Safeinest

Parents' guide — Teen slang

Teen slang dictionary for parents (2026)

Teens talk in their own words, and most of it is harmless fun. This plain-English dictionary explains the slang parents ask about most, shows you the few words that can signal real risk, and tells you honestly what an app can and cannot see.

By the Safeinest team — written by parents, checked against what the apps really do · Published

The short answer

Most teen slang is harmless. It is jokes, friendship and belonging, and banning words rarely helps. A small number of words and codes can point to real risk, such as self-harm, drugs, sexual content or hiding things from you. The word alone is never proof. Context is everything, so read the whole picture, not one message.

Everyday slang that is usually harmless

These turn up every day. They are not warning signs on their own. Knowing them simply helps you follow a conversation and not over-react.

If your child uses these, relax. This is normal teenage talk.

Slang that can signal real risk

Some words are used to get past filters and past parents. Meanings shift fast, and the same word can be a joke in one chat and a cry for help in another. Use this table as a prompt to look closer and talk, never as a verdict.

TermWhat it can meanWhen to worry
UnaliveKill or die, written this way to dodge filtersUsed about themselves, or alongside low mood or goodbyes
SewerslideA coded way to write "suicide"Any mention about themselves or a friend
KMS / KYS"Kill myself" / "kill yourself"Often a throwaway joke, but take seriously if repeated or heavy
Drug emojisCertain emoji advertise drugs for sale (see below)Appearing with prices, a plug, or a new seller contact
CD9 / Code 9 / POS"Parent over shoulder" — stop, adults are watchingUsed often, or to hide who they are talking to
53X / seggsCoded spellings of "sex"With strangers, older contacts, or pressure to send photos
Down badDesperate, usually about a crushUsually harmless; worry only with sexual pressure
OppAn enemy or rivalWith threats, fighting or gang talk

Notice the pattern. Most of these matter only with context: who they are talking to, how often, and whether their mood has changed. If a message mentions hurting themselves, our guide on a message about self-harm walks you through what to do next.

Emoji and number codes parents ask about

Emojis are a language of their own, and some carry hidden meanings. A single emoji proves nothing, but these are the ones parents ask about.

If you want to understand the apps these codes live in, see is Snapchat safe for kids and is WhatsApp safe for kids.

What the free tools do and where they stop

Google Family Link and Apple Screen Time are good and free, and every family should turn them on. But it is important to be honest about their limits. They control time: when apps can be used, bedtime, daily limits and which apps are allowed. They do not read the words inside chats. They will never tell you what a message says or warn you about a worrying word. For that you need message-safety alerts, and those are only possible on Android.

Where Safeinest helps — and where it cannot

Safeinest is honest about this, because knowing the words is only half the job. On Android, message-safety alerts can flag worrying words in messages and notifications. On an iPhone, Apple gives no app access to messages, so no app can read them. Here is the plain picture.

FeatureAndroid child phoneiPhone child phone
Message-safety alerts (self-harm, bullying, grooming words)Yes — on-device, with the child's consent screenNo. iOS gives no app access to messages
Pause apps, block now, bedtime, school hours, daily limitsYesYes, through Apple's Screen Time
Live location, safe zones, "tell me if they don't arrive"YesYes (needs location "Always")
Family calls, messages, SOS buttonYesYes
Safeinest Browser with SafeSearch and blocked sitesYesYes
Stop the child deleting the appYes (removal lock)No — Apple does not allow it

The rule of thumb is simple. Detection is Android. On iPhone you get strong limits, location and family tools, but no app reads iMessage or WhatsApp. You can see what Safeinest does on the features page.

The numbers

Phones arrive early. Ofcom in 2025 found that 56% of 10-year-olds and 83% of 11-year-olds own a smartphone, and 99% of 8 to 17-year-olds are online. Children often stay silent too. LGfL and Internet Matters report that 2 in 5 children who saw the worst thing online never told anyone. The WHO notes that worldwide 1 in 7 adolescents aged 10 to 19 has a mental disorder. Knowing the words is one small way to keep the door open.

