Page 95 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 6 | August - September 2024

Buckle up, as we decode the vibrant, ever-changing world of internet-inspired
slang, highlighting the kitschy creativity of these generations.

Ate (verb) GOAT (noun/adjective) Pookie (noun)
A colloquial expression used to An acronym for ‘Greatest-Of-All- An endearing term for someone you
convey admiration and praise for Time.’ love.
someone who has done something
impressive. E.g. “I know Ranveer Singh is eating E.g. “Hey pookie, wanna go for a lunch
it up right now, but can we agree that date at EmSphere?”
E.g. “Girl, can we talk about the Shah Rukh Khan is the GOAT?”
Ambani pre-wedding party? Rihanna Rizzler (noun)
ate on that stage.” Gyat (interjection) A suave person who is proficient
A permutation of the term “god in romancing, from the word ‘rizz,’
Aura (noun) damn!” which in turn is short for charisma.
A quantification of someone’s ‘cool’
factor. E.g. “I don’t know about you guys, but E.g. “I didn’t anticipate Dev to be so
that masala dosa had me like Gyat!” charming. He’s got some unexpected
E.g. “I don’t know how my parents will rizz.”
feel about me not joining the family Mew (verb)
business. That’s negative aura for sure.” Named after orthodontists Mike Sigma (noun)
and John Mew, it is a beauty trend A pejorative term for a highly
Beta (noun) involving a specific tongue position, successful and independent person.
Not to be confused with the Hindi believed to enhance jawline
word beta (child), the term is a definition. The term is also used to E.g. “Son, I know we wanted you to be
pejorative self-identifier, derived from describe someone attempting to look a doctor, but now that you’ve won your
the ethological designation for beta good. first Oscar for directing, it’s clear you’ve
animals, describing someone who been a sigma all along.”
prefers others to be in charge and may E.g. “Your jawline looks so defined, beta.
be shy or lack confidence. Have you been mewing in your sleep?” Skibidi (adjective)
Originally derived from the popular
E.g. “Went on a blind date with this Mog (verb) online series Skibidi Toilet, which
guy named Rahul. He didn’t even offer An acronym for ‘Man-Of-God,’ often narrates the adventures of sinister
to get the check… ugh, what a beta!” used to indicate the act of looking toilet people in their ongoing conflict
better than someone else. with digitally-altered men, the term
Chad (adjective) evolved into an adjective used to
A pejorative term for young, E.g. “Ugh! I was trying to chat up Disha describe things negatively.
upper-class, urban males. outside, but was totally mogged by this
guy who drove in with a Porsche.” E.g. “I’ve been feeling like the energy in
E.g. “I’m looking for a guy in finance. my life is skibidi. Do you think someone
Anyone know where all the Chads hang Ohio (adjective) is giving me nazar?”
out?” Originating from people’s reactions
to unusual events in the state of Ohio Sus (adjective)
Delulu (adjective) in the US, where they would often A shortened version of the word
A permutation of the word exclaim, “only in Ohio!” The name ‘suspicious’.
‘delusional.’ ‘Ohio’ eventually became synonymous
with terms like weird, off-the-wall, or E.g. “Son, you’ve been coming home
E.g. “Danced with this girl last Friday cringy. late almost every night for the past
at Bollywood night. I think she’s totally month. It’s beginning to feel sus. Do
gonna DM me, but who knows I might E.g. “I don’t know dad, that office was you have a girlfriend?”
just be delulu.” totally Ohio. Something was off, but I
can’t tell what.” Yappanese (adjective)
Fanum tax (verb)
First coined by American streamer Opp (noun) A term used to describe the act of being
Fanum, this internet slang term refers A permutation of the word ‘opponent’. a chatterbox.
to the act of stealing food from friends. It is often used to refer to someone
perceived as an adversary. E.g. “Beta, I paid so much for your Thai
E.g. “Every time Malika brings her lessons. But all you seem to be fluent
mum’s food into the office, she knows E.g. “I just heard they might be in is Yappanese.”
I’m gonna Fanum tax her.” considering Priya for the promotion as
well. I guess she’s my opp now.”