The 90s were a golden age of pop culture, full of trends that made their mark on fashion, music, TV, and of course, the way we talked. Slang from this decade was bold, playful, and a perfect reflection of the times. Whether you were watching Clueless, listening to hip-hop, or just hanging out with your friends, these phrases were everywhere, shaping how we communicated and how we expressed ourselves. Ready to take a trip down memory lane? Here are 40 unforgettable slang terms from the 90s that made the decade so fresh and fly.
1. All That
Meaning: When someone or something was totally amazing or the absolute best.
Usage: “Did you see her new outfit? She’s all that!”
Origin: Thanks to Nickelodeon’s All That (1994), this phrase became the go-to way to say something was top-notch.
2. As If
Meaning: The ultimate way to say “No way” with a side of attitude.
Usage: “He thinks he’s gonna be prom king? As if!”
Origin: Clueless (1995) made this one famous, with Alicia Silverstone’s iconic Cher.
3. Booyah
Meaning: The ultimate shout of victory or excitement.
Usage: “Just aced that test? Booyah!”
Origin: Rooted in hip-hop culture and sports, this term became even more popular thanks to ESPN’s Stuart Scott.
4. Da Bomb
Meaning: When something is beyond awesome.
Usage: “That pizza was da bomb!”
Origin: Hip-hop culture coined this explosive term for anything that was exceptionally great.
5. Duh
Meaning: A sarcastic response when something was super obvious.
Usage: “The sky’s blue. Duh!”
Origin: This sarcastic gem became a 90s staple, often used in shows like The Simpsons.
6. Fly
Meaning: If something (or someone) was “fly,” it was super stylish and cool.
Usage: “That jacket is fly!”
Origin: Borrowed from 80s hip-hop, “fly” stuck around in the 90s to describe anything fashionable.
7. Home Skillet
Meaning: A term of endearment for a close friend or buddy.
Usage: “What’s up, home skillet?”
Origin: This was another hip-hop term, used for close friends, similar to “homey.”
8. Phat
Meaning: Cool, especially in terms of fashion or music.
Usage: “That new track is phat!”
Origin: From hip-hop and R&B, this word was all about being on point and stylish.
9. Whatever
Meaning: The classic dismissive phrase to shrug something off.
Usage: “You didn’t do the homework? Whatever.”
Origin: Popularized by characters in 90s teen shows and movies (Clueless), it was the perfect dismissive statement.
10. Talk to the Hand
Meaning: A way to shut someone down without giving them the time of day.
Usage: “I’m not listening, talk to the hand!”
Origin: Sass-filled and often linked with teen-centered shows like Clueless.
11. Bling
Meaning: Flashy jewelry or accessories.
Usage: “Check out all that bling!”
Origin: Popularized by hip-hop culture, bling referred to eye-catching, expensive jewelry.
12. Scrub
Meaning: A guy who’s broke, lazy, or not worth your time.
Usage: “I don’t want no scrub.”
Origin: Made famous by TLC’s No Scrubs (1999), this was a diss for any guy who didn’t measure up.
13. Word
Meaning: An expression of agreement or understanding.
Usage: “I’ll see you later.” “Word.”
Origin: This versatile term came out of urban culture to confirm or acknowledge something.
14. Bounce
Meaning: To leave or exit.
Usage: “This party’s lame, let’s bounce.”
Origin: Hip-hop culture once again provided this cool term for leaving.
15. Sike
Meaning: A verbal prank or trick to fake someone out.
Usage: “I got you a present—sike!”
Origin: Commonly used in playful, teasing moments, perfect for a quick joke.
16. Rad
Meaning: Short for radical, meaning something was awesome or incredible.
Usage: “That skateboard trick was rad!”
Origin: This skateboarding staple from the 80s carried over into the 90s.
17. Crib
Meaning: Your home or place where you live.
Usage: “Come over to my crib after school.”
Origin: Popularized by MTV’s Cribs, this term made your home sound way cooler.
18. Kickin’ It
Meaning: Hanging out and relaxing.
Usage: “We’re just kickin’ it this weekend.”
Origin: “Kickin’ it” became the perfect way to describe downtime with friends.
19. No Doy
Meaning: Another sarcastic way to say “obviously.”
Usage: “Water is wet. No doy!”
Origin: An exaggerated version of “no duh.”
20. My Bad
Meaning: A casual way to apologize for a mistake.
Usage: “Oh, I forgot your birthday—my bad!”
Origin: This phrase emerged from basketball slang in the early 90s.
21. Whassup
Meaning: A casual way to say “What’s up?”
Usage: “Whassup, bro?”
Origin: Made famous by a Budweiser commercial in 1999.
22. Props
Meaning: Giving credit or respect.
Usage: “Gotta give him props for that.”
Origin: Stemmed from hip-hop culture.
23. Trippin’
Meaning: Overreacting or acting irrationally.
Usage: “You’re trippin’ over nothing.”
Origin: Made popular in rap music and AAVE.
24. Cool Beans
Meaning: Something awesome or all good.
Usage: “You got tickets? Cool beans!”
Origin: A playful, quirky phrase.
25. Word to Your Mother
Meaning: A way to say something is true.
Usage: “Word to your mother!”
Origin: Made famous by Vanilla Ice.
26. Burn
Meaning: A sharp insult.
Usage: “You failed? Burn!”
Origin: The ultimate 90s diss after a good comeback.
27. Buggin’
Meaning: Acting irrationally or freaking out.
Usage: “You’re totally buggin’.”
Origin: Popularized by Clueless.
28. Psych!
Meaning: Faking someone out or retracting a statement.
Usage: “I bought you a car—psych!”
Origin: A common playground prank.
29. Take a Chill Pill
Meaning: Telling someone to calm down.
Usage: “Take a chill pill, dude.”
Origin: A humorous way to ask someone to relax.
30. Not!
Meaning: A sarcastic way to negate a statement.
Usage: “That’s a great idea… Not!”
Origin: Wayne’s World popularized this joke.
31. Boo Ya
Meaning: A victory exclamation.
Usage: “Boo ya! I won!”
Origin: Derived from “booyah,” often heard in sports.
32. Homey
Meaning: A close friend.
Usage: “You’re my homey!”
Origin: Slang for a close, trusted friend.
33. Wack
Meaning: Uncool or bad.
Usage: “That movie was wack.”
Origin: Another term from hip-hop culture.
34. Fo’ Shizzle
Meaning: A playful way to say “for sure.”
Usage: “You going? Fo’ shizzle!”
Origin: A precursor to Snoop Dogg’s famous use in the early 2000s.
35. Po-po
Meaning: A slang term for the police.
Usage: “Watch out for the po-po.”
Origin: From urban slang.
36. Kick Rocks
Meaning: Telling someone to go away.
Usage: “You don’t like it? Kick rocks!”
Origin: A dismissive insult.
37. All That and a Bag of Chips
Meaning: When something is extra amazing.
Usage: “That car is all that and a bag of chips.”
Origin: A playful way to emphasize greatness.
38. Whatever Floats Your Boat
Meaning: Do what makes you happy.
Usage: “You want to wear that? Whatever floats your boat!”
Origin: A carefree phrase encouraging others to do their thing.
39. Da Man
Meaning: When someone is the best.
Usage: “You aced that test? You’re da man!”
Origin: Commonly used in sports or as praise for excellence.
40. Sup
Meaning: A quick way to say “What’s up?”
Usage: “Sup? You ready for the party?”
Origin: The laziest, most 90s way to greet a friend.
That’s the full list! Whether you’re reminiscing about your favorite 90s moments or trying to bring these phrases back, these slang terms will always carry the vibe of a rad decade.
