We use it every day, often without even noticing! Slang is an integral part of everyday English and is a great way to help your exchange student level up in their language skills. But be sure to clarify with your exchange student that these expressions are most common in informal conversation, not in writing-- or their English teacher might be shook (see #4)!
Slang is unique in all languages because it is constantly changing. The slang that my grandparents used is completely different from the slang my friends and I use today. To keep us all fresh, we focused on 2023’s most common slang.
Without further adieu, here are our Top 10 American Slang Terms to Teach Your Exchange Student (2023 edition!):
1. Boujee
Definition: (adjective) expensive, high-class, fancy, luxurious
Example: The room we got at the Ritz-Carlton was so boujee.
2. Extra
Definition: (adjective) requiring a lot of attention, over the top, dramatic, too much
Example: My mom is so extra when ordering food at restaurants– she always asks for substitutions and changes!!
3. Salty
Definition: (adjective) annoyed or upset, often when there is no reason to be
Example: I’m so salty she didn’t call me.
4. Shook
Definition: (adjective) shocked, surprised
Example: The Oscar winners left me shook!
5. Woke
Definition: (adjective) socially conscious, culturally aware
Example: I’m reading a super woke book right now that my social studies teacher recommended.
6. Cray/Cray Cray
Definition: (adjective) crazy, wild, out of control
Example: Sorry I’m late, traffic this morning was cray cray.
7. Rent-free
Definition: (adverb) to become an obsession, to dominate someone’s thoughts
Example: That song I heard last week has been living rent-free in my head.
8. Slay
Definition: (adjective,verb) to do something really well, amazing, cool, great
Example: Her outfit slayed.
9. Gatekeep
Definition: (verb) to keep something from others
Example: My friend said he found a super cool coffee shop but he’s gatekeeping the name so it doesn’t get too crowded.
10. Tea
Definition: (noun) gossip
Example: Spill the tea, what went down last night?
Share these slang expressions with your exchange student and see what they think! Do they have similar slang in their native language? Are there any slang terms we’re forgetting? Comment below!
