The 1980s were a blast from the past where everything cool had its own special word.
This was the decade that turned up the volume on fun slang, giving us phrases like “rad,” “gnarly,” and “totally tubular.”
It was a time when style, music, and language came together in a totally unique way.
So, let’s put on our favorite ’80s tracks and dive into the slang that made the decade truly unforgettable.
Ready to flashback to a time when cool was king?
Let’s go!
1980’s Slang For Cool
Awesome
A term that expressed general admiration, widely used for anything impressive.
Examples in sentences:
- “Did you see that new skateboard trick? It was totally awesome!”
- “The concert last night was awesome, I can’t believe we got front row seats!”
- “She got an A on her test without even studying. That’s awesome!”
Bitchin’
Used to describe something that’s extremely cool or excellent.
Examples in sentences:
- “Have you heard the latest Van Halen album? It’s absolutely bitchin’!”
- “He just got a new sports car, it’s totally bitchin’.”
- “That party last night was bitchin’, best one of the year.”
Bodacious
A term that combined boldness with audacity, often used to describe attractive people or impressive things.
Examples in sentences:
- “The waves today are bodacious, perfect for surfing!”
- “She’s not just beautiful, she’s bodacious!”
- “That stunt you pulled on your bike was bodacious!”
Cowabunga
Expressed exhilaration or enthusiasm, especially in the context of surfing or skateboarding.
Examples in sentences:
- “Cowabunga! That was the best wave I’ve ever caught!”
- “He shouted ‘Cowabunga!’ as he launched into the pool from the rooftop.”
- “Cowabunga, dude! We aced our finals!”
Dope
Meant cool or awesome, often used to describe music, clothes, or situations.
Examples in sentences:
- “That new track is so dope, I can’t stop listening to it.”
- “Have you seen his new kicks? They’re pretty dope.”
- “The way you solved that problem was dope.”
Fly
Used to describe someone’s style or attractiveness as cool or trendy.
Examples in sentences:
- “Did you see her outfit? She’s so fly!”
- “That new haircut makes you look really fly.”
- “I need to buy some fly clothes for the party this weekend.”
Fresh
Indicated something new, cool, and trendy, particularly in fashion and music.
Examples in sentences:
- “Those sneakers are absolutely fresh, where did you get them?”
- “This beat is fresh, it’s nothing like I’ve heard before.”
- “He’s always wearing the freshest gear.”
Gnarly
Originally surf slang, it described something extreme, whether good or bad, but often impressive.
Examples in sentences:
- “That skateboard trick was gnarly, I can’t believe you landed it!”
- “We hit some gnarly traffic on the way here.”
- “He caught a gnarly wave at the beach today.”
Rad
Short for radical, it was a catch-all term for anything cool or impressive.
Examples in sentences:
- “Did you see that movie? It was totally rad!”
- “That jump you did on your bike was rad!”
- “These video games are rad, I could play them all day.”
Stoked
Meant to be excited or enthusiastic about something.
Examples in sentences:
- “I’m so stoked for the concert this weekend!”
- “He was stoked to get the lead role in the play.”
- “We’re all stoked about the road trip next month.”
Totally
Used for emphasis, it reinforced the coolness or agreement with something.
Examples in sentences:
- “That idea is totally brilliant!”
- “I’m totally into that new band you mentioned.”
- “She’s totally the best player on the team.”
Tubular
Another term borrowed from surf culture, used to describe something that’s excellent or cool.
Examples in sentences:
- “That new video game is tubular, I’ve never played anything like it!”
- “You solved the puzzle? Tubular!”
- “His performance on stage was absolutely tubular.”
Wicked
Used to describe something as cool or fantastic.
Examples in sentences:
- “That rollercoaster was wicked man!”
- “Your guitar playing is wicked!”
- “This pizza is wicked!”
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Founder -
@PollyWebster
Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.
Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.
Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.