New York has always had its own language — from deadass to mad brick. But the city’s latest slang searches look a little different.
A new analysis of Google searches reveals the words New Yorkers are turning to the search bar to decode. And while some of the words may sound familiar, others (and their meanings) might leave you feeling very, well, unc.
These are the slang words New Yorkers are searching for most
According to the study, “chud” takes the No. 1 spot among New York’s most searched slang words, followed by “larping,” “bird,” “chopped,” and “unc.” The words span everything from insults to relationship terminology to a term commonly used online to describe someone older.
Here’s what each one actually means.
1. Chud
“Chud” is generally used to describe a foolish, obnoxious, or unpleasant person, particularly someone perceived as a troll or generally unlikeable.
2. Larping
You might associate “LARPing” with live-action role-playing, but that’s not necessarily what people mean when they use the slang term today, though it is similar. In online slang, “larping” can refer to pretending to be someone you’re not or faking a particular lifestyle or persona.
3. Bird
Unlike NYC’s bustling pigeon population, in slang, “bird” can refer to someone who behaves foolishly in romantic relationships, depending on the context in which it’s used. But who knows, maybe the pigeon dating scene here in the city also has it’s ups and downs.
4. Chopped
“Chopped” has nothing to do with our beloved chopped cheeses. When used as slang to describe a person, “chopped” generally means unattractive.
5. Unc
If someone calls you “unc,” they’re probably not talking about your actual uncle. The slang term is generally used to describe someone perceived as older, often in a teasing or dismissive way.
Why is New York searching for these slang words?
Slang has always evolved quickly, but social media has accelerated just how fast new words and meanings can spread. A term can move from TikTok or another corner of the internet into everyday conversation almost overnight, leaving anyone who isn’t chronically online wondering what exactly everyone is talking about.
And New York is hardly immune to the trend. The city’s famously colorful vocabulary has evolved alongside newer internet slang, creating a language all its own.
New York slang is always changing
Of course, this isn’t New York’s first brush with a language all its own. We’ve previously rounded up the NYC slang terms that visitors might have trouble understanding, but the latest list shows just how quickly internet language is changing.
Today’s slang words can sound completely unfamiliar in just a few years, while words that once dominated conversations can quickly disappear. That makes lists like this a snapshot of what New Yorkers are curious about right now—even if some of these terms may already feel very 2026.
And there you have it—you’re officially caught up on the latest New York slang, so you can stop larping that you know what everyone is talking about. Maybe.