What to say to your child

Keep it light. Try: "I keep seeing words online I don't know, can you teach me one?" Do not ban the slang, because that pushes it underground. Say you will not read over their shoulder, but you are always there if something online ever feels wrong. A calm parent who asks questions is worth more than any filter.

If you need help now

If you are worried about your child's safety right now, you are not alone. Children can talk to Childline free on 0800 1111 at any time. Adults can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000. In an emergency, call 999. Outside the UK, call your local emergency number or your country's child helpline. If you are seeing warning signs of someone targeting your child, read our guide on grooming warning signs.

Common questions

What does unalive mean?

"Unalive" is a coded way to write kill or die. Teens use it to get past app filters that block the real words, so it appears a lot in harmless memes and jokes about being tired or bored. It only becomes a concern when a child uses it about themselves, or alongside low mood, withdrawal or goodbye messages. Stay calm, ask gently, and keep the conversation open rather than reacting to the word itself.

What does sus mean?

"Sus" is short for suspicious. It means something or someone seems a bit off, dodgy or not to be trusted. It became popular through online games and is now everyday teen talk. It is completely harmless and not a warning sign on its own. If your child says a message or a person online is "sus", that can actually be a good thing, because it means they noticed something felt wrong.

Is rizz a bad word?

No, "rizz" is not a bad word. It means charm or the skill of flirting, so saying someone "has rizz" just means they are good at talking to people they like. It comes from the word charisma. It is lighthearted and harmless. There is no need to worry or step in if your child uses it. It is simply part of normal teenage conversation about crushes and confidence.

What does CD9 mean?

"CD9" or "Code 9" means "parent over shoulder" — a warning to stop talking because an adult is watching. "POS" means the same thing. On its own it is often just teens wanting privacy, which is normal at their age. Worry if you see it used a lot, or if it is tied to hiding who they talk to, older contacts or secret accounts. The pattern matters far more than the single code.

How do I know if my child is hiding something?

Look for changes, not single clues. Watch for a child who hides their screen, deletes messages, has new accounts you did not know about, or whose mood drops after being online. Codes like CD9 or secret second accounts can be part of it. None of these alone proves a problem. The honest answer is that no app reads messages on an iPhone, so a calm, regular conversation is still your strongest tool.

Should I ban slang words?

Banning words rarely works and usually backfires. Most slang is harmless fun and part of belonging with friends, so a ban can push it underground and make your child less likely to come to you. A better approach is curiosity. Ask them to explain a word, show you are interested rather than judging, and save your real attention for the few terms and patterns that signal genuine risk.

What emojis mean drugs?

In some chats, certain emojis advertise drugs for sale, such as a snowflake, a pill, a maple leaf, a bolt, a rocket or a plug symbol for a dealer. But these emojis also appear in completely innocent ways every day, so one emoji proves nothing. The warning signs are context: prices, a new seller contact, or a "plug" offering to supply. Look at the whole conversation before drawing any conclusion.

Can an app tell me what my child is really saying?

It depends on the phone. On Android, Safeinest message-safety alerts can flag worrying words in messages and notifications, on the device and with the child's consent screen. On an iPhone, Apple gives no app any access to messages, so no app can read iMessage or WhatsApp — that is a limit of the phone, not the app. Be wary of any product that claims it can read messages on an iPhone.

What does sewerslide mean?

"Sewerslide" is a coded spelling of the word suicide, used to slip past filters that block the real term. Unlike many slang words, this one is worth taking seriously whenever it refers to your child or one of their friends. Stay calm, do not panic, and open a gentle conversation. If you are worried about immediate safety, call 999, and remember Childline is free on 0800 1111 at any hour.

Does meaning change over time?

Yes, constantly. Teen slang moves fast, spreads between apps and often flips meaning within months. A word that means one thing this year can mean something completely different next year, and the same word can be a harmless joke in one group and a real signal in another. That is why context always beats any dictionary. Use lists like this as a starting point, then look at who, how often and the mood around it.

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