As the years pass, the way we speak and express ourselves changes. In this article, you’ll find 17 millennial phrases that were very popular once upon a time but that are no longer in use.
YOLO
AirDroid says that the slogan “YOLO” (You Only Live Once) has been around since the early 2000s. But it wasn’t until 2012 that this slogan became well-known and was used often on the internet. But unfortunately for millennials who love the phrase, it’s just not popular anymore.
Lit
According to Genius, the term “lit” has been used in hip-hop since 1996. But the use of the word started spiking in the 2010s, with rappers like A$AP Rocky and especially Travis Scott peppering the term into many of their songs. Nowadays, however, it’s not common for people to use this term.
On Fleek
“On fleek” (yes, you heard correctly) is another millennial phrase that has drastically declined in popularity since it was coined by a millennial on June 21st, 2014. Merriam-Webster says that she had made up the word fleek on the spot while shooting a video on Vine.
Squad Goals
“Squad” and “squad goals” are terms referring to a normal group of friends that others would aspire to have. Dictionary says that “squad” became popular slang in the hip-hop community during the early 2000s when referring to bond ambition. Although the term quickly became popular, its stay in the limelight was short-lived.
Literally
Back when millennials had the limelight, the use of the word “literally” was very common. The word “literally” was sprinkled into conversation as an intensifier and to make what someone said more credible. But many quickly stopped using it, as it made the things they said seem sarcastic, lacking genuineness.
ROFL
“ROFL” (Rolling On the Floor Laughing) was popular in internet forums and message boards before peaking in popularity in the early 2010s as it became widely used in internet memes, says How-To Geek. But the use of this now-dying phrase began as early as October 2002.
Slay
KnowYourMeme.com says that in 2016, pop musician Beyoncé released an album called Lemonade that featured the song “Formation,” which had an entire section of the song devoted to her saying, “I slay.” This made the term very popular all of a sudden, but its popularity did not last.
I Can’t Even
“I can’t even” is a phrase that became popular among millennials around 2009 and 2010. The phrase was coined to express disbelief and astonishment about an action or something that was said. However, the phrase was deemed overdramatic and is no longer widely used on the internet.
Sorry, Not Sorry
“Sorry, not sorry” is a phrase that was often used by millennials. It was used to express false remorse about something. But the insincerity of the phrase seemed overly harsh to many, so it was quickly dropped on the internet not long after becoming popular.
It Is What It Is
“It is what it is” is a phrase that was coined to show acceptance of a situation that is negative but that you can’t change or can’t be bothered to change. But the phrase seemed to be too dismissive for many millennials, so they quickly stopped using it.
Low-Key
“Low-key” is a phrase that became very popular to combine with adjectives such as good, brilliant, and excellent. The phrase conveyed the idea that something unexpectedly turned out to be very good. It was usually used to describe something small that exceeded the expectations of all.
Vibe
“Vibe” is a word that often becomes popular for a time and then diminishes in popularity in the English language. It began its rise and fall in popularity in the 1970s and was commonly used by millennials, but since then, the word has been considered unpopular and is waiting for its next comeback.
I’m Dead
“I’m dead” and “I’m dying” are phrases that were very commonly used by millennials on the internet. The phrases were coined to describe something that made you laugh a lot. Not long after the phrases became popular, people began to use them in a sarcastic way to describe things that were not funny at all.
Shook
“Shook” is the past tense of shake. Many generations have used the word “shook” in pop culture to describe their emotions, and millennials have too. “Shook” was often used on internet platforms and in everyday speech to describe something that really shocked or frightened someone.
GOAT
Not referring at all to the animal, “GOAT” means “Greatest Of All Time” in pop culture. Millennials identify this acronym regardless of whether it’s capitalized or not and would refer to others as being “goats” without causing offense. Calling someone a “goat” nowadays, however, will not be received well.
Adulting
“Adulting” is a term coined by millennials to refer to younger people doing things that adults do. It was used to refer to jobs like filing taxes, doing laundry, and going to the grocery store. But since all millennials are now adults themselves, the phrase has declined in use.
Basic
“Basic” is another term that first gained popularity on the internet among millennials who were describing things that were boring or lacked excitement. It was also used to describe people who like to dress in a style that others viewed as out of fashion or unpopular.