By Lucy Thao & Evan Villar, Clarion Website Managers
This year, and every year, slang continues to change, evolve, and be used in different contexts. It’s a reflection of how we shape trends and how culture shifts within society, which helps us connect as a community. Whether it’s playful abbreviations or internet-driven catchphrases, we continue to express ourselves through new terms.
This year, there have been a lot of new terms made -- some can be cringe and some can be used on a day-to-day basis. Here are the top five slang words of 2024, according to our research.
Abbreviation of Greatest of All Time. Refers to somebody who has performed better than anyone else at something. Mainly used in sports but has grown to branch out and be more flexible in other instances.
Example: People who are famously known for their achievements such as championship sports figures.
Sentence: “Did you see that save he did in the game? That’s why he’s my GOAT!”
Where did G.O.A.T come from? The term, G.O.A.T came from the famous boxer, Muhammad Ali (1942-2016), and his nickname, “The Greatest.” His wife later turned that nickname into “G.O.A.T.” for publicity in the 1990s.
By 2000, the term was popularized and even became popular enough to land in a rap scene that LL Cool J named his album, “G.O.A.T.”
Since then, many athletes and even artists have used the acronym for themselves along with their fans crowning them that title. To this day, the term is still being used and given to those such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, etc., as a title of being exceptional, given by journalists and fans alike.
A term used to express mindfulness and modesty.
Example: If someone is waiting patiently in line, they are very demure and very mindful.
Sentence: “Notice how I dress nicely for a formal event, very demure, very mindful."
Joons Lebron, a TikTok creator with over 2 million followers, created the trend and many other creators and influencers soon hopped on the trend. The trend was very well-known within the TikTok community and soon reached other media such as Instagram. Traditionally, the term is mainly used to describe a woman being quiet, reserved, and respectful by being mindful of others, but Lebron redefines the term as subtle elegance.
Slang for delusional. It was used often on social media to describe a person who holds unrealistic beliefs or fantasies about celebrities. However, anything delusional works.
Example: If someone thinks they have a chance with doing something or having a celebrity notice them then they are delulu, as it likely would not happen.
Sentence: “Why do you think you have a chance with him? You’re so delulu.”
The term “Delulu,” originated back in the 2010s within the K-Pop fan community. It was originally used as a derogatory term to mock fans who have unrealistic expectations of being involved with a favorite celebrity of theirs (also known as a parasocial relationship).
As the term spread and reached TikTok during 2023, it become more associated with a mindset that could result in positive outcomes. It’s common to see it being described as unrelenting confidence, healthy delusion, and a tongue-in-cheek way to say, “I know I’m being ridiculous, but I don’t care.”
To make progress and do something really well.
Example: If someone is doing really well on an idea or activity, then they are cooking.
Sentence: “Wait, let me cook on this homework.”
The term “Cooking” originated with California rapper Lil B in 2010 and became popular over time especially in recent years. Lil B often used the phrase to mean to let someone do something they are good at, such as making rap music. The term branches from common phrases such as, “now you’re cooking.”
Words over the years have a common outcome of being improved and more flexible when used in daily life. Some say it’s a reference to the well known show Breaking Bad.
You are charming and have a skill of attracting people (an older term being game).
Example: Someone who was able to charm another is said to have rizz.
Sentence: “They probably like me -- I literally have rizz.”
The word “Rizz,” originated as an abbreviation of the word charisma, and comes from street slang in Baltimore, MD. The term was first coined by Kai Cenat, a YouTuber and Twitch Streamer, and his peers, who used it to describe each other’s ability to ‘woo’ women. With its quick buildup to popularity, it became Oxford University Press's Word of the Year in 2023. Oxford also believes the word is derived from the middle of charisma, similar to how fridge comes from “refrigerator.”
As we head into 2025, one thing will always be clear: the way we communicate will always change. Stay tuned – maybe next year’s slang will also surprise us.
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