'90s English slang terms to start using today

From baggy jeans and crop tops to chunky sneakers and those oh-so-tiny sunglasses, '90s fashion is back in a big way, baby, and it’s time to perfect your English vocab to match. 

The ’90s were not a time that celebrated perfect grammar or spelling. In fact, many of the decade’s most popular slang evolved by removing letters, shortening words, or merging two words together. Was it chaotic? Sure! But did it make things more fun? Absolutely. Some of these phrases have stood the test of time, leaking into the 2000s and beyond, but there’s no better time to bring them back into regular conversational rotation.

So, hold onto your scrunchies — here are 12 rad '90s English slang terms you need to start using immediately, from someone who was (just about) there the first time these phrases were cool.

1. Rad

Short for radical, but with the fresh meaning, ‘cool’.

2. Chillax

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this iconic blend of the words chill and relax means to take it easy.

3. My bad

A way of accepting responsibility for something, with the tone of an apology. "I forgot to pick up the cake for Hayley’s birthday surprise — my bad."

4. Fo’ shizzle

Definitely. Have you always wanted a sillier way to say, ‘for sure?’ Well, look no further than fo’ shizzle. Yes, all '90s kids have said this out loud at least once.

5. Fresh

Synonymous with new, cool, and impressive. From music to ‘fits, describing something as fresh is always a compliment.

6. Buggin’ out

A term used to describe crazy or unusual behavior. "Are you stressed about the exam tomorrow? Because you’re buggin’ out!"

7. Schwing

Excited by something? Just shout ‘schwing!’ and all the '90s babies within a three-mile radius will feel seen and offer a high five.

8. Fly

Yet another way to describe something (or someone) as cool or attractive. What can I say? Back then we really liked creative synonyms for cool.

9. Da bomb

Da bomb is '90s slang for when something is excellent. Try it: "Dude, this show/music/place is da bomb."

10. Talk to the hand

Often followed by the phrase, ‘because the face ain’t listening,’ this dismissive sentence works best when the person saying it holds up their open palm. It essentially means, ‘Be quiet, I don’t care’. Many arguments in the '90s ended this way.

11. Bounce

A much more fun way to say that you’ve got to go somewhere or leave. Are you running late for class? You gotta bounce! 

12. As if!

This phrase brings the same vibe as, ‘yeah, right!’ Made popular by the movie Clueless (watch it now for non-stop '90s inspo), as if rapidly became an entire generation’s way of disagreeing with something. You think you’ll become fluent in a new language without practice? As if!