Every generation is defined by its slang. You may have been a hippie in the 1960s or a goth in 1990s. When you were a Mighty Cardinal, you most definitely used some kind of far-out slang. 

Just as in high school, today's Chi-Hi students have their own slang they use when chillaxin' with their peeps. Some words are seemingly timeless ("bad" and "cool" can still mean "good"), while others may not make sense to us old folks ("tea" has nothing to do with a hot beverage).

This list is not exhaustive, and you likely had your own special phrases you used when you were a Mighty Cardinal. Even if you don't know what on Earth the kids are saying these days, it's fun to explore how slang has changed through the decades.  

When you greet your friends

When you walked into the halls of Chi-Hi, what did you say when you saw your clique, posse or crew? 

• 1960s: Lay it on me
• 1970s: What's crackin'?
• 1980s: Yello!
• 1990s: What’s the 411?
• 2000s: Wassup?
• Now: What up, fam?

When something is good

Parents are always confused whether their kids are saying that something is bad or good. For decades, "bad" has meant "good," and the same is true today. Here are some other ways you might have talked about the latest trend:

• 1960s: Groovy
• 1970s: Funky
• 1980s: Bomb
• 1990s: All that and a bag of chips
• 2000s: Dope
• Now: Lit 

When saying yes

A simple "yes" often isn’t good enough. Each generation puts its own spin on letting friends know that they agree or understand. 

• 1960s: Dig it
• 1970s: Right on
• 1980s: Totally
• 1990s: Aight 
• 2000s: Fo shizzle
• Now: Okurr

When you dislike something

Sometimes, you had to let everyone know that something was so not your bag. You might have shut down a friend's terrible idea with one of these:

• 1960s: Grody
• 1970s: Up your nose with a rubber hose
• 1980s: Gag me with a spoon
• 1990s: As if
• 2000s: Whack
• Now: Sus 

What you called your friends

Your friends were a huge part of your experience at Chi-Hi — and likely still are! Which one of these did you use to refer to your friend group?

• 1960s: Dudes
• 1970s: Brother
• 1980s: Homeboy/homegirl
• 1990s: Peeps
• 2000s: Dawgs
• Now: Squad

When saying goodbye

When your curfew was almost here and you had to leave the party after a Mighty Cardinals win, you might have yelled one of these to your friends:

• 1960s: Hang loose
• 1970s: Catch you on the flip side
• 1980s: Later days
• 1990s: Outie 5000
• 2000s: Let's dip
• Now: Deuces

While teenage life looks different for Chippewa Falls students across the decades, we are all united by our need to create a language just for ourselves. Which words were you throwing around when you were a student (that you may still use today)?