TikTok words and phrases you need to know

TikTok is fast becoming the most popular social media platform amongst the young generation. The social media giant has exploded in recent years, leaving a few of us feeling behind the times on the current slang. If you don’t want to take the L, read this article to become the CEO of TikTok lingo.

You might know already that POV is short for 'point of view'. On TikTok, the abbreviation is often used in a caption or a hashtag to let you know that the video shows the viewer’s point of view in the scenario.

Short for 'that feeling when'. TikTok videos with this in the caption usually show an emotional reaction by the TikToker, and a relatable caption such as 'TFW you do better in an exam than you thought.'

W is short for 'Win' or 'Winning'. When a user posts or comments a 'W', they are usually congratulating someone on their success or expressing approval. It’s the opposite of someone 'taking an L', which means to lose.

Another one relating to someone’s outfit or achievements is the phrase someone has ‘ate and left no crumbs’ meaning they have ‘killed it’ and left an impression. One person who definitely made an impression is pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter. The Espresso star shone at the Grammy Awards making her stage debut, alongside winning her first two awards of her career for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Album for Short n Sweet. You could say she 'ate and left no crumbs'.

The term 'cap' actually comes from fake gold teeth, which became a way of suggesting that something is inauthentic. Simply put, saying something is 'cap' is to say that it is fake or false. On the other hand, 'no cap' means authentic and true.

If a TikTok user has been shadowbanned, this means that their account has been partially blocked on the app. Their content won’t show up on the For You Page (FYP) and the video will get fewer views, likes, and comments. Shadowbanning is usually applied to people who post spam, threats, or inappropriate content.

This abbreviation is short for 'shaking my head'. It is used to express disapproval at something, or to say that you don’t believe it.

Contrary to popular opinion, no it doesn’t. The phrase ‘cooked’ means one is ‘finished’ or ‘done for’. It is commonly used in discourse on social media when referring to your own screw ups or someone else’s. For example, one could use the phrase with reference to Tottenham Hotspur's season… Spurs fans look away!

IYKYK is short for 'if you know, you know'. This is used as a way to indicate an inside joke, meme, or obscure reference. You might've seen it on the Bitesize website for example…

To get ‘ratioed’ on TikTok means that the person’s comment has more replies than likes, i.e. the ratio of comments to likes is high. This is generally a sign that people disagree with a comment.

The phrase ‘it’s giving’ is usually preceded by a noun/phrase to describe how someone looks or the vibe that they are bringing. For example, someone might describe an outfit they’ve seen someone wear as, ‘it’s giving girlboss.’ Another similar saying is ‘it’s serving’.

This popular social media phrase means something that a person can’t stop thinking about or get out of their head. It can be used to talk about things or people you love or that annoy you. For example: 'this cute dog photo lives in my head, rent-free'.

This phrase is used when describing someone’s appearance or level of attractiveness. People will post selfies with captions such as 'face card always valid' or “face card never expired” as a way of saying they are looking good.

Now that you know (you know), see if you can successfully navigate bias on social media. The Other Side of the Story has tonnes of quizzes on fake news and AI to help you take the W on sorting fact from fiction, on your FYP.

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