Scroll TikTok for five minutes and you’ll hear a whole new language—part meme, part exaggeration, part cultural commentary. TikTok slang evolves fast and spreads even faster, often turning niche jokes into everyday speak.
This guide breaks down the TikTok-born or TikTok-boosted slang terms that have gone mainstream. Whether you’re trying to decode a caption, a comment, or a chaotic 10-second skit, these are the words to know.
🔄 How TikTok Turns Phrases Into Slang
TikTok slang often comes from:
- Repeated joke formats and trends
- Exaggerated emotion or roleplay (e.g., NPCs, POVs)
- Sounds and audio clips turned into punchlines
- Over-the-top fan behavior (stan, delulu, mother)
- Memes layered with aesthetics (corecore, feral, goblin mode)
It thrives on inside jokes that feel universal—and gets repackaged with music, emoji, and new aesthetics daily.
🧠 Key TikTok-Speak Terms Explained
Delulu
Means: Being “delusional” in a funny or self-aware way—usually about love, fame, or destiny.
Common in: Stan edits, TikTok comments, crush fantasies.
Corecore
Means: An aesthetic mashup of emotional, chaotic, or surreal content—usually TikToks with soft music + abstract video clips.
“I wasn’t ready for this corecore edit at 3am.”
Common in: SadTok, videography trends, Gen Z existentialism.
Slay
Means: To absolutely nail something—fashion, performance, a mood.
“New job? Slay.” “Outfit? Slay.” “She slays even when she’s sad.”
Common in: Fashion, drag-influenced content, hype comments.
Girl Dinner
Means: A random plate of snacky or mismatched food, made with no effort and full vibes.
“Half a pickle, five olives, and Ritz crackers. Girl dinner.”
Common in: Humor, soft life memes, eating habits.
Goblin Mode
Means: Fully unbothered, chaotic, lazy mode—embracing your mess instead of fixing it.
“Laundry pile on the floor? Me in goblin mode.”
Common in: Reaction videos, cozy-gross humor.
NPC
Means: Acting stiff or robotic, like a “non-playable character” in a video game.
“He talks like an NPC on a loop.”
Common in: Skits, livestreams, AI parodies.
Main Character Energy
Means: Feeling (or pretending to be) the dramatic center of the story.
“Me, sad in the rain with no umbrella. Main character energy.”
Common in: POV TikToks, glow-up edits, storytelling memes.
Mother / She’s Mother
Means: Ultimate respect. Someone who commands awe.
“Beyoncé is mother.” “That performance? Mother behavior.”
Common in: Stan slang, Drag Race edits, pop culture commentary.
Feral
Means: Out-of-control energy, often chaotic and unhinged in a fun way.
“She saw her crush and went feral.”
Common in: Reaction TikToks, thirst comments, inside jokes.
POV
Means: “Point of View.” A trend where creators act out a scenario from your perspective.
“POV: You’re at the family BBQ and your cousin brings drama.”
Common in: Acting skits, emotional edits, fake situations.
🔍 Summary Table
| Term | Meaning | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| Delulu | Fun, self-aware delusion | Crushes, stanning |
| Corecore | Emotional/surreal aesthetic video style | SadTok, niche aesthetics |
| Slay | To nail a look or vibe | Hype talk, fashion |
| Girl Dinner | Low-effort food plates | Humor, lifestyle TikToks |
| Goblin Mode | Chaotic, lazy energy | Anti-aesthetic content |
| NPC | Robotic or scripted behavior | Skits, livestreams |
| Main Character | Feeling like the center of the story | Dramatic memes, edits |
| She’s Mother | Praise or idol status | Stan TikToks, drag slang |
| Feral | Over-the-top, chaotic reaction | Flirty/funny TikToks |
| POV | Acting from the viewer’s perspective | Skits, scenario videos |
❓ Why It Matters
TikTok-speak shows how slang is evolving with visuals, audio, and personality-based performance. It’s fast, layered, and often absurd—but it spreads because it captures feeling with just a word or two. Understanding this kind of slang isn’t just trendy—it’s how you speak the language of online culture today.
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