A complete glossary of all the confusing words the kids won't stop saying.

We need to apologise to all the Boomers, Gen X'ers and Millennials. Just as you're getting the hang of saying 'slay', there are a series of new words.

Such is the Young Person Slang Cycle (YPSC). 

In 2023 we saw the likes of 'rizz', 'cozzie livs' and 'hallucinate' dominate the dictionaries' chosen 'Word Of The Year'. 

But, in 2024, things have taken a decidedly different (and more pessimistic) turn.

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Consider this a full glossary of all the 2024 'Word Of The Year' announcements, as well as an array of other trending slang that will help you talk to the young person in your life, on their level. 

So, let's stop speaking 'skibidi', bring an 'alpha aura' and take our heads out of our 'gyatts'. 

Macquarie Dictionary's 2024 Word Of The Year: Enshittification. 

Basically, it's all just getting a bit shit. Image: Hells Kitchen

If 'cozzie livs' was the vibe check of 2023, then enshittification is the energy for 2024. 

Enshittification refers to the gradual deterioration of a service or product. Usually it is used to refer to something that has gotten worse due to money or greed. 

Coined by Canadian author Cory Doctorow in 2022, the term reflects a pervasive experience in the digital age, where platforms initially attract users with high-quality services, then pivot to exploit them once they achieve dominance.

It's that social media platforms feel like they're 'copy and pasted', that your phone plan is getting more expensive and yet offering less and less, that you've watched the same remade 'older lady falls for young, hot, toy boy' movie across every streaming platform you pay hard-earned money for this year. 

It's the death of original thought, and it's the overwhelming sense that the world is spiralling.

Basically, it's all just getting a bit sh*t. 

The Collins Dictionary's 2024 Word Of The Year: brat.

Did you have a 'brat summer'? Image: Instagram/Charli XCX

Yes, it's the name of Charli XCX's newest album and the summation of her vibe, and it's The Collins Dictionary's chosen nomenclature for this year. 

'Brat' is an unapologetic embrace of confidence, independence and hedonism. The word may have started in music, but it rose to popularity with the social media phrase 'brat summer', where people were embracing their authentic, often messy selves and living it up. 

In terms of social commentary, brat felt like a rejection of the 'clean girl' trend that rose to popularity during Covid, and a return to a fun, colourful life post-pandemic. It's sleeping in your makeup, ditching your boyfriend and going out on the town with the girls, and crying in the ladies' bathroom with someone you just met. 

You would have seen a lot of 'brat summer' Instagram posts where people post unorthodox photo dumps. It's not curated, it's not perfectly posed, but it's finding confidence in it anyway. 

Dictionary.com's 2024 Word Of The Year: Demure.

Jools Lebron explains what 'demure' means on TikTok. Image: TikTok

Despite the popularity of 'brat', 2024 was a world split between two energies. Either you were having a 'brat summer' or a 'demure summer'. 

While brat is about being unapologeticaly yourself, being demure is about being mindful of those around you, and giving your care and time to making sure you're polite. 

Yes, demure was already a word, but according to Dictionary.com its usage skyrocketed in 2024, up 1200 per cent. This is likely due to the social media trend that made it famous.

The trend was started by TikToker Jools Lebron's iconic phrase 'very demure, very mindful'. 

It would be used as such: "See how I don't park outside the lines, very demure, very mindful." Or, "See how that man didn't get up for the pregnant woman on the train, not cutesy, not demure."

Brands all jumped on the trend, which is associated with a cutesy 'coquette' aesthetic (think bows in the hair, pink). It's a rejection of being a Karen, it's an attempt to add 'cool-factor' to having manners, and it is most certainly a glass of champagne in an all-white outfit at a fancy rooftop bar. 

The Oxford Dictionary's 2024 Word Of The Year: Brain rot.

Are you spending hours looking at completely inconsequential content? Image: Getty.

'Brain rot' has featured on several runners-up lists and is the number one pick for Oxford Dictionary.  

