or impressive

20. Snap your cap: To lose your temper

1950s Slang Examples

The 1950s saw a post-war world settling into a new era of prosperity and cultural shifts. Rock 'n' roll music, drive-in movies and the rise of the suburban lifestyle defined this decade. The language of the 1950s reflects the optimism and new cultural norms that emerged during this time.

1. Ankle-biter: A small child

2. Backseat bingo: Making out in a car

3. Cruisin' for a bruisin': Looking for trouble

4. Daddy-O: A term of address, similar to "man" or "dude"

5. Decked out: Dressed up

6. Dig: To understand or appreciate something

7. Dullsville: A boring or dull place

8. Hip: Cool or stylish

9. Hopped up: Under the influence of drugs

10. Knuckle sandwich: A punch in the face

11. Made in the shade: Successful or assured of success

12. Necking: Kissing and making out

13. Pad: Someone's house or apartment

14. Threads: Clothes

1960s Slang Examples

The 1960s were a time of profound social change, political upheaval and cultural revolution. From the Civil Rights Movement to the Summer of Love, this decade was all about challenging the status quo and exploring new frontiers. The slang of the 1960s reflects the rebellious and innovative spirit of the era.

1. Bogart: To hog something, usually a joint

2. Bread: Money

3. Far out: Amazing or cool

4. Fuzz: The police

5. Groovy: Cool or fantastic

6. Hang loose: Relax and take it easy

7. Hippie: A person of the counterculture, embracing peace and love

8. Jazzed: Excited or thrilled

9. Lay it on me: Tell me or give me the details

10. Mellow: Relaxed and calm

11. Outta sight: Excellent or impressive

12. Peace out: Goodbye

13. Righteous: Excellent or genuine

14. Split: To leave

15. Trip: A drug-induced experience or a strange situation

1970s Slang Examples

The 1970s were marked by disco, bell-bottoms and a laid-back attitude that permeated the culture. This decade saw the continuation of the counterculture movement and the emergence of new musical genres and styles.

1. Boogie: To dance

2. Bummer: A disappointment or bad experience

3. Burnout: Someone who is tired or lacks motivation, often due to drug use

4. Catch you on the flip side: See you later

5. Chill: To relax

6. Crash: To sleep or stay somewhere temporarily

7. Decked out: Dressed up or well-dressed

8. Dynamite: Great or awesome; popularized by the show "Good Times"

9. Foxy: Attractive, usually referring to women

10. Funky: Stylish or cool in an unconventional way

11. Groovy: Cool or fantastic

12. Outta sight: Excellent or impressive; widely used in the late 1960s and 1970s

13. Psyched: Excited or enthusiastic

14. Right on: In agreement or "exactly"

15. Threads: Clothes

16. Veg out: To relax and do nothing

1980s Slang Examples

The 1980s were a decade of excess, marked by bold fashion, blockbuster movies and the rise of video games and personal computers. The slang of the '80s reflects the vibrant and flashy culture of the time, filled with new technology and trends.

1. Airhead: A silly or foolish person

2. Awesome: Excellent or amazing

3. Bad: Good or impressive

4. Bogus: Fake or not cool

5. Bodacious: Excellent, attractive or remarkable

6. Cowabunga: An exclamation of excitement

7. Dweeb: A socially awkward person

8. Gnarly: Cool or excellent, sometimes also means something challenging

9. Like: Used frequently in speech to emphasize or fill gaps

10. Mallrat: A person who spends a lot of time at the mall

11. Rad: Short for radical, meaning cool or awesome

12. Stoked: Excited or thrilled

13. Take a chill pill: Calm down

14. Totally: Absolutely or completely

1990s Slang Examples

The 1990s saw the rise of the internet, grunge music and a more laid-back approach to life. This decade brought a mix of new technology and nostalgia for simpler times, reflected in the slang of the era.

1. All that and a bag of chips: Excellent; the best

2. As if!: No way or not a chance

3. Bling: Flashy jewelry or accessories

4. Boo-ya: An exclamation of triumph or excitement

5. Da bomb: Excellent or the best

6. Dope: Cool or awesome

7. Fly: Cool or stylish

8. Fresh: New and cool

9. Get jiggy: To dance or get into the groove

10. Homey: A close friend

11. Kickin': Great or excellent

12. My bad: My mistake or fault

13. No duh: Obviously or no kidding

14. Not!: Used to negate a previous statement

15. Phat: Excellent or stylish

16. Props: Respect or credit

17. Scrub: A guy who is unsuccessful or undesirable

18. Sike: Used to indicate that one was joking or not serious

19. Tight: Excellent or cool

20. Wassup: What’s up? What’s going on?

2000s Slang Examples

The 2000s were defined by the explosion of the internet, reality TV and the first social media platform. This decade saw rapid changes in technology and culture, with slang evolving to match the fast-paced world.

