There are 974 million Twitter accounts. That is a lot of people. Everyone goes on Twitter for different reasons. Because of this, Twitter communities have formed around particular interests. Also, specific slang has been added and used within many different communities. Some of the words make no sense without the context, so we are here to clear it up. It is time to add some new Twitter slang to your vocabulary!
Image via Google Images
Locals
Locals? Isn’t this someone who’s a resident of the area? There is now an additional definition thanks to Twitter. Twitter users from all different communities have now adopted this word to replace the word “normies”. Most of the time, you will see this word followed by a colon and a sentence. This sentence will usually exaggerate a task such as reading Milk and Honey in the bathtub and make it seem like it is the greatest thing on Earth. Still with me? To be clear, the one tweeting it isn’t the local, they are just writing about one. The word encapsulates a person from your town or area doing something generic. “Locals” carries a comedic flair and makes for a good joke if executed correctly. Yes, it is poking fun, but sometimes it is just too relatable. It becomes too real when you realize you possess some “local tendencies”. Who knows, maybe you just might be a local.
Image via Google Images
Queen
“YASSSSS QUEEN!” A statement that exhibits your complete support and love for someone. Queen has many origins, but in the Twitter community, it has gained its popularity from drag culture. It has transitioned into the Twitter-verse and is now used in many different contexts. You have probably also heard the phrase “yas queen” referenced in a multitude of shows including Broad City. Within communities on Twitter, this word is used differently. A specific community uses the word “skinny queen” for a tweet that displays someone exercising, eating healthy, or just an amazing individual. Yes, it does not have exact criteria. The motive behind the word is to support others and to cheer them on. Oddly enough, it is used frequently to describe Mariah Carey. Whenever queen is used, it is displaying someone who deserves to be praised! It could be your best friend, your mom, an Instagram model, and even yourself. Self-empowerment is important too, ladies! We live in a society where we need to encourage one another and praise the ones we love. Let us all celebrate the queens in our lives!
Image via Google Images
Tea
Okay so, what exactly is this tea? When this word is in a phrase, it is used to represent someone else’s drama that is particularly juicy. You may see this word flooding your timeline when reality shows air and especially when RuPaul’s Drag Race is on. The word tea originated from the drag community to portray drag drama. It has since transitioned into a word that hints at some highly sought-after information. This tea can be described and therefore, can possess different significances. Sipping the tea means that you are listening in on drama. If the tea is split, that means that their tidbit has been exposed. However, this word does not have to convey that you’re exposing secrets. Another popular example is shown in the form of tweeting out unpopular opinions. Pineapple on pizza? Milk before cereal? Foundation before eye makeup? Chipotle over Freebirds? You may see opinions like this followed with the word tea and that indicates that the tweeter is ready to defend that opinion. They feel so passionate about it, that they are willing to fight in it’s honor. It basically opens up a discussion. However tea may be used, it does not always need to incorporate a negative implication because at the end of the day it is Twitter and we are all in for the tea.
Image via Google Images
Wig
Yes, this word does have to do with a wig– just a metaphoric one. This word comes from the action of pulling someone’s wig off their head. “Snatching my wig” stems back to a YouTube video from 2009. In this video, a Brazilian drag queen has her wig snatched on live television (shown above). It gets even better, it was pulled by someone who had lost the competition. From there, a phrase was born. It has since been shortened to wig. It may be shorter, but it has not lost its meaning. This word is now said to embody someone’s excitement or their shock at how much they love something. It is used when someone thinks something is amazing. For example, when your favorite artist posts a sneak peek of their next album– that is a wig moment. Other forms of this word include their wigs taking orbit. This represents that their excitement is so extreme that it is out of this world. Imagine, getting Chipotle after a long day at school. That is an illustration of an orbiting wig moment. Though we have all witnessed many wig pulling moments on reality television, rest assured because you will not be so angry when your virtual wig is pulled.