The Biggest Catchphrases & Words In 2016

After spending the holiday weekend with adults and senior citizens who are not active on social media and do not have regular interaction with millennials, I realized something quickly: So many new catchphrases and new trendy words were introduced in 2016, and even I don't know the whole of them.

Some of the biggest catchphrases in 2016 are just shorthand or abbreviations of existing words, others are as good as gibberish — but all of them have subconsciously infiltrated our lexicons and become a regular part of our vocabulary. Trying to explain to a 76-year-old man who lives in rural America why "this eggnog is lit" is a lot harder than you might realize. And the best part about trying to explain our millennial net-speak and IRL slang is that it really doesn't make a lot of sense. There's no way to logically explain why a drink is "lit," a word used to describe the presence of light, when your intention is to describe it as "good." At some point you just have to drop it and say "sorry Uncle Rick, I mean the eggnog is delicious," and then sit back and marvel at how much you and your contemporaries have excelled in destroying the English language... or made it a lot more fun.

These are some of the best words and catch phrases that have come out of the year 2016 and that your elders will never understand:

"I'd Like To Be Excluded From This Narrative"

Taylor Swift's response to that whole "Famous"/Kanye West situation quickly turned into a catch phrase widely used to express disinterest in a subject. It's the new "TBNT," which, in case you didn't know, is "thanks but no thanks."

What's Gucci?

Gucci is the new good. "What's Gucci?" is the new "What's up?" Yeah, I don't know. Just go with it.

Squad Goals

Everyone wants to have a strong support system, and squad goals is something Millennials say whenever they see a cute crew. Could be a family of penguins, could be a picture of Taylor Swift and her possé.

Goals AF

Anything that's inspiring, anything that looks good, anything that's desirable... it's all "goals AF," which literally translates to "goals as f*ck."

Netflix And Chill

Perhaps the most overused term of 2016, this is the new hook-up term that's used to describe a "let's stay in tonight, together, and not actually watch Netflix" situation.

Me & Also Me

A meme term used to describe a contradiction/evil side within your own personality. This one is particularly fun because it shows how complex we all are.

Yas

Thanks to Broad City, "yes" has traded in its "e" for an "a" for good.

V.

All it means is "very." It's just an abbreviation.

Trash

The same meaning as bad. For example: "ew, meal is so trash." Or "I am trash."

Done

When you're over it, when it's settled, and/or when the conversation is finished.

Ded

It's just dead, without an "a." For example: "I'm ded," is something you might text a friend when hungover, or after failing a test. It's just slightly less (or perhaps more?) dramatic without the "a."

Sus

Short for suspect, as in suspicious. For example: "Donald Trump's hair is so sus!" is something you might say to a friend... or the internet.

Low-key

Exactly what you think it means.

High-key

The opposite of low-key, for when you have no chill or feel hasty.

Savage

Similar to beast mode, the word "ruthless," or the feeling of being super sassy.

Lit

When something is fun, happening, exciting, simply good.

Woke

When you have a realization, an epiphany, or when someone says something profound.

Extra

When you're too much and you know it.

Want to have an awesome 2017? Then check out the "You IRL" stream in the Bustle App for tips on how to have the most empowering year yet.

Images: VICTOR TORRES/Stocksy; Giphy (15)