Teen Talk: A Translation Dictionary

anchor (v.) - to wait. Sorry, dude, I’ve got to anchor here for my parents. I hope they aren’t picking me up in the minivan.

bluetool (adj.) - person who wears bluetooth all the time (even when not using it). Are you talking to me? You are? Then stop being a bluetool and take your earpiece off. 

marinating (adv.) - hanging out. C’mon over, we’re just marinating with the usual gang and watching a movie.  

multi-slacking (adj.) - slacks at multiple things at the same time. It’s like being a loser is his job. What a multi-slacker.

break your crayons (v.) - to upset somebody. I’m sorry I didn’t go to your party. I hope I didn’t break your crayons or anything.

leave Britney alone (v.) - if people are bugging you, you can tell them this. It essentially means leave me alone. No further explanation necessary.

bragadocious(adj.)– to brag too much. I don't mean to be bragadocious, but I’m the man.

craxy (adj.) - The X is for extra crazy. Did you see that craxy flip she did?

awesomenasity(adj.) - Awesome and more. When he walked in, the awesomenasity factor in the room went up.

Disclaimer: This guide is for parental reference only. Anyone over the age of eighteen caught speaking this way is subject to a full review by their embarrassed children.

While most of these may cause a chuckle, one California teen cautions that often slang terms are more complicated and have several meanings. For example, one word to keep on your radar is the word ‘emo.’ There are people who have certain clothing styles and musical taste who are considered "emo." Some music can be referred to as "emo," and then there’s "emo" that is often synonymous with someone who cuts him- or herself.  

Don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz. And that’s because the moment you think you’ve got these words memorized, they’re out of style. Explains Hollibaugh: “The thing about these words is that they change constantly." Whether it’s one month or one year, these phrases have a shelf-life. “That’s why they identify you with your time,” says Hollibaugh. And many words may be regional, meaning a teen in Boston may have a different word for something than a teen in New Mexico. Some of these phrases may be out of style as you are reading this. She adds, “Their conversations are like games of chess and the rules are not written down, so you just have to be in the know to know them.”

Whether it’s a pocket guide or a book on teen psychology to get you through those challenging years, you can be sure that when you find your teen marinating with his friends or asking you for Kraft singles, he or she is perfectly normal.