1. BFF: Best friend forever

2. Bootylicious: Sexually attractive, popularized by Destiny’s Child song in 2001

3. Bromance: A close friendship between two men

4. Buff: Muscular or in good physical shape

5. Chillax: Chill and relax combined

6. Deets: Details

7. Fanboy/fangirl: An enthusiastic fan, often to an obsessive degree

8. Fo shizzle: For sure, popularized by Snoop Dogg in the early 2000s

9. Hella: Very or a lot

10. Holla: To call or shout out to someone

11. Home skillet: A close friend

12. Janky: Of poor quality or unreliable

13. Newbie: A newcomer; someone who is inexperienced

14. NSFW: Not safe for work (content that is inappropriate for viewing at work)

15. Peeps: Friends; people

16. Pwned: Completely dominated or defeated (originated in gaming culture in the early 2000s)

17. Rents: Parents

18. Salty: Bitter or upset

2010s Slang Examples

The 2010s were a decade of social media dominance, meme culture and a growing awareness of social and political issues. The slang of the 2010s reflects the influence of internet culture and the rapid spread of new ideas and expressions.

1. Adulting: Acting like a responsible adult

2. Bae: Romantic partner; short for “babe"

3. Boujee: High-class or luxurious; sometimes spelled "bougie," originating from "bourgeoisie"

4. Cancel: To reject or boycott someone or something, often used in the context of "cancel culture"

5. Extra: Over the top or excessive

6. Fleek (or "on fleek"): Perfectly stylish

7. Ghost: To suddenly cut off all communication

8. High key: Openly or obviously

9. Lit: Fantastic

10. Low key: Subtly or secretly

11. Mood: A relatable feeling or situation

12. Receipts: Proof or evidence

13. Savage: Bold or ruthless

14. Shook: Shocked or scared

15. Slay: To do something exceptionally well

16. Throw shade: To insult or criticize

2020s Slang Examples

The 2020s have been marked by global challenges, technological advancements and a heightened awareness of social issues. Gen Z slang in this decade continues to evolve rapidly, influenced by internet culture, social media and the ongoing changes in society.

1. Bet: Okay or yes, often used to express agreement or confirmation

2. Cap: Lie or falsehood (often used with "no cap" to mean "no lie" or "for real")

3. Cheugy: Out of date or trying too hard, often used to describe trends that are no longer in style, typically associated with millennial culture

4. Drip: Stylish or fashionable, particularly in reference to clothing and overall appearance

5. Extra: Over-the-top or excessive behavior

6. Green flag: A sign of approval or something positive, often used in dating to indicate a good quality or characteristic in a person; contrast with a red flag, or a warning that one should avoid

7. Hits different: Feels unique or particularly significant, often used to describe an emotional reaction

8. No cap: No lie or for real; used to emphasize the truth of a statement

9. Quarantine and chill: Staying in and relaxing during lockdown, similar to the phrase "Netflix and chill"

10. Rona: Short for "coronavirus" or COVID-19

11. Slaps: Describes something as excellent or enjoyable, particularly music

12. Tea: Gossip or news, often used as "spill the tea" to mean "sharing gossip"

13. Vibe check: Assessing someone's mood or the atmosphere of a situation

14. Yeet: An exclamation of excitement, approval or surprise, or to throw something forcefully

The Greatest Slang Word of All Time

The "greatest" slang word is subjective and can vary depending on personal preferences, cultural context and the time period. However, one highly influential slang word that has had a significant impact on language and culture is "cool."

"Cool" has been used for decades to describe something fashionable, impressive or socially acceptable. It originated in the early 20th century and gained widespread popularity in the 1940s and 1950s through jazz culture and the influence of Black Americans.

The term has remained relevant and adaptable, consistently used across generations to convey approval or admiration.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

Lots More Information

Related Articles

• 5 Fabulous Fads From the 1950s

• 8 Groovy Fads of the 1960s

• 48 Commonly Misspelled Words

• 11 Memorable Epitaphs

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Helen Davies, Marjorie Dorfman, Mary Fons, Deborah Hawkins, Martin Hintz, Linnea Lundgren, David Priess, Julia Clark Robinson, Paul Seaburn, Heidi Stevens, and Steve Theunissen

Original article: 181 Slang Words by Decade: From 'Scram' to 'Slaps'

Copyright © 2024 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company