If you’ve ever scrolled Reddit and seen a comment like “This. OP is based. 10/10 would upvote again,” and had no idea what just happened—you’re not alone.
Reddit has its own flavor of slang, built on dry humor, constant sarcasm, and deep inside jokes. It’s not street slang in the traditional sense, but it definitely lives in digital communities—and it’s spreading to TikTok, Twitter, Discord, and beyond.
Let’s decode it.
🧠 What This Post Covers
This guide breaks down the most common and most confusing slang found on Reddit—especially in subs like r/funny, r/AITA, r/AskReddit, r/memes, and r/relationship_advice.
We’ll cover:
- What Reddit-style slang sounds like
- Why it’s so sarcastic, meta, and self-aware
- 12+ terms you’ll see everywhere (and what they really mean)
- How this language has jumped into group chats and social media
🤓 What Makes Reddit Slang… Reddit?
Reddit slang is different because it’s:
- Meta – it talks about how Reddit works or how people behave on it
- Ironic or self-aware – people say things like “OP is a legend” half-sincerely
- Format-driven – the way something is typed (like spacing or quoting) is part of the joke
This type of slang isn’t shouted—it’s typed quietly, with precision and pettiness. It’s less about being loud and more about being clever or brutally honest.
🔑 Core Reddit Slang Terms (You’ll See These a Lot)
OP
Means: Original Poster—the person who started the thread or story.
“OP really needs therapy, not Reddit.”
📌 Core term on every subreddit.
Based
Means: Confident, honest, or unapologetically true—even if unpopular.
“You said it. Based take.”
⚠️ Sometimes used sincerely, sometimes as sarcasm.
Cringe
Means: Embarrassing, try-hard, or secondhand awkward.
😬 Still one of Reddit’s favorite judgment words.
TL;DR
Means: “Too long; didn’t read” – a summary of a long post or explanation.
📝 Can appear at the top or bottom of a post.
This.
Means: Full agreement. Usually quoted or replied to on its own.
“This.”
☝️ Often used to boost someone else’s point without adding much.
IYKYK
Means: “If you know, you know.” Refers to an inside joke or reference.
🔐 Originally from text slang but big in Reddit meme culture.
AITA / NTA / YTA
Means: From r/AmItheAsshole. Stands for “Am I the Ahole” / “Not the Ahole” / “You’re the A**hole.”
“NTA. Your mom sounds exhausting.”
⚖️ Used as shorthand verdicts.
Bold of you to assume…
Means: Sarcastic way to mock an incorrect or silly assumption.
“Bold of you to assume I have my life together.”
🧂 Usually humorous.
Gaslight / Gatekeep / Girlboss
Means: A meme phrase mimicking empowerment but ironically.
“She gaslight-gatekeep-girlbossed her way into the CEO role.”
💅 Satirical phrase often used to describe chaotic confidence.
Unalive / Reddit-safe words
Means: Euphemisms to avoid triggering filters (e.g., “unalive” instead of “die”).
“My grandpa unalived from spicy food.”
🛑 Used to dodge auto-mods or content bans.
Edit: Wow. This blew up.
Means: Classic phrase added when a post goes unexpectedly viral.
“Edit: Wow. Thanks for the gold, kind stranger.”
💬 Often used sarcastically now.
Karma Farming
Means: Making content just to get upvotes and internet points (karma).
“This feels like low-effort karma farming.”
🧃 Often called out on reposts or recycled memes.
🪤 More Reddit-Style Phrases & Behaviors
Reddit slang goes beyond words. It includes how people comment too:
- Mock quotes: > “Wow, I’m so smart and never wrong.” –OP probably
- Bracket sarcasm: [slow clap] or [in awe]
- Story exaggeration: “I (28F) live in a haunted fridge. AITA for telling my ghost roommate to move out?”
This weird style makes Reddit funny, frustrating, and addictive all at once.
🧃 Where Reddit Slang Shows Up Now
Even if you’re not on Reddit, you’ve seen its influence:
- TikTok & YouTube captions using “based,” “cringe,” or “TL;DR”
- Comment sections on IG and Twitter copying Reddit tone
- Group chats using terms like “OP,” “this,” or “karma farming”
What started as Reddit in-jokes have become universal internet language.
How to Use Reddit Slang Without Looking Out of Place
- Use it in writing. Most Reddit slang reads better than it sounds out loud.
- Don’t overdo the sarcasm—one “cringe” goes a long way.
- Want to sound like a Reddit regular? Start with “OP,” “based,” and “TL;DR.”
- If you’re joking, let the tone do the work, not emojis.
Related Posts on StreetSlang.com
- Internet Subculture Lexicon: From Sigma Males to Mewing and Beyond
- From Emoji to Acronyms: How Digital Language Redefines Communication
- The Rise of Fake Slang Words: The Internet Invented Them for Laughs
Final Thought
Reddit slang is smart, snarky, and always evolving. It’s less about being trendy and more about how you communicate—whether you’re upvoting a life story, debating hot takes, or posting “Edit: Wow. Thanks for the gold.”
So next time someone calls your take “based” or replies with just “this.”—don’t be confused. Just smile, type “NTA,” and move on.
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