Linguists weigh in on fast-evolving slang Malaysian youth are creating online that leaves boomers scratching their heads

Linguists weigh in on fast-evolving slang Malaysian youth are creating online that leaves boomers scratching their heads



Academics think that slang used appropriately is just a natural evolution of language. — Pexels pic

Tuesday, 07 Oct 2025 7:00 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — These days, chatting with Malaysian youth can feel like stepping into a live TikTok feed, confusing and packed with words you have never heard before.

One viral TikTok and suddenly everyone is speaking in what sounds like alien code, leaving teachers, parents and even some millennials wondering if subtitles are required in real life.

But what do linguists and language experts make of this phenomenon?

The evolution of language

Former Malaysian Linguistic Association president Prof Emeritus Datuk Nik Safiah Karim said this is not the downfall of language — or of Bahasa Melayu for that matter — but simply language doing what it has always done best: evolving.

Every generation, the professor pointed out, has invented its own vocabulary to mark itself apart. The only difference now is that slang travels at lightning speed thanks to TikTok and other social platforms.

“Language is alive because people use it. We have to accept that language evolves when speakers make changes. Young people enjoy playing with language.


“They are not destroying it, they are just being creative. The danger only comes when they forget to switch back in formal settings,” she told Malay Mail when contacted.

She said Malaysia, being proudly multilingual, has long practiced code-switching where speakers leap from Malay to English to Mandarin in the same breath.

She added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, for instance, is known for his polished language, sometimes borrowing turns of phrase that echo Indonesian usage.

“He knows that his speeches are closely watched, so he chooses his words carefully. He’s also introduced new terms, including Islamic or Indonesian expressions, which the public then adopts.

“That shows his love for language. Politicians experimenting with language can actually be very beneficial,” Nik Safiah said.

So, should Malaysians worry about their children talking in words that sound like gibberish? Not at all, says the professor.

In fact, she encourages young people to experiment with language, as long as it’s not used for insults or political provocation.

“I don’t see it as a threat. It’s a natural process in language evolution. But as Malaysian, we should show that our language is capable of functioning at an international level.

“That’s why, in international or official contexts, we must maintain standard Malay to prove its strength, just as Bahasa Indonesia has done,” she added.

Nik Safiah admits that she occasionally struggles to decode the latest internet lingo. Still, while she enjoys the creativity of slang, her advice comes with a gentle warning - always know your audience.

She said her biggest worry is that young people would drag their TikTok tongue into places where it clearly doesn’t belong, like a job interview.

“An interview demands formal language. You can’t be telling the panel you’re ‘low-key vibing’ with the position. That’s just not how it works.

“Slang is informal. It doesn’t belong in job applications, official speeches or formal writing,” she said.

Slang not ‘villain’

Senior lecturer in the Department of English Language, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University of Malaya Dr Nik Nur Ainin Soffiya Nik Mat said the use of TikTok language reflects the cultural fluidity of today’s youth.

She said that, as digital natives are raised not just with but by the internet, young people treat social media as a space they inhabit rather than visit.

“Social media is not somewhere they drop by now and then, it’s the neighbourhood they live in.

“That’s why their communication has become a hybrid of global and local and they take international trends from TikTok or pop culture, sprinkle in some local spice, and end up with a uniquely Malaysian brand of slang,” she added.

Agreeing with Nik Safiah, she said slang is not the villain behind declining language skills as the real issue may lie in how languages are taught.

She explained that slang will always slip into everyday chatter as trends come and go, but research shows that proficient speakers can comfortably switch between colloquial and standard forms depending on context.

“Take Malaysian English, for instance, we use its casual form in daily conversations, and its polished version in classrooms or offices. Slang belongs in the first camp, and that doesn’t mean it weakens the second,” she said.

She pointed to kacip as a fascinating example of evolving slang, noting how the word once referred to a nut-cracking tool and later to describe the restless buzz of stimulant drug users, according to Public Health Malaysia.

Now, in its latest TikTok incarnation, she said borak kacip has nothing to do with nuts or narcotics but simply means talking rubbish.

Nik Soffiya also said slang can certainly make their way into dictionaries if they gain widespread and sustained use, pointing to “rizz” crowned Oxford English Dictionary’s Word of the Year in 2023 as proof that what begins as TikTok slang could, within months, end up as an official entry.

Rizz is a slang noun meaning style, charm or attractiveness, particularly the ability to attract a romantic partner. The word is thought to have evolved from “charisma,” clipped from its middle syllables.

The same way the Oxford English Dictionary has officially added the word ‘lah’ to its entries, recognising the distinctiveness of Malaysian English.

For Lim Jia Wei, a Universiti Malaya education researcher who specialises in literature in language education, slang is not just about sounding trendy but belonging.

She explained that language is deeply tied to identity, and using certain words helps young people signal who’s “in the group.”

“The use of a specific discourse creates a sense of identity and belonging among its users, hence creating a sense of shared identity.

“It is not difficult to see how having words specific to their group and community is seen as a strength and marker of their unique identity,” she said.

Where today’s youth throw around “no cap”, “ate”, “queen”, or the localised ytjt (yang tahu je tahu), she said the older generations once thought “cool” or “rad” was the height of vocabulary.

Even Shakespeare, she added, was something of a slang king, inventing words like “gossip” and “lonely” that slipped into everyday use.

Examples of current internet slang 

1. Delulu – Short for “delusional,” playfully describing someone overly optimistic or out of touch with reality.
2. NPC – “Non-Playable Character,” used for someone predictable or unoriginal.
3. Ate / Eat – Short for “ate that,” meaning someone did something exceptionally well.
4. Mid – Short for “middle,” describing something average or unimpressive.
5. No Cap – Means “no lie” or “seriously.”
6. Slaps – Something really good or impressive.
7. Ngam soi – Perfect or just right.
8. Muka awam – Ordinary or average-looking face.
9. Mantul – Combination of mantap + betul, meaning awesome or impressive.
10. Pishang – From pisang (banana), describing extreme boredom or inactivity.
11. Terpaling – Acting superior or “the best,” often sarcastically.