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Slang Words Starting with I
Below is a complete list of Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang words beginning with I that are used or popularized to help people understand the way the younger generations communicate. These slang words are constantly evolving and being updated, and their meanings may change as the way young people communicate changes.
| Slang Word | Definition | Examples | Variations | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
I oop | Used to express shock, embarrassment, and or amusement.. | "Did she just fall? I oop." | And I Oop | Originated from drag queen Jasmine Masters in a 2015 YouTube video, stated after she apparently "hit her balls." It went viral in March 2019 as an Internet meme and became associated with VSCO girls. |
ICYMI | In Case You Missed It. ICYMI is often used to highlight or re-share information that might have been overlooked. | ICYMI, they announced the exam dates yesterday.ICYMI, here's the link to the new trailer.Just a heads-up, ICYMI, meeting's been moved to Friday. | ||
IDGAF | "I don't give a f*ck" It's similar to when someone says "I don't care.". IDGAF is often used when trying to stress that one does not care about something, typically among close friends. | IDGAF what they think, I'm doing it my way.He says he IDGAF, but you can tell he's hurt.IDGAF about the gossip, it's all noise to me. | ||
IDTS | A way of disagreeing with someone politely. IDTS is often used to express disagreement without being too harsh or confrontational. | IDTS, that doesn't sound right to me.She might come to the party, but IDTS.Think it'll rain today? IDTS, looks clear. | ||
IIRC | Used before stating something you believe to be true but are not entirely certain of. IIRC is often used when recalling information or events but acknowledging the possibility of being incorrect. | IIRC, the meeting is at 3 PM today.You were at the last event, IIRC?He won the award last year, IIRC. | ||
IJBOL | An acronym for the phrase "I just burst out laughing", a version of "lmao.". | "You're hilarious, IJBOL." | IJBOL, jbol | Dates back to 2009 as an alternate version of "lmao" or "lol" but is lately popularized into mainstream Twitter culture through the K-pop stan community in 2021, reaching its current level of use today. |
IKR | "I know, right?" It's a variant of "Yeah I know, right?". IKR is often used to imply agreement during conversations over text or in person. | IKR? It's obviously the best solution.He's so funny, ikr?This weather is amazing, ikr? | ||
IRL | In Real Life. IRL is often used to distinguish between online interactions and real-world experiences. | He's so different IRL compared to his online persona.We need to meet IRL, not just text.IRL interactions are just better, you know? | ||
IT girl/IT boy | A person with an effortlessly cool and trendy style. IT girl/IT boy is often used to describe someone who is very fashionable, popular, and trendsetting. | She's the IT girl of our school, everyone knows her.He became the IT boy of the tech world overnight.Every club wants an IT girl to boost their profile. | ||
Iykyk | Acronym for "If you know, you know." Used to describe inside jokes.. | "I'm not saying this, but well....iykyk." | If you know, you know | Defined in Urban Dictionary in 2016. Became a popular hashtag on TikTok in 2019. |
Ick | Term used to refer to a sudden feeling of disgust or repulsion to a dating partner someone was previously attracted to.. | "He gave me the ick.""Ew, that was icky." | Icky | The term in reference to dating comes from the 1999 episode "Once in a Lifetime" from the TV Show Ally McBeal. In the episode, Ally refers to not being attracted to someone as "the ick." The reality show Love Island helped popularize the term, as several cast members would use the phrase. By the early 2020s the term became very popular on social media and as a result was profiled by mainstream media outlets. |
It's giving | Describe the attitude or connotation of something or someone. Can also be used to give general admiration toward something.. | "It's giving yuck.""Your makeup today is giving.""It's giving millennial." | It's giving very much, It's very much giving | Exact origin unknown. A possible start was with influencer Rolling Ray, a Black disabled gay man who repeatedly used the phrase in a 2019 appearance on Divorce Court. According to The Atlantic, the phrase was derived from Black and Brown ball culture. The phrase was heavily popularized in 2020 on Twitter was further popularized by a November 2022 article by Paper which used the phrase in the title of an article detailing Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello's breakup. |
iPad kid | Derogatory term describing Generation Alpha children who spend most of their time staring at phone or tablet screens.. | "That iPad kid went ballistic in the restaurant after his mom took his iPad away." | iPad kids | The term was popularized in January 2021 after a 21-year old Gen Z TikToker criticized Millennial parents for allowing excessive screen time for their children, saying "I need everyone else in my generation to promise that we are not going to raise 'iPad children.' ... You've been shoving media and screens in these kids' faces since birth." He concludes: "Gen Z isn’t allowed to raise iPad kids." The viral video garnered more than 525 million views on TikTok. |