Imba, tilt and altushka: can teachers decipher school slang?

      August 31, 2026 16:49 Society In the modern world, schoolchildren actively use new words and expressions in their speech that may be unclear to adults: for example, "scammed a mammoth" (deceived a gullible person) and "altsushka for skuf." 360.ru decided to find out how teachers are trying to understand the language of the new generation. It turned out that educators do not always understand the meanings of the words their students use. Some of them hear these phrases for the first time and offer their own, sometimes unexpected, interpretations. For instance, the word "imba" is familiar to many teachers, but its meaning can vary. Some consider it something cool and positive, while others see it as a characteristic of a person's mood. "Something cool, that is, something that is liked. What is called 'passing'," explained one of the educators. The word "tilt" caused the most difficulties. One education worker suggested it was related to skill leveling, another thought it was the name of a cheese, and a third believed it was connected to irritation and loss of control. In fact, "tilt" means to get angry and lose control over oneself. The expression "to be in prime" turned out to be more understandable. Teachers concluded that it means to be in the best shape and constantly develop. The term "altsushka" sparked a lot of debate. One educator suggested it was related to cheat sheets, another to performing flips, while others associated it with an informal style in clothing and behavior. Ultimately, to accurately understand the meaning of this word, teachers decided to ask the students themselves. So, "altsushka" is a slang term for a representative of the youth subculture "alt." The word comes from the English alternative ("alternative, other"). School slang is indeed becoming a separate language with its own rules and features. While teachers are trying to make sense of new words, students are already coming up with new expressions that may become popular. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+