Raising What does slay mean? The kids' slang, explained for parents
What does slay mean? In slang, "slay" means to do something amazingly well, especially a look or a performance; "Slay!" is like "You nailed it!" It comes from the Black, Latino, and queer ballroom culture of the 1970s and 80s, and spread through drag shows and pop music. It isn't rude.
Slay at a glance
| Means | To do something amazingly well; "Slay!" = "You nailed it!" |
|---|---|
| From | 1970s–80s ballroom culture, then drag and pop music source |
| Rude? | No |
Checked October 2026. Slang changes fast; meanings can differ between groups of kids.
What does slay mean?
Short answer: To do something amazingly well.
- "You slayed" or "Slay!" means you did great.
- "That outfit slays" means it looks amazing.
Kids also use it as a general cheer, the way earlier generations said "awesome."
Where slay comes from
According to Dictionary.com, the slang sense grew in the Black, Latino, and queer ballroom culture of the 1970s and 80s, where it meant a flawless look or performance. It reached a wider audience through the 1991 documentary Paris Is Burning, the show RuPaul's Drag Race, and Beyoncé's 2016 song "Formation." Dictionary.com notes that the term comes from Black queer culture, and that some people see casual uses as appropriation.
Is slay a bad word?
Short answer: No. Dictionary.com lists a rare sexual sense, but that's not what kids mean. In kids' use, it's praise.
The habit kids may copy: only the win counts
"Slay" is praise for a great result. Some kids start to feel that only great results count.
Try tonight: praise the try
Next time your child finishes something, name the effort, not the result: "You kept going when it got hard." In our program, this is the lesson "Not Yet": the trying matters.
FAQ
Is slay a bad word?
No. In kids' use it's praise. Dictionary.com lists a rare sexual sense that kids don't usually mean.
Where does slay come from?
From 1970s and 80s ballroom culture; it spread through drag shows and pop music.
How do kids use slay?
As a cheer: "Slay!" means "You nailed it!"
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Read next →Raising Stoics is a 12-week program for ages 5–6, built on Stoic philosophy and developmental psychology. One lesson is "Not Yet": the trying matters.