An Analysis of the New English Slang Words on TikTok: A Semantic Study

Azeez, Israa Bahram; Abdulwahid, Huda Yaseen; Abbasian, Marjan; Hosseini, Rozhin

doi:10.25130/Lang.9.3.P1.10

	An Analysis of the New English Slang Words on TikTok: A Semantic Study
Journal of Language Studies
Volume 9, Issue 3, Part 1, September 2025, Pages 185-202 PDF (565.75 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.25130/Lang.9.3.P1.10
Authors
Israa Bahram Azeez¹; Huda Yaseen Abdulwahid²; Marjan Abbasian³; Rozhin Hosseini³
¹University of Tikrit
²International University of Erbil
³Cihan University
Abstract
TikTok is one of the most frequently utilized platforms by the young generation, and the language employed on the platform is developing rapidly and is characterized by using novel slang words, abbreviations, and acronyms that are incomprehensible to users outside the TikTok community. It is crucial to study these new language elements to understand the nature of language development and to facilitate better communication. This paper aims to identify the most common words and abbreviations used by TikTok users, analyze their word class (noun, verb, adjective, or adverb), and examine their literal and contextual meaning. Additionally, the paper seeks to determine the extent to which these words and abbreviations deviate from the conventional English language norms. To achieve these objectives and collect data, 100 random videos featuring a variety of content were watched on TikTok from different pages. After watching the videos, 60 words and abbreviations were selected for detailed analysis. The data was analyzed qualitatively following a semantic approach. The analysis revealed that TikTok users have coined many novel terms, expressions, interjections, abbreviations, and acronyms to enhance simplicity, brevity, and time-saving. Some words were employed with contextual meanings that differ from their dictionary definitions, while other words are extended based on their connotation, these words convey a sense of community and carry an emotional resonance. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that the language on TikTok is significantly influenced by movies, songs, music, YouTube videos, trends, and hashtags hence, leading to the appearance of many interjections that are based on sound and music integration.
Keywords
Abbreviation on social media; Gen Z words; literal and contextual meaning; TikTok slang words

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