We've all heard about 'bed rotting', when you lie in bed all day lazing around in pursuit of well-being. Well, brain rot or 'brain rotting' is a similar concept, except more focused on the concepts you're engaging with. Content that is markedly easy on the mind and not complicated. 

Maybe you're watching your third terribly-good Christmas movie in a row, maybe you've been doom-scrolling someone's relationship drama TikTok series for three hours? There's no judgement here, you're just brain rotting. 

You may also enjoy brain rot reality TV, brain rot Mills and Boon romance novels, and speak about these brain rot subjects openly. Discussing politics? Why would you when The Block's cheating scandal is ongoing. That is the vibe. 

What you might be interested to learn is that 'brain rot' isn't a new phrase, it was actually included in an 1854 novel, Walden by Henry David Thoreau, so really you're just a really literary, learned person if you use this term, right?

What other slang words do you need to know? 

Ok, we're going to do some quickfire definitions to help you understand what on earth your young pals are trying to communicate to you. 

Aura: The vibe or energy someone exudes, often describing a person's personality or presence.

Ate: Excelled or performed exceptionally well, particularly in style or action.

BDE (Big Dick Energy): A confident, self-assured attitude that's neither cocky nor arrogant.

Bussin': Extremely good or tasty, often used for food or an outfit.

Body count: The number of people someone has slept with.

Cap: A lie or falsehood; "no cap" means being truthful.

Caught in 4K: Being caught red-handed, often with irrefutable evidence like a video.

Cooked: That something is bad or unhinged, for example, her story is totally cooked.

Dank: Exceptional or high-quality, often associated with memes.

Delulu: Short for "delusional," describing someone who is overly optimistic or unrealistic.

Delusionship: A one-sided or imagined romantic relationship.

Diva: Someone who is demanding or dramatic, often said when responding like 'Ok, Diva.'

Era: A significant period in one's life or cultural trend, e.g., "in my stressing-about-work era."

Gagged: Shocked or amazed, often in a dramatic or over-the-top way.

Girl Math: Humorous logic women use to rationalize spending, often playfully illogical.

GOAT: An acronym for "Greatest of All Time," describing someone exceptional in their field.

Good soup: An expression of approval or satisfaction, originating from a meme.

Gyat: Typically referring to someone's butt, but can be an exclamation of admiration of physical attractiveness.

Hits different: Feels unique or emotionally impactful compared to other experiences.

Looksmaxxing: Maximizing one's physical appearance through grooming, fitness, or surgery.

Living rent-free: Describes someone or something occupying one's thoughts excessively.

Lore: The backstory or detailed history behind a character, universe, or subject.

Mewing: A technique to improve jawline definition by positioning the tongue against the roof of the mouth.

NPC: "Non-Player Character," often used to describe someone who seems passive or unoriginal.

Ohio: A meme symbolising weirdness or absurdity, often exaggerating stereotypes about the U.S. state i.e. 'Only in Ohio'.

Pick-Me: Someone who seeks validation by putting others down or aligning with opposite-gender stereotypes.

Pookie: A term of endearment, often playful or affectionate. Originating from viral influencer couple Pookie and Jett.

Rizz: Short for charisma, means charm or flirtation skills, particularly in romantic contexts.

Receipts: Proof, often in the form of screenshots or messages, to support an argument.

Romantasy: A blend of romance and fantasy genres, often in books or media.

Roman Empire: A trend reflecting how often men think about historical grandeur and power.

Salty: Annoyed, upset, or bitter about something trivial.

Say less: Acknowledgment that no further explanation is needed; agreement.

Sigma: A good thing, often seen as independent and self-reliant.

Skibidi, Skibidi Toilet: A surreal meme or trend featuring bizarrely edited music and dance videos. If something is skibidi, it's bad.

Sneaky link: A secret or casual romantic/sexual encounter.

Slaps: Exceptional or great, often referring to music.

Unalive: A euphemism for death, murder or suicide, used on social media platforms where those words 'red flag' content moderation.

Yapping: Talking excessively, often unnecessarily.

Yeet: To throw something with force or enthusiasm; also an exclamation of excitement.

Featured image: YouTube/Instagram/TikTok.