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Talk Like a College Pro: 50+ College Terms and Slang Words

In the era of GenZ, knowing how they talk on campus makes a huge difference if you’re a freshman or if you’re an international student who wants to keep up. Whether you’re trying to decode a “cram session,” wondering what “meal swipes” are, or hearing someone say they’re “broke AF,“ this guide has you covered.

Here’s your core course load in American college terms, slang, and student lingo so you can blend in, connect faster, and enjoy the whole student experience. Remember, Mastering campus slang won’t boost your GPA, but it’ll help you feel at home and make connections faster.

College Terms and Slang

What Does "Term" Mean in College?

In college, a term usually refers to a part of the academic year, like college admission, a semester, a quarter, or a trimester. For example, most U.S. colleges run on a semester system: fall and spring terms.

However, this article uses “terms” to mean phrases and slang words in 2025, which allow students to use them commonly. Some are casual, some are regional, and some come and go fast. But together, they form the language of campus life.

General College Term and Slang

These are the big-picture words among college students you’ll hear across every campus.

  • Freshie – A nickname for a freshman (first-year student)
  • Syllabus week (or “Syllabus szn”) – The first week of the term, used when things are still chill
  • Caf – The dining hall or cafeteria
  • Drop/Add – The period when students can switch classes without penalty
  • W – Short for “Withdrawal“ from a course
  • Pass/fail – A grading option where you either pass or fail, without affecting GPA

Academic Slang

Welcome to the world of classes, pop quizzes, and way too many late-night snacks. Here’s how students really talk about school life:

  • Cram – When you try to learn everything the night before the test.
  • Gen Eds – General education courses required for all students
  • GPA Boosters – Easy classes taken to raise GPA
  • TA – Teaching Assistant (usually a grad student helping a professor)
  • Midterms – Exams halfway through the term
  • Finals – End-of-term exams that determine most of your grade
  • Audit – Taking a class without receiving credit or a better grade
  • Office hours – Set times when professors or TAs are available for questions
  • Curve – A grading adjustment that can bump your score higher

Campus Life & Social Terms

Beyond the class room and board, these words and phrases used to describe someone living and the campus vibe:

  • Dorm – A residence hall or student housing
  • RA – Resident Assistant, the person who manages dorm life
  • Meal swipes – Preloaded credits you use to “pay“ for dining hall meals
  • Rec center – Campus fitness facility or gym
  • Greek life – The fraternity and sorority system
  • Rush week – Recruitment period for Greek life
  • Co-op – A work-study hybrid program (especially in engineering/business field of study)

Party Scene & Social Slang

You’ll hear these at dorm hangouts, tailgates, and house parties:

  • Pre-game (or “pre”) – Hanging out before a party, often with drinks
  • Thirsty Thursday – A popular night to go out (because Friday classes are rare)
  • Rager – A big, wild party
  • Hangry – Hungry + Angry = dangerous combo
  • Squad – Your friend group or main crew
  • Clapback – A clever or savage response
  • Flake – Someone who cancels plans last minute
  • Slaps – Used to describe something or someone great (e.g., “This playlist slaps”)

Online & Tech Terms College Students Use

Digital life is college life now.  According to the college experience, here’s the current slang for school and social platforms:

  • Canvas / Blackboard – The online portal where new students submit work and see grades
  • Zoom University – A Sarcastic term for college or university during remote learning
  • DM me – “Direct message me“ (via Instagram, Discord, etc.)
  • FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out
  • SMH – Shaking My Head
  • LOL – Laughing Out Loud (still common despite its age)
  • GroupMe – A messaging app often used for group projects or dorm chats
  • Ghost – To ignore someone after texting or hanging out

Money & Hustle Slang

Most of the students deal with tight budgets, side jobs, and money from financial aid. Here’s how they usually talk about it:

  • Broke AF – When you’ve got barely any cash and payday feels far away.
  • Side hustle – A small job or gig you do on the side to bring in extra money.
  • Scholarship stack – Getting more than one scholarship to help pay for school.
  • FAFSA – Not slang, but a big deal. It’s the form that helps you get financial aid. Do it every year.
  • Ramen budget – Living super cheap, like eating instant noodles to save money.

Motivation, Mood & Mental Health Terms

College isn’t just about academic transcripts, it’s a mental grind. These phrases speak to that:

  • Hot mess – Someone whose life feels chaotic or disorganized
  • Glow-up – A personal transformation (looks, attitude, confidence)
  • Vibe check – Checking the mood or energy in a room
  • Burnout – Mental and physical exhaustion from stress or overwork
  • Grind – The hustle of nonstop work or area of study.
  • Snapped – Did something unexpectedly wild (positive or negative)

Slang That's Fading (Or Only Found in Certain Regions)

Some slang sticks around. Others are dying off or are only used in specific parts of the U.S.

Slang That’s Fading:

  • YOLO – You Only Live Once (still around but rarely serious)
  • Totes – Short for “totally“ (now ironic)
  • Lit – Still means fun or wild, but slightly outdated

Regional Slang:

  • Hella – Very or a lot (West Coast)
  • Wicked – Very (Northeast, especially Boston)
  • Mad – Also means “very“ (e.g., “That exam was mad hard“ – used in New York)
  • Bet – Agreement or confirmation (nationwide, but more common slang in urban campuses)

How to Keep Up with College Slang?

Language changes fast, especially with Gen Z slang around. Here’s how to keep up:

  1. Listen in: Hallway convos, group chats, and late-night dorm rants are goldmines.
  2. Ask casually: If you don’t get a word, no stress. Most people will explain it if you just ask.
  3. Use Urban Dictionary: It’s updated glossary daily with new slang and definitions.
  4. Reddit + TikTok: Subreddits like r/college or TikTok trends are great for seeing how graduate students must talk these days.
  5. Watch memes: If you see the same word on Instagram or Twitter, it’s probably trending on campus, too.

Mastering campus slang won’t boost your GPA, but it’ll help you feel at home. You’ll connect better, laugh more, and feel part of the college world instead of watching from the sidelines.

So, whether you’re a freshman trying to vibe check your dorm or someone wondering what a GPA booster is, you’re already ahead by learning. Try using one of these terms today. Or better yet, drop your favorite college slang in the comments.

FAQs

  • What are funny college terms?

Funny terms include “hot mess,” “Zoom University,” “hangry,“ and “thirsty Thursday,” often used in a humorous or self-deprecating way.

  • How do college students talk online?

Students use platforms like GroupMe, Discord, and Instagram DMs. They frequently use slang such as FOMO, SMH, LOL, and “ghosting.”

  • What is a PG student?

“PG“ means postgraduate, a student pursuing a degree after their bachelor of arts or bachelor of science (like a master’s degree or PhD).

  • What are PLM students called?

PLM refers to Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (in the Philippines). Students are often referred to as PLMayers.

  • What is the proper term for college?

In the U.S., “college“ and “university“ are often used interchangeably. Formally, it depends on the type of institution (college = undergrad focus, university = has graduate programs).

  • What are GenZ words?

Popular GenZ words on campus include “vibe,” “sus,” “bet,” “cap/no cap,” “slay,“ and “snatched.”

  • What does “terms“ mean in college?

“Terms“ can refer to semesters (academic periods) or commonly used phrases and slang among students.