So you’ve read the glossary. You know what SMH means, you’ve mastered IYKYK and you’re feeling dangerously confident about your ability to understand Gen Z.
But can you actually translate an entire sentence?
Welcome to the ultimate texting slang challenge. Below are 15 messages that become increasingly ridiculous. Your mission is to translate them into plain English without secretly consulting the glossary.
Warning: Some contain strong language, mild insults and levels of teenage attitude that may be familiar to anyone with children over the age of 12.
No Googling. No asking your teenager. And absolutely no using these phrases yourself afterwards.
Part 1: The Translation Quiz
Level 1: Easy Peasy (You’re Still in MSN Messenger Territory)
1. “OMG, LOL! BRB, GTG. TTYL!”
Your translation:
2. “IDK WYD RN, but LMK ASAP.”
Your translation:
3. “NGL, your OOTD is a massive W. FR.”
Your translation:
4. “IKR! That dinner was GOAT, TBH.”
Your translation:
5. “FYI, OMW. NVM, forgot my keys. FML.”
Your translation:
Level 2: Getting Tricky (Welcome to the Teenage Group Chat)
6. “ISTG, Dad said ‘no cap’ at parents’ evening. SMH.”
Your translation:
7. “IJBOL, OOMF posted their GRWM and it was so cringe. WTF.”
Your translation:
8. “POV: You’re low-key delulu, have zero rizz and your crush leaves you on read. FML.”
Your translation:
9. “NGL, my FYP is all skibidi brain rot RN. CBA.”
Your translation:
10. “ICYMI, that OOTD was giving try-hard energy. Massive L, FRFR.”
Your translation:
Level 3: Advanced Brain Rot (Call a Responsible Adult)
11. “ISTG, FRFR, IJBOL when Dad tried to rizz up Mum in the kitchen. SMH, I’m deceased.”
Your translation:
12. “OOMF just DM’d me saying my fit was mid and my rizz was NPC-level. IDGAF, they’re delulu AF.”
Your translation:
13. “WTF, I just saw Mum comment ‘SLAY QUEEN, NO CAP FRFR’ on my TikTok. SYBAU. I’m going AFK IRL.”
Your translation:
14. “POV: You’re a sigma with no rizz, your OOTD is giving NPC, your FYP is cooked and OOMF just called you cheugy. IJBOL, FML.”
Your translation:
15. THE FINAL BOSS
“ISTG FRFR, OOMF slid into my DMs saying I was GOAT but then aired me IRL. NGL, it’s giving delulu pick-me energy. My FYP is full of receipts, everyone’s saying L, and I’m low-key deceased. IDGAF ATP. IJBOL. SMH. IYKYK.”
Your translation:
If you understood question 15 without assistance, congratulations. You may actually be a teenager.
Alternatively, you may have spent far too much time on TikTok.
Part 2: The Answers (No Cheating!)
1. The MSN Messenger Classic
“Oh my God, that’s hilarious! Be right back, actually I’ve got to go. Talk to you later!”
Difficulty: Your Nokia 3310 could handle this.
2. The Impatient Friend
“I don’t know what you’re doing right now, but let me know as soon as possible.”
Difficulty: Standard WhatsApp behaviour.
3. The Fashion Compliment
“Not gonna lie, your outfit of the day is a massive success. Seriously.”
Difficulty: You’re officially fashionable. Apparently.
4. The Dinner Review
“I know, right? That dinner was the greatest of all time, to be honest.”
Difficulty: High praise from someone who usually complains about vegetables.
5. The Disorganised Friend
“For your information, I’m on my way. Actually, never mind, I’ve forgotten my keys. F*** my life.”
Difficulty: Anyone who’s ever left the house with children will understand.
6. The Embarrassing Dad
“I swear to God, Dad said ‘I’m not lying’ at parents’ evening. I’m shaking my head in disappointment.”
Difficulty: Parental humiliation detected. Please stop trying to be cool.
