Translating Gen Z lingo just got that much harder.
Couples, friends and siblings are unveiling their own secret languages, quizzing each other on their so-called “friend dictionary” in a hilarious TikTok trend started by the Zoomers, who already confuse onlookers with complex internet lingo.
From dealing with a “nosetta,” or a nosey person, to eating the worst meal of your life that tastes like “dog chow,” TikTokers have crafted their own quirky colloquialisms that have become integrated into their everyday lives, almost like code.
“I feel like it’s kind of a universal experience that most sisters or siblings or best friend duos can relate to,” creator Chelsea Lefkowitz, who posted a series of videos indexing her sister dictionary online, told NBC News.
“It’s kind of instinctual, especially for me and my sister. We have a shared background. It’s easy for us to develop inside jokes and references and we kind of have that unique way of communicating.”
The duo uses phrases like, “I’m in excruciating pain au chocolat” to describe the painful bloat post-indulgence, or “projectile committed” when they made plans they can’t back out of.
Nicole Holliday, an assistant linguistics professor at Pomona College, told NBC News that people who regularly interact will often “come up with shorthand or references to previous events.”
“It’s establishing your closeness or your role in the community,” she added. “I’m in on the joke. You’re in on the joke.”
Meanwhile, one group of friends say they’re “obsessica Simpson” when they “love something so much,” or “depressica Simpson when we’re down in the dumps.” And, instead of simply saying they received a package, couple Jedson Tavernier and Jade Smith, like to loudly announce that they “got a parcel.”
“Everyone has their own shared language and I think that makes you see everyone [as] really human,” Smith told NBC News. “I love that about it. I just think it’s so funny to see that everyone does what we do.”
Experts told Bustle that the evolving language is the hallmark of a good friendship, as TikTok viewers fawn over creators’ tight-knit relationships. In a way, it’s kind of like they “belong to a secret club,” noted neuropsychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez.
“A BFF dictionary is a natural evolution that can span over the years, born out of inside jokes, shared experiences, and a deep familiarity with each other,” licensed clinical social worker Najamah Davis told Bustle.
“For instance, a group of friends embarking on a trip and encountering a humorous mishap might coin a word or phrase to encapsulate that experience, thereby integrating it into their shared language.”
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