Teen talk - the lowdown

Common words to look out for:

POS
POS stands for Parents Over Shoulder. It's an emergency code when using Instant Messenger to alert their friends not to say anything incriminating in case their parents see. Now you know!

What's an emo?
The quick answer is that emos are modern day Goths — emo stands for emotional — same dark clothes, same gloomy outlook, different name.

Am I mouldie?
If your teen has called you a 'mouldie' it's not because you're sprouting green mould — well hopefully not anyway — it's because mouldie is slang for parents.

Mouldie no-nos
So you think you can get on the level with your teen and their friends by talking the talk with them? Think again. There's nothing more embarrassing than parents trying to act like their kids. If you start talking like your teens, or dressing like them for that matter, then it's time to rethink your strategy. They will respect you much more if you act your age, and if you disagree then just picture Edina Monsoon from Absolutely Fabulous or Richard Madeley dressed up as Ali G. Cringe! Nuff said.

Mouldie slang
Why should teens have all the fun, how about inventing some of your own slang for when you're talking to your friends? Here are some to get you started:

• Mankies = teenagers — as in they're a bit pongy and so is their room
• TDMM = teens driving me mad — good for texting or Messenger
• Slavies = as in slave driver; 'my teens are such slavies, they expect me to do everything!'
• Hormies = a hormonal teenager who is moody and unresponsive for no apparent reason

More words to listen out for:

• Allie=Isn't it
• Book=Cool
• Bless=Bye also used like this: 'stay blessed'
• Blood=Friend
• Boyed off=Somebody took the Mickey out of you or completely blanked you
• Blates=Blatently
• Braaap=Great or perfect
• Buff=A person who's hot, sexy
• Butters=Ugly
• CBA=Can't be arsed
• Cool=Hello or bye
• Cringe=Embarrassing
• Dizzy=Are you being serious or are you being stupid?
• Don't get it twisted=Don't get confused
• Dry=Rubbish/boring
• Emo=A modern day goth
• Fo shizzle=For sure
• Innit=A short version of 'isn't it'
• Laters=Bye
• LOL=Laugh out loud
• Minger=Ugly
• Minging=Ugly/nasty/horrible
• Mouldies=Parents
• Nang=Cool
• OMG=Oh My God
• Phat=Great/wicked/cool
• Safe=Thank you, or it can also be used as 'bye'
• She's got a back=She's got a nice bum
• She's fire allie=She's sexy isn't she
• Soz=Sorry
• Try a ting=Trying something
• U get me=Do you understand
• Wa blow=Hello