Some words don’t ask, “May I come in?” They just crash through the window and become the coolest guest at the party. Looking at the wild route English words take to become slang feels like following a treasure map—there’s adventure, surprise, detours, legends, and maybe a wrong turn or two. At Lingo Curious, digging up these gems is what brings the fun. But how does an ordinary word—maybe a weirdly cute sound or a phrase overheard in a corner store—turn into the next big thing everyone says? Who decides if LOL deserves a ticket to the big leagues?
The story isn’t as neat as a worksheet. Slang words don’t usually show up with a press release. Most of the time, it all happens somewhere between a quick joke, a frustrated sigh, or an inside joke that somehow leaks out.
Slang starts as a whisper and ends up on a billboard.
If you’ve ever wondered exactly how that happens, this article’s for you. We’ll trace the wild ride from sidewalk secret to the hallowed halls of dictionaries. No matter if you’re a language nerd, a pop culture fan, or just someone who wonders why “yeet” became a thing, you’ll get why some words just stick—and others fizzle.
What even is slang?
Before getting into the steps, let’s get on the same page. Slang isn’t just “young people talk.” At its heart, slang is words and phrases that are informal, inventive, and used by groups to set themselves apart—or just have fun.
It might be new. But sometimes it’s old words used in wild new ways.
Slang can come from music, movies, tech, sports, or anywhere a crowd hangs out.
The goal? Play around with language. Feel a sense of belonging. Maybe just be a bit cheeky.
That’s why we love following the weirdest, quirkiest slang trends at Lingo Curious: It’s language having a wild night out.
Step 1: the word is born (or reborn)
Every slang word’s story begins somewhere, even if it’s not clear where. Sometimes, it’s a brand-new invention. Other times, an old word gets a shiny new meaning, or two words become one.
Clipping: Chopping off parts of words (like “fam” from “family”)
Blending: Smooshing two words together (“brunch” from “breakfast” + “lunch”)
Acronyms: Turning phrases into a jumbled soup of letters (“YOLO” for “You Only Live Once”)
Slang is innovation—sometimes on purpose, sometimes by mistake.
Sometimes, the shift happens without planning. Someone mishears a lyric, but it sounds cool, so it gets repeated just because.
And sometimes, a word crosses over from other languages or subcultures. English is a sponge in that way—soaking up whatever’s floating around.
Step 2: secret handshake—early adoption
Slang has to feel a little exclusive to work at first. A small group picks it up. Maybe it’s teens glued to their phones, chess club regulars, rappers at a block party, or coders in a dim-lit office. It’s usually about feeling part of something most people don’t “get”—yet.
Small scale: It’s local, inside jokes, “our” thing.
Identity: You use it to show you belong, or to keep others out.
Think about “bae.” It wasn’t always out in the open. For a while, only a few knew it meant “before anyone else”—or, well, just “babe.”
Sometimes there’s even a bit of pride in others NOT knowing. The thrill is real:
If you have to explain the joke, it’s not really slang—yet.
Step 3: spreading the word—sharing and imitation
Now, the “in-club” starts to leak the word out. Maybe someone drops it on social media and tags a friend. Maybe it sneaks into a school hallway or is shouted at a football game. At this stage, repetition is king.
It pops up on Instagram, Twitter, or in text chains.
Popular TV or music gives it a louder microphone.
Sometimes, a single viral moment sends it rocketing.
The speed at which online networks share new terms is wild. There’s actual science on it—a study on lexical change online highlights that tighter social groups, with access to outside contacts, spread slang much faster than closed-off circles.
I think most of us have caught ourselves copying a phrase just because a favorite YouTuber blurted it out, or seeing three memes with the same weird word. It becomes contagious.
Slang goes viral the way laughter does—fast, unexpected, and everywhere at once.
But not every word makes it. Some just don’t “click,” and fade without a trace.
Step 4: circles widen—mainstream attention
There comes a point when a word leaves its birthplace and people outside the original group notice. This can make longtime fans roll their eyes (“Ugh, now everyone says ‘lit’…”), but it’s a big turning point. The word is no longer private property.
Maybe news anchors slip it into headlines (sometimes awkwardly).
Advertising agencies start using it to look cool (these attempts are… mixed).
It shows up in a movie, turning niche slang into national dialog overnight.
At Lingo Curious, our team watches for these moments—when the word starts escaping into the wild. Sometimes, it’s obvious (“selfie” was suddenly everywhere), while other times, you blink and it happens.
There’s also a bit of backlash at this stage. Language purists frown. Old school types groan. That can almost make a word more attractive… for a while.
The important part? Usage spreads, and the meaning starts to settle down.
Step 5: fingerprints—written record and repetition
Until now, most slang exists in the air or on screens—spoken, texted, captioned, meme’d. But if it’s really sticking, it shows up more places. Newspapers. Magazines. Maybe even the odd academic study.
Writers start using it, sometimes in quotes, sometimes just because it “fits.”
Bloggers and influencers pepper their posts with it, not always ironically.
Printed song lyrics, scripts, and interviews let the new word settle in print.
