The Language of Gamers: How Online Communities Develop Their Slang

Gaming slang has been a popular phenomena thanks to the rise of video game streamers. It is mainly used to quickly communicate during in-game engagement. Gamers have their distinct catchphrases which they use during gameplay and eventually that becomes a popular gaming slang. Gaming subculