Sometimes I notice my kids’ eyebrows shoot up when I say certain words – words I grew up with and still use without thinking. The blank expressions on their millennial faces clearly show they think I am an old fuddy-duddy. Not that they would know what fuddy-duddy means.
Words That Date You
Language evolves constantly and certain words and phrases definitely can reveal your age. Some of these terms, though once common, may seem archaic or even unfamiliar to younger generations. Here are some words my children tell me show my age.
Dungarees
If you call your jeans “dungarees,” you’re dating yourself. This holds true whether you wear them skinny, baggy, or boot-cut; just don’t say it.
Stewardess
Slacks
Clicker
“Really Mom, “clicker”??!” It’s a remote. My kids laugh especially hard at this one.
You’re Welcome
When was the last time you heard “You’re welcome” in response to a “Thank you”? More often than not, the response these days is “No problem”
Thongs
Please, call your pool shoes “flip-flops!”, my kids say. Thongs are those uncomfortable-looking underwear with a narrow strip of fabric at the back that connects to the waistband and goes between the butt cheeks.
Cool Beans
Just say “cool”. You don’t need the “beans” to get your point across. I embarrassingly admit I used this term and liked it a lot back in the day.
Groovy
Groovy fell out of mainstream usage long ago. Associated with a sense of being fashionable, cool, or in harmony with the trends of the time, groovy was popular in the 60s and 70s. If you hear it today, it’s most likely said with sarcasm or humor.
Rad
Short for “radical,” this word was commonly used in the skateboarding and surfer subcultures of the 1980s and 1990s. It conveyed something extraordinary, cool, or impressive. Its usage declined over time as language trends shifted and new expressions took their place. I never actually picked this one up, so it’s an easy one to leave out of my vocabulary.
Try to Keep Up While Holding Onto the Past
I don’t want my kids to think I’m a dinosaur. For that reason, I try to use outdated terms less when with them. Some of the current slang words seem foreign to me, but I want to learn them to better follow my children’s conversations. Recently I learned that “tea” means “gossip” and “keep it 100” replaced “keep it real”. Who knew? Oprahmag published a lengthy list of millennial slang words recently if you want to know more.
Some of the old words and phrases are better off forgotten, it’s true. But I hang on to others because they are part of who I am. I do not try to hide my age; in fact, I celebrate the wisdom and experience that comes with being 50+ and the person I am today as a result.
The Bottom Line
Language and word usage evolve due to cultural, social, and linguistic shifts. And some words lose popularity as they become associated with specific periods in time, subcultures, or historical contexts. Changes in attitudes, advancements in technology, and the emergence of new expressions also contribute to the decline of certain words in everyday usage. However, if you like using certain words, then by all means continue! It’s absolutely OK to show your age.
Are there other words or phrases you miss from years gone by? Please share them in the comment section below. We’d love to hear from you!
Leslie Farin is the Publisher and Founder of 50PlusToday. She is an experienced communications and marketing professional passionate about working with older adults and their families. She works with a team of writers to provide essential and cutting-edge information related to the 50Plus community.
I love to call my husband “Daddy-0” that was just a tad before my time but I still love to use it. I heard on NPR the other day that the use of that phrase / name / slang is mysteriously on the rise…. Might be me ? Or I guess what goes round comes round again and eventually again Hahhah. Thanks for the fun read.
I’ve also heard “Daddy-O” is on the rise! 🙂