Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Do you want to know how to use slang in your writing, songwriting, and poems? Do you want to know how to keep your language current? Slang can be powerful for connecting with a particular generation. Also, it can help you keep your language current (i.e., by using Gen Z slang). However, it does have a potential downside. Keep reading How to Use Lit Slang in Songwriting to learn what it is and how it works.
How to Use Lit Slang in Songwriting: Definition
What is slang?
- They are words used by a generation to create a special sub-language that shows that you are part of the in-crowd.
- Because of this, they become tied to particular generations in the sense that each age group has its own special language.
- The downside is that old expressions can sound quaint and outdated.
Slang isn’t something new.
‘… though we do have to work, we make fun for ourselves, and are a pretty jolly set, as Jo would say.’
‘Jo does use such slang words!’ observed Amy, with a reproving look at the long figure stretched on the rug.
What happens to old terms?
- A word that was slang can find a place among everyday language – just like jolly, which no one would consider to be slang today.
- The word can start to sound dated, like the word groovy in the song The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).
- The word can still be used, but it becomes cliche. For example, awesome is still used today, but many sources on the web feel that it has become overused.
Video: Dated Language
How to Use Lit Slang in Songwriting: What Are the Rules for Using It?
Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:
- Don’t overuse it. Less is more.
- Contemporary expressions make your writing sound current and fashionable. However, if you choose to use them, you take the chance that your work will quickly become dated.
- Know who you’re writing for – age group, location, and demographic do make a difference.
- Make sure the language you use is appropriate for the character you’re creating: a Baby Boomer businessman won’t sound like a Gen Z teenager.
- To keep your language current, visit social media sites and use online slang dictionaries.
How to Use Lit Slang in Songwriting: What Are Some Gen Z Slang Terms?
Here is a list of common Gen Z slang words you can incorporate into your writing, songwriting, and poems:
- Bet = okay
- Clout = celebrity, power to influence
- Dead = hilarious
- Extra = excessive
- Flex = brag
- FOMO = fear of missing out
- Ghost = ignoring someone who tries to contact you (i.e., through texts, emails, or calls)
- Highkey = in your face
- L = lose
- Lit = awesome, cool
- Lowkey = subtle, under the radar
- No cap = too true
- Salty = feeling annoyed about something
- Shade = a quiet snub
- Slaps = really good
- Stan = a portmanteau of stalker and fan
- Sus = a suspicious person
- Tea = gossip
- W = win
- Yeet = enthusiastic interjection or “throw hard”
Final Thoughts
Takeaway points:
- Slang words are used by a generation to create a special sub-language that shows that you are part of the in-crowd.
- It isn’t something new. It’s been around in one form or another for a long time.
- Using Gen Z slang will keep your songwriting, poems, and writing current, but you take the chance your stories, poems, and songs might become quickly dated.
Have fun writing!
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© 2025 Geoffrey Keith
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