Decoding Millennial Slang: A Guide for the Perplexed

Navigating the language maze, one ‘lit’ phrase at a time.

Nathan Chen
5 min readAug 30, 2023
Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels

Alright folks, gather ‘round. Today, we’re diving deep into the labyrinth that is millennial slang. You know, those words and phrases that make you feel like you’ve been slapped by the Urban Dictionary. But fear not, this 30-something-year-old is here to lead the way through the thicket of “yaaas queens,” “on fleeks,” and “G.O.A.T.s” that populate the social media landscape.

Let’s Get Real: Why Millennial Slang is More than Just Words

Let’s get one thing straight: language evolves. If you’re stuck in the ’90s calling everything “cool beans,” you’re living in a linguistic time capsule. Millennials didn’t invent the art of slang; they just put their own spicy spin on it. It’s like how my mom took traditional spaghetti and started adding Sriracha to it; same dish, just updated for the times.

“Adulting” is Hard, You Guys

For example, the term adulting. It’s a verb now, my friends. And, oh boy, does it encapsulate the whole existential crisis that comes with doing your taxes or buying toilet paper in bulk. If someone says, “I can’t adult today,” it’s not a cry for help. It’s an SOS signal in the sea of…

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Nathan Chen

I'm Nathan Chen, a queer Asian writer advocating for LGBTQ+ issues, Asian representation, work life & mental health. Let's explore life's complexities together!