Do you know these 9 American college student slang words?

Communicate better by understanding and using current slang in 2023

Slang is a large part of American culture; it helps us to understand each other. It’s fun, casual and can help us avoid being misunderstood. Even Arizona State University has its own unique words and phrases that help students, faculty and staff understand one another. 

It can also help us follow conversations among groups of people more efficiently. Slang can be totally different among separate groups of people and changes over time. If we understand and can use that group’s own unique language or slang, we will feel like we fit in, or blend in, more with that group.  Having the feeling of belonging is very important to humans and slang helps us achieve that.

Here are some of the top American college slang words and phrases that are used today:

A cap is a lie. “No cap” means I am telling the truth. If someone says that he or she is capping they are telling a lie.

For example: “I don’t believe she bought a new car. I think she’s capping.”

These are snacks. We all know how hungry college students can get, so it’s not surprising that there would be a slang word for food. These are usually light and eaten between meals.

For example: “Let’s get some nibbles before we go to the movies.”

When something is hinky, it seems like something is wrong or not right. Perhaps someone is acting nervous and strange.

For example: “That guy is acting weird and I think something is hinky about him.”
 

Something that is a drip, drippin’, or drippy is very cool, awesome and stylish. It’s usually used for clothing and accessories like shoes, watches, and jewelry.

For example: “Did you see her new dress? She is really drippin’ tonight.” 
 

If you cook something really tasty at home or eat something you really like at a restaurant, you could say it’s bussin’.

For example: “These cookies are bussin’! Could I have another one, please?”
 

Another way of expressing that you like something is by calling it off the hook. If something is super awesome and great, you can use this slang to describe it. It’s common to use this slang for events and parties.

For example: “Last night I went to a show that was off the hook!”
 

When you do a vibe check you see how that person is feeling. If someone is moody and upset, you want to do a vibe check to see what their emotions truly are.

For example: “I gave my best friend a vibe check because I knew she was feeling down. Sadly, she did not pass the vibe check.”
 

If something is described as vanilla, it is plain and uninteresting. This can be used for people and things.

For example: “This shirt is not my style; it’s so plain and vanilla.”

If someone is described as being boujee, they have nice and fancy things. It is used for luxury and wealth.

For example: “My boujee friends just bought a new car and a vacation house on the beach.”

Learning these common expressions and phrases can help you sound more like a fluent English speaker. Just remember that these are very informal expressions, so choose your audience carefully. Have fun using these off-the-hook words and expressions!