Do you remember when we were young, and our parents and grandparents didn’t get our fascination with Elvis, The Beach Boys, and bell bottoms? I remember thinking they were incredibly out of touch because what was there to get? Now I am the grandma, and let me tell you – I am at a loss with today’s trends!
Minecraft?
TikTok?
Swifties?
It all sounds Greek to me!
To help you navigate the current trends and make you an even hipper grandma (if such a thing is possible!), I have compiled this handy A to Z dictionary of things your grandkids are into, beginning with:
A is for Among Us
Among Us is a popular murder mystery (of sorts) video game where players work together on a spaceship, but beware, there are impostors among the crew who are out for blood! (Don’t worry – it isn’t as gory as it sounds.)
B is for Billie Eilish
I’m not going to lie: When I first heard of Billie Eilish, I said, “Who is he?” It turns out that Billie Eilish is actually a very talented young woman who has taken the world by storm with her unique voice and style.
C is for Cosplay
No, it isn’t short for cousin play (as I first assumed!), but instead, dressing up as characters from movies, books, or video games. I guess you can also say that cosplay is like Halloween year-round?
D is for Dabbing
Well, color me green and call me a pickle – in today’s lingo, dabbing is not gently blotting something but rather a dance move that involves dropping your head into your bent arm, like you’re sneezing.
E is for eSports
Who says you have to be physically active to play a sport? That is not the case with eSports, AKA competitive video gaming!
F is for Fortnite
Speaking of video gaming, Fortnite is apparently all the rage, as players play 99 others in a battle royale in a fight to be the last (wo)man standing. (Why must video games be so violent?!)
G is for Greta Thunberg
Who? That’s what I said, too, but apparently, she is a young environmentalist many Gen Z-ers follow.
You know those little pound sign phrases you see everywhere on social media? They are no longer the number sign but now a hashtag. #ConfusingButImportant Why do we need hashtags? I am still waiting for that answer!
I is for Instagram
Not to brag, but I actually knew this one! Instagram is a photo-sharing app where our grandkids post pictures of everything from their breakfast to their latest adventures.
J is for JoJo Siwa
Known for her big bows and bright outfits, she’s a singer, dancer, and YouTube personality adored by the younger crowd.
K is for K-pop
It may sound like a refreshing beverage, but K-pop is Korean pop music! (I like to think of it as the Beatles craze but with more synchronized dancing.)
L is for LOL
Texting 101: LOL means ‘Laugh Out Loud,’ not ‘Lots of Love.’ I learned this the semi-hard way, LOL.
M is for Minecraft
I mentioned it in the introduction, so we best revisit it! Minecraft is a game where you build and explore virtual worlds made of blocks, much like digital Legos!
N is for Netflix
Maybe I should have made B for binge-watching since that goes hand-in-hand with Netflix, a streaming service where you can watch a bazillion shows and movies at the click of a button.
O is for Oculus
You can enter another world with Oculus: A virtual reality headset that takes gaming and experience to a whole new level.
P is for Pokemon GO
Growing up, my son LOVED Pokemon, and I cannot help but think he would have gone crazy for this app that lets you catch Pokémon in the real world. (Who am I kidding? He probably still uses it!)
Q is for Quinoa
Quinoa: It’s a nutritious seed that’s hard to pronounce. Remember those PB&Js you used to pack in your kids’ lunch? You may be surprised to learn that this superfood is now a common find in children’s lunches.
R is for Reddit
Reddit is a giant network of communities based on people’s interests. It’s like a giant online forum for just about everything.
S is for Swifties
No, a Swiftie isn’t that waterless mop you see in commercials, but rather a fan of Taylor Swift.
T is for TikTok
Everyone has their opinion on TikTok, a social media app where people share short videos. (Believe me, a quick Google will yield you some interesting results…)
U is for Uber
Uber is an app for ordering a ride, like a taxi, but from your phone. The Jettsons got it wrong: THIS is the future of transportation!
V is for Vibe
The word “mood” is so last generation, as everything is now a vibe. If your grandkids say they’re ‘feeling the vibe’ or ‘it’s all about the vibe,’ they’re talking about a cool, enjoyable atmosphere or feeling.
W is for WhatsApp
WhatsUp with WhatsApp? (Hehe, do you see what I did there?) It’s a messaging app that lets you text, call, and video chat for free. Gone are the days of calling cards, telegrams, and all those old modes of communication.
X is for Xbox
You probably don’t need me to tell you, but an Xbox is a popular gaming system and NOT a literal box.
Y is for YouTube
YouTube is like TV on demand, as it is a platform where you can watch videos on anything from cooking to video games.
Z is for Zoom
Zoom used to mean high speed, but now it refers to a video calling app that has become super popular for virtual meetups. (We can thank Covid for the popularity of this one!)
Conclusion
There you have it: The A to Z of today’s lingo! I know I am missing many terms, but I hope you had as much fun reading this as I did researching and writing it. 🙂 Thanks for being here, my fellow Devoted Grandma!