Have you ever been in a high school hallway and heard someone say something like “nah cuz highkey she clapped” but had no idea what that meant? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. One of the fun things about high school is that there’s not crazy high expectations when it comes to proper grammar and pronunciation because highschoolers get the chance to talk to their friends without having to worry about if they’re even saying real words. It opens up for some pretty unique slang and phrases.
One of the most commonly used slang words that I’ve noticed is “bet.” You would normally use this word to agree to something, to show you understand something said, or to just acknowledge a statement. The slang word “bet” is very commonly used by highschoolers, showing just how quickly new slang words can become a part of people’s everyday vocabulary. Some slang words, like “bet” are also just fun to say. It’s quick, specific, and just a fun word to incorporate into your vocabulary.
What makes highschoolers talk like this? I think it’s just because it’s fun. Plain and simple, talking with made-up words that represent random things and using slang that just your best friend or friends know is really fun.
“My favorite slang word is “cap.” I think I use it a lot, and yeah, it’s just fun to say. I say it all the time,” said sophomore Sean Phillips.
Phillips, along with many others, uses the slang word “cap” on an everyday basis. It’s meant to be another way of saying “that’s not true” but in a more unserious tone.
So why does slang even exist? I think above all else, slang exists for fun. In a way, it’s like a secret second language for close friends or age groups, but in another way, it’s a way for teens to make their words unique to themselves and their personalities. As time goes on though, certain slang words or phrases die out, and the cycle repeats with new words and phrases being implemented into millions of young people’s vocabularies every day.
