Ever wondered what your child meant when they used the word “pen” in their texts or talks? Slang languages often evolve, and the word “pen,” contrary to what it may seem, is commonly used to refer to a vape in youth colloquial language.
How 'Pen' Is Used?
Youngsters sometimes cryptically refer to the vaping equipment as 'pen'. It is disguised in simple sentences, which to an unaware person might seem innocuous. For example, your child might text something like, “pen ltr?” which translates to 'vape later?'. Similarly, “can I borrow your pen?” would ideally mean 'can I borrow your vape?' in kid's vernacular.
Conversation Starters About Slang
- Discussing the latest slang:
Start a conversation with something like – “What’s a new word you and your friends are using these days?”
This will help you stay updated with their communication style.
- Exchange of old and new colloquialisms:
You could use phrases that were popular during your time and try to understand their modern equivalents. A statement you could use is “When I was your age, people would say something was ‘all that and a bag of chips’ if it was awesome. How do you describe something as cool?”
- Understanding emoji language:
Words are not the only form of communication these days; emojis have their own meaning too. To get a deeper insight, you could ask “Are there any emojis I use that you think I shouldn’t?”
- Engaging them:
Make the conversation a bit fun and engaging by asking something like “If you could describe yourself using just one emoji, which one would you pick?”
Understanding slang is essential to keep track of modern youth behavior. As a source of trusted advice for parents, our blog aims to shed light on these changes to help parents maintain an open dialogue with their children.
Remember, the key is to keep communication channels open with your child, respect their privacy, while ensuring they are safe and informed.