Bingo! You Got the Lingo!

There is perhaps nothing more embarrassing than trying to relate to someone while using the wrong words or lingo in the wrong context. People will laugh at you, think you are not hip, or think you’re trying too hard to relate.
So what are you supposed to do if you don’t know what a word means? Don’t be embarrassed. If you don’t know, ask “what do you mean by ___?” This way, you add a new word to your vocabulary.
If you can speak a person’s language, you usually have that person on your team, because you can identify with one another and know what the other is really trying to communicate. When I first started doing talk shows I didn’t always understand the language that was spoken. However, as time went on, I have learned how to both speak and understand some of today’s hippest words. I have learned how to talk “street.”
Chillin’ does not mean sticking something in the refrigerator. It means to relax or hang out. Fly doesn’t mean that pesky insect that sits on your hamburgers when you’re picnicking. Instead, it means great looking—sexy. If someone thinks they are all that, they are full of themselves and think they’re fly. Bad means good. Homey does not mean a cozy house, nor do homes mean a group of houses. Derived from the word homeboys, neighborhood gang members, it means buddy or close friend. An even closer friend is a bro, which can also be used as a greeting. “Hey bro wuss happenin’ man” means “Hello, how are you?” When you kick ‘em to the curb, you aren’t literally using your feet to push them over the edge of the pavement. Instead, you are getting rid of someone with whom you haven’t had a happenin’ (good, working) relationship.

Know What You're Talking About!

“A little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” so make sure you know quite a bit about a subject before you spout off. If you're giving someone information, make sure it's the right information. Otherwise keep quiet! There is nothing more annoying than a “know-it-all” who knows nothing.
If you're unfamiliar with a topic, don't be afraid to say so and ask questions of people.
If they are impatient with you or act as thought they think you are stupid for asking, let them know in no uncertain terms that they are out of line. Their intolerance certainly tells you a lot about how toxic they are. So watch out for them! Their actions may have revealed that they are a person from whom you need to keep your distance.

Getting Deeper and Deeper.

Let’s say the conversation is going quite well. You discover more and more about one another. You’re learning about your similarities as well as your differences. If you understand the person and can relate when you talk about specific topics or philosophies, there is a greater chance that this person will feel more favorably towards you—even become part of your life. If you enjoy the same topics and can speak each other’s language (and that doesn’t just mean standard English!), you’re both doing well.