Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Mimi Bomba has discovered that watching too many podcasts can have an unexpected side effect: making English feel like a foreign language. The problem is not complicated vocabulary or difficult grammar, but a growing collection of initials and slang that can leave even an experienced English speaker wondering what everyone is talking about.
Okay, I have been watching too many podcasts. Here is how I know that. I feel as though I’m having to learn English all over again! And what are all these initials? I am so confused. I can figure out IDK, IDC, FR, and RN, but what is SMFH? SYL? GTFO? Does sus mean suspicious? What does No Cap mean?
Turns out it’s easier to understand Spanish than Gen Z English!
I figured some of them out. SYL is See you later. GTFO is Get the F… Out! I think No Cap means definitely – I think. I don’t know and I don’t care are easy. FR is for Real and RN is Right Now. But I can’t figure out SMFH…
I just asked Ms. Google. It means Shaking My F…ing Head. Yikes! I don’t think I want to learn anymore. Back to studying Spanish.
TIA and LOL,
Mimi Bomba
Writing with warmth, wit, and a deep affection for Puerto Vallarta, MiMi Bomba draws inspiration from classic humorists while creating a style all her own. Her stories celebrate the people, places, and experiences that make life in Puerto Vallarta both unpredictable and rewarding. Click HERE to read more essays by MiMi Bomba.