7. The Social Media Disaster
“I just burst out laughing because one of my online mutuals posted a get-ready-with-me video and it was incredibly embarrassing. What the f***?”
Difficulty: You’re entering dangerous territory.
8. The Romantic Catastrophe
“Imagine you’re secretly delusional, have absolutely no flirting ability, and the person you fancy reads your message but doesn’t reply. F*** my life.”
Difficulty: Teenage heartbreak, internet edition.
9. The TikTok Meltdown
“Not gonna lie, my personalised TikTok feed is full of absurd, mindless Skibidi-style content right now. I can’t be arsed.”
Difficulty: You may need to consult a younger relative.
10. The Fashion Police
“In case you missed it, that outfit of the day looked like someone was trying far too hard to be trendy. A massive failure, seriously.”
Difficulty: Fashion criticism with absolutely no mercy.
11. The Parental Romance Horror
“I swear to God, I’m completely serious, I burst out laughing when Dad tried to flirt with Mum in the kitchen. I’m shaking my head. I’m laughing so hard I could die.”
Difficulty: A teenager has witnessed parental affection. Therapy may be required.
12. The Online Insult
“Someone from my online circle sent me a direct message saying my outfit was mediocre and my flirting skills were as bad as a non-playable video game character’s. I don’t give a f***. They’re completely delusional.”
Difficulty: You’ve just been insulted in approximately four different languages.
13. The Ultimate Parental Crime
“What the f***? I just saw Mum comment ‘Amazing, queen! I’m not lying, I’m completely serious!’ on my TikTok. Shut your b**** arse up. I’m going offline, even in real life.”
Difficulty: Your child is considering changing their surname.
Note: SYBAU is an especially rude abbreviation. Hopefully nobody’s actually saying this to their mum!
14. The Complete Social Collapse
“Imagine you’re trying to be a cool, independent person but have no flirting skills, your outfit makes you look like a generic background video game character, your TikTok feed is a complete mess and someone online just called you embarrassingly outdated. I’m laughing out loud. F*** my life.”
Difficulty: This is no longer English. This is an entire internet personality crisis.
15. THE FINAL BOSS — THE FULL TRANSLATION
“I swear to God, I’m completely serious. Someone from my online circle started messaging me privately saying I was the greatest of all time, but then completely ignored me when we met in person. Not gonna lie, it’s giving the impression of someone who’s delusional and desperately seeking attention and approval. My TikTok feed is full of screenshots and evidence of the drama, everyone is calling it a massive failure, and I’m secretly laughing so hard I could die. I don’t give a f*** at this point. I just burst out laughing. I’m shaking my head. If you know, you know.”
Difficulty: Unnecessarily complicated teenage drama, compressed into one text message.
Congratulations. You now understand something that could have been explained in two normal sentences.
How Did You Score?
0–3 correct: The Boomer Translator
You still think LOL means “Lots of Love”. You may have accidentally sent it after delivering some very bad news.
4–6 correct: The Classic Millennial
You know your BRBs from your TTYLs and you still remember your MSN Messenger password. Possibly.
7–9 correct: The Gen X Undercover Agent
You understand enough to monitor the family WhatsApp group without revealing your presence. Stay quiet. Observe.
10–12 correct: The Suspiciously Cool Parent
You may have been lurking on TikTok. Your teenager is becoming concerned.
13–14 correct: The Secret Gen Z Whisperer
You understand almost everything. Your child is horrified. Please don’t tell their friends.
15 correct: Certified Brain Rot
Congratulations! You’re either 14 years old or a 50-year-old parent who’s spent far too much time researching teenage slang. Either way, perhaps it’s time to go outside.
One Final Reminder
Knowledge is power. But just because you’ve successfully translated “ISTG FRFR IJBOL” doesn’t mean you should casually drop it into conversation at the school gates.
Take it from a Gen X mum who’s been given a very stern warning by her 14-year-old: this is for understanding, not participating.
Now go and celebrate your new linguistic skills by sending a completely normal message.
“OK, see you later.”
No cap. FRFR. LOL.
