Why linguists are interested: The popularity of -verse is apparent in constructions like Twitterverse and Potterverse (the fictional world of the Harry Potter stories). What it means: Extracted from the word universe, -verse is combined with other terms as a name for a particular realm or environment. Related terms that you’ve probably also started encountering are quiet hiring and quiet firing. Why linguists are interested: At that same recent ADS meeting, members voted quiet quitting as the slang term “most likely to succeed.” That’s a reflection of how strongly the term seems to resonate with people and how quickly it was established as essential vocabulary in the discussion of worker discontent. What it means: Quiet quitting doesn’t refer to literally quitting your job but instead to the practice of reducing the amount of effort you devote to your job, such as by avoiding any tasks not explicitly stated in the job description. In fact, the recent convention of the American Dialect Society (ADS)-whose members include both professionals and amateurs “dedicated to the study of the English language in North America”-culminated with -ussy winning out as the society’s pick for its 2022 word of the year. Linguists keep a close eye on trends like this. To get technical, -ussy is what’s called a combining form, which means it only gets used in combination with other word parts to form new terms. Why linguists are interested: The so-called -ussification of every imaginable word on social media represents an interesting trend in slang formation. Where it comes from: Popular since at least the early 2000s and within the LGBTQ+ community, -ussy was originally used in terms like bussy (“boy pussy”) and mussy (“man pussy”). ![]() On social media, -ussy is also used more generally (and nonsexually) to refer to objects with holes in them (calling a calzone a pizzussy, for example) or to any object or person. What it means: Yes, it’s what you think it is: an ending extracted from the word pussy that gets added to other words like robussy (meaning “robot pussy”) or dragussy (“dragon pussy”). Why linguists are interested: Rizz is thought to be a shortening of charisma, which is notable because, unlike the vast majority of slang terms that are formed by shortening an existing word, it comes from the sound in the middle of the word, not the beginning or the end. Where it comes from: Rizz was popularized by social media personality Kai Cenat, who has used the term since at least 2021 in his dating videos and Twitch streams. It’s typically used in the exact same way as the older slang term game. It is most commonly applied in the context of men pursuing women, but not always. What it means: Rizz is a slang term for skill in charming or seducing a potential romantic partner. It’s a glimpse into a different view of the world when we learn other groups’ slang or technical terms.” ![]() “The internet exposes people to slang and other dialects or words that are sometimes specific to a different group of people and their experiences. It basically means that someone has stopped communicating with them, usually in an abrupt manner.Online slang as a window into communities and cultures While not a good thing, the term doesn’t actually have any supernatural implications. ![]() Resist the urge to bust out the sage even if you hear your teen remark that someone has “ghosted” them. You may also hear the terms “bro” or “sis” being used in much the same manner. It refers to your closest friends or members of your chosen social tribe. It’s actually a term of endearment that’s short for “family.” Photo Courtesy: StockSnap/Pixabayĭon’t let this confuse you, however, because it doesn’t necessarily mean “family” in the traditional biological sense. Who is this “fam” your teen is always so delighted to greet when they answer the phone? Well, rest assured that fam is highly unlikely to be the identity of your kid’s awkwardly named best friend. You might even find some of them slipping into your own vocabulary. Here you’ll find a handy guide to Gen Z slang that will help translate exactly what your favorite kids are attempting to communicate.
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