Abhay Week 5: The Words Between Us

One thing I notice at school is how fast a word can become part of everyone’s vocabulary. A phrase can start as an Instagram reel, show up in a small group chat, and somehow be used by half the people in the hallways the very next morning. Sometimes I get it. Other times, I just stand there and say to myself , “what has gotten into this school this time.” I would have to manually go and figure out what the word even means, and by the time I learn to use it too, some other word gets added to the dictionary. This cycle has become a sort of normality at this point, but who knows what the next word will sound like.


As I got older and ended up eventually getting a phone (not a good idea), I was able to really indulge this lifestyle of getting back from high school, scrolling my feed, and getting to my homework when I “felt like it.” Then one day, I started seeing this random grandpa pop up on my videos every few seconds, and that really made me wonder; why in the world does he keep saying “aw hell na.” Like seriously! Who thought of this? But eventually this singular phrase has probably come out of my mouth several hundred times throughout high school.


At first, slang might seem pointless. Why do we keep coming up with new ways to say things when we already have words that mean the same thing? But I think slang is about more than just vocabulary. It can make people feel like they belong. When your friends understand a phrase or an inside joke, it creates a connection that someone outside the group might not get whatsoever.


An article that I ran across just a few days ago from the American Psychological Association about the psychology of slang explains how slang can help young people express their identities and feel connected to their peers. That makes sense because the way we talk can show what we watch, who we spend time with, and what communities we feel connected to.


I do not think slang is ruining the English language. Instead, I think it shows that language is always changing with the people who use it. The next time a new phrase starts spreading around school, I might pay more attention to where it came from and why everyone suddenly started using it. That is the extraordinary thing about it; even when we do not realize it, we are constantly changing the way we communicate, but I still haven’t found a way to crack my parents slang language that sounds completely different coming from them then it does from our friends. A few words can tell us a lot about the American culture we live in and the people we want to connect with.

Comments

  1. Ellery LiuOctober 28, 2026 at 2:54 PM

    Hello Abhay! I thoroughly enjoyed your blog and your analysis on “slang.” Additionally, I found your image to be humorous and oddly nostalgic, full of childhood bliss and limitless yelling. I love how you described the transition from being clueless about the new slang to getting a phone and beginning to understand slang. Searching up a word that your friend told you is truly a confusing experience, and I can relate on many levels, especially as someone who transitioned from private school to public school relatively late. The change in slang and language was definitely a shock, and it took a while to get used to the new vocabulary.
    I also love how you describe slang as something that can bring a community or group of people together. It made me realize that my everyday vocabulary and lingo is closely tied to the people I surround myself with, and that it helps me define a circle of friends and people I feel comfortable around. Slang truly does go deeper than silly words and shortcuts, but it can connect people as a running inside joke or identifying factor of a group. Thank you for sharing your thoughtful insight about slang, and its contributions to the community around us. Like you mentioned, slang is often overlooked and deemed as “immature,” however, it can mean much more than a silly little word, it can also mean friendship and community.

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  2. Chaitra AOctober 28, 2026 at 3:13 PM

    Hi Abhay! I really enjoyed reading your blog about how fast slang can pass through school and how language seems to constantly evolve within the groups of people that use it. It reminded me of how fast a meme or joke can spread across our whole school and become an inside joke amongst almost everyone.
    It made me reflect on how no matter the vast differences between the kids in our school, there are some phrases, memes, and jokes that we all acknowledge and use in our daily life. I really agree with your point that slang is much more than just vocabulary, that it creates a sense of belonging and can function as an inside joke amongst peers. This central point also really connects to the American Psychological Association reference you made, proving that the way we talk is a direct reflection of the community around us. I agree with you that slang is not necessarily ruining the English language, but rather adding layers onto it. Like dialects and accents, parts of America have different slang terms, phrases, and jokes. However, unlike accents, slang depends not only on location, but age group, and characteristics of a person. As these characteristics connect people, new slang develops. I really enjoyed reading your blog!

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  3. Nidhi SrivatsanOctober 28, 2026 at 9:11 PM

    Abhay, your blog was both entertaining and humorous; I enjoyed reading your interpretation of the various internet slang that has become so familiar to our generation. I can definitely relate to being confused when my parents use slang—it just doesn't sound right when they say it! Your point that slang isn’t just random words but a way for peers and friends to connect was really insightful. I also agree 100% that slang is not ruining the English language. I think we could go so far as to say it is improving it by creating meaningful connections.

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