What Does 80s slang Mean and Why Is It Trending Again?

[davidcharlie]

I’ve been hearing a lot of 80s slang lately on social media and even in some shows, and I’m curious about what some of the common terms actually mean. Words like “rad,” “gnarly,” and “tubular” keep popping up, but I’m not totally sure how they were originally used back in the day. Was 80s slang mostly influenced by movies and pop culture, or did it come from specific groups like surfers or teens? Also, is there a list of the most popular 80s slang terms with their meanings? Would love to hear from anyone who grew up in the 80s or knows a lot about this era!

 

[govind]

80s slang refers to informal, expressive words and phrases popular in the 1980s (e.g., “rad,” “totally,” “gnarly”). It’s trending again due to nostalgia, retro media, and pop culture revivals celebrating 80s style and language.

 

[Thomas]

‘80s slang refers to words and phrases popular in the 1980s . It captured the fun, rebellious pop culture of the decade. It’s trending again because of nostalgia, retro style in fashion, TV shows and social media, and younger people finding the old terms playful and expressive, bringing them back into modern conversation.

 

[Evan]

80s slang refers to fun words and phrases popular in the 1980s, like rad, totally, and gnarly, often used to show excitement or style. It’s trending again because of retro fashion, movies, and nostalgia culture. Younger people enjoy the quirky, upbeat vibe and use it for humor or as a callback to vintage pop culture.