Lost in Translation: 98% Of Parents Struggle To Decode 2023 Slang, ‘Sus’ And ‘Bet’ Among Top Confusions

Preply's list of most commonly used slang terms of 2023 has parents stumped, with only 2% of those surveyed knowing them all.

Parents, beware. The most common slang words of 2023 are stumping almost every parent, as a new survey reports that only 2% can keep up with every term listed.

The survey by Preply sought out 682 parents to see what slang their children of all ages say the most. This staggering 2% statistic is concerning, given that half of the participants shared that they try to keep up with the current lingo to “better connect” with their older kids.

Of the words heard by parents of teens across the United States, words like “sus” or “bet”‘ “were most often heard in their children’s everyday speech. The former meaning “giving the impression that something is questionable or dishonest,” seemingly derived as a shorter way to say “suspicious,” while “bet”‘ is defined as an expression signaling agreement. Both terms were used by over 62% and 59% of teens, respectively.

As for parents’ comprehension of the slang their kids commonly use, older terms such as “salty” or “bougie” are most known by the older generation, with 70% and 67% of parents grasping the concepts. However, for more ominous terms, such as “cheugy” and “pushin P,” a vast majority of adults have no clue. Regarding “cheugy,” the word most often means something is now corny or evidence of someone trying too hard to be cool.

However, “pushin P” has become a popular phrase due to its relevance as a song released in 2022 by rappers Young Thug and Gunna, as the term refers to the code they live by to always keep it “player” or, in other words, real.

Although most parents don’t having all the popular words down, many have incorporated some easier-to-grasp words into their own vocabulary, as Americans across generations have adopted some newly made words into their daily conversations. Despite this, as teens develop more ways to engage with one another, parents will continue the task of figuring the meanings of new words they conjure up.