Internet slang: We literally, like, can’t even

Social media and the internet can be a very confusing place especially when it comes to internet slang.

Internet slang and abbreviations change so quickly that it’s difficult to keep up so here’s a guide to deciphering what people actually say on Twitter, Instagram, Vine and all the other social networks and web pages out there.

On fleek:

https://twitter.com/Beautifulskin/status/705200300064374790

On fleek comes from a popular Vine where a woman refers to her perfectly shaped eyebrows as ‘on fleek.’ The term is now also used for anything that is on point.

Bae:

Looking for bae 🙊 pic.twitter.com/4wA1AYGjyx

— marshmello (@marshmello) March 2, 2016

Bae is the abbreviation of before anyone else but has also taken on another meaning – an even shorter version of babe because, you know, saying babe is just too much of a tongue twister.

No chill:

Remember when Nicki had no chill at all on American idol 😂 pic.twitter.com/PTZwervMus

— Nicki Minaj News🦄 (@NickiReignsCom) March 2, 2016

No chill for some reason means you do not know how to be calm or rational.

Yaaaas:

four days till pay day, yaaas💸💸

— beth🫶🏼 (@_bethmcmorrow) February 22, 2016

Yaaaas (with as many as as you like) means agreeing or being excited about something.

Slay:

https://twitter.com/VanillaBear1906/status/705327124522074112

Now it would seem like these internet slang words have not yet reached South Africa – they have and they get mixed with our local slang.

Slay means to do something really amazing and subsequently slayer means someone who does amazing things. Seriously, how do they come up with these words?

Ship:

https://twitter.com/sunnymarch1978/status/705296045542998017

You thought you knew this one, right?

Ship is the shortened version of relationship and it means to want two people to be romantically involved with each other. This is usually used for characters in a show, series or anime.

Dead:

https://twitter.com/kimberlyyouhas/status/701855442910052352

When something is incredibly overwhelming or incredibly funny.

I can’t/ I can’t even/ I have lost the ability to even:

I HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO EVEN https://t.co/KQJaTVjiQS

— nee ✦ (@junkofzeart) January 13, 2016

Some people use these slang words and some, well, some have no chill whatsoever:

"Bae" and "On Fleek" need to just die a silent death…

— Chuckoslovakia® 🇺🇸☯️🇺🇦🙃 (@cmason5196) March 2, 2016

https://twitter.com/BoroGhor/status/705133284448145408

https://twitter.com/jgstrickland7/status/705246571785535488

@atommorgan You clearly have no chill. Millennial slang is on fleek, fam.

— Xopher (@xopherfoster) February 29, 2016

@RoyzBeatz lmfaoooo chill don't slay me like that bro!👊🏾✔️ hands on fleek!

— tree6 🏁™ (@PullUpOnTree6) February 21, 2016

https://twitter.com/Parkarikan/status/682665405450567680

Let us know which slang words you use, hate, or don’t understand.

Tweet us @RoxydvHerald or Instagram @rfonteinherald.

Want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us an SMS/ WhatsApp message with your name and cellphone number to 079 413 8726.

Familiarise yourself with our WhatsApp service disclaimer.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 693 3671.

For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Roodepoort Record, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine

Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!