This part’s big, because dictionary makers need proof. According to Merriam-Webster’s method, a word is only considered for dictionaries after it appears enough times, with the same meaning, across different sources.
If writers use it, it gets real.
The word now moves toward “official” status—not just something whispered or shouted, but something people can literally look up.
Step 6: dictionary radar—lexicographers take note
Lexicographers aren’t spies, but what they do isn’t that far off. They collect, sort, and analyze the flow of words—especially the noisy, trendy ones that cause seniors to sigh.
They hunt through newspapers, social media, scripts, and blogs. They check whether this new word/meaning has:
Lasted: Is it still used at least months—hopefully years—later?
Consistency: Does everyone use it the same way?
Spread: Is it everywhere, or just in one corner?
Frequency: Do people use it often?
This is the step where wannabe-slang gets weeded out. If it’s a flash-in-the-pan, the excitement dies. If it’s steady, it earns credibility.
Antidote.info breaks down what lexicographers track—frequency, duration, range, and stable meaning. A word needs to check off all these boxes (more or less).
In today’s world, tech helps a lot. Teams tap into vast databases and social media trackers to see slang’s real reach—which The Washington Post discusses for major dictionaries.
If a word’s on their radar, there’s a good chance it’s here to stay.
Of course, even here, there’s no guarantee. Some words feel hot for a minute, then fade just as quick.
Step 7: official status—printed, published, and permanent (maybe)
This is the finish line—sort of. If a slang term hits major dictionaries, it’s not just trendy; it’s official.
Lexicographers select it for inclusion. They write a clear definition based on collected examples.
Editions update. The word appears in dictionaries—sometimes online first, then print.
Everyone (even English teachers) can’t say it’s “not a real word” anymore.
This is a big deal. At Lingo Curious, it feels a bit like a friend getting their picture in the paper. Still, nothing says slang won’t change again—or that it’s always there for good.
The dictionary is both a finish line and a new starting point.
Funny thing: Some words are so mainstream by the time they get “in” that people forget they were ever slang at all. Think of “cool,” “jazz,” or even “hang out.”
When slang backfires, fizzles, or fades
Not everything survives. Some words catch on quick but burn out even faster. Maybe it’s oversaturation. Maybe it was always just a joke. Or, maybe, life just moved on.
Some slang gets hijacked and loses its edge (think “YOLO” going from fun to cringe).
Other words wear out through misuse or overexposure.
A few keep popping up decades later, but many more disappear without a trace.
So, while the dictionary is the “goal,” the journey is wild, and the roads are tangled.
Language is always on the move—even when you’re not watching.
The long route from street to dictionary: a wrap-up
The journey from a whispered inside joke to full dictionary status is complicated, messy, and fascinating. Some words take a few years, some decades, and others never get there at all. But in those shifting moments—when a new slang word catches your eye, or your ear—you can almost feel history changing. Language isn’t just rules and grammar. It’s living, breathing, constantly under construction.
That’s what makes following it, at a place like Lingo Curious, so much fun. Words are more than just… words. They’re stories in motion.
So next time you hear a friend say something that sounds odd (or genius), don’t be too quick to laugh it off. That might just be tomorrow’s dictionary entry in disguise. If you enjoy this kind of language detective work, check out the rest of our stories and join the ride—because in the world of words, you never know which phrase is about to go from street corner to household name.
Frequently asked questions
What is slang and why is it used?
Slang is informal language—words and phrases created or twisted beyond their usual meaning, often by specific social groups. People use slang to show identity, feel part of a group, add playfulness, or just because it makes things shorter and more fun. It can secretly mark “who’s in” and “who’s out.” Slang keeps conversations lively, flexible, and more personal.
How do words become slang?
Words usually become slang through a combination of inventing new terms, twisting old ones, blending, or clipping (like turning “telephone” into “phone” or “family” into “fam”). A small group starts using it, then others catch on. If repeated enough in speech, messages, and online posts—and if it means something useful or fun—it spreads. Social media and pop culture are powerful in making a slang word catch fire.
Who decides if slang joins dictionaries?
Lexicographers—people who compile dictionaries—make the decision. They watch how often, how widely, and for how long a word shows up across books, articles, social media, broadcasts, and other trusted sources. If the slang is used by a broad audience, sticks around, and has a stable meaning, then it stands a good chance. More on the process and what it takes can be found at trusted sources like Merriam-Webster and Antidote.info.
How long does it take for slang to spread?
The timeline varies. Some slang takes hold almost overnight thanks to viral social networks; others take years. Research shows social circles with lots of outside contact help slang spread rapidly. If a slang word’s catchy and fills a social “gap,” the process speeds up. But it can also fade just as quickly if people lose interest or it becomes overused.
Can slang words ever lose their meaning?
Yes, definitely. Sometimes, slang terms get so popular they lose their exclusive feel, and their meaning becomes blurry—or turns into something else entirely. Some words fade away, forgotten or replaced, while others settle into mainstream language and feel ordinary. “Cool” and “okay” were slang once, but now no one blinks. Slang is always changing, and most words don’t keep the same meaning forever.
And sometimes, a word crosses over from other languages or subcultures. English is a sponge in that way—soaking up whatever’s floating around.
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