It must be tough to be the parent of a teenager nowadays. When kids don’t have their faces pressed up against an illuminated screen and instead actually take the time to talk to their parents, it seems like they’re speaking  in a whole new language. It’s the language of school hallways and hang outs, the language of the Bay, and the language that the rest of the country picks up on long after its prime. It is the language of Tam slang, and here is a guide to help parents, ill-informed students, and anyone else catch up.

1. Wet – adj. Synonymous with “dope” or “cool.”
Man, that Lamborghini is so wet!

2. Pinner – adj.  Somebody being screwed over by someone or something.
It was so pinner when I walked into class a few seconds late and got marked  tardy.

3. Janky – adj. Something that is unstable, untrustworthy or otherwise sketchy or overall smitty.
The school bathrooms are so janky early in the morning.

4. Troll – noun. A person who does something soley for the purpose of angering others.
You know, I really think that Glenn Beck is the biggest troll of all.

5. Cutty – adj. Sneaky.
We were cutty drinking in the locker rooms before the rally.

6. Yadadamean – expression. Colloquialism for “You know what I’m saying?”
I feel like we should take a road trip, yadadamean?

7. Washed –  adj. Something that is boring or otherwise uncool.
I watched Spongebob all last weekend, so washed.

8. Steezin’ – adj. A portmanteau of “style” and “ease.”
He thinks he’s so steezin’ because he cruises around in his Prius.

Written by Billy Butler. This article originally appeared in the March 2011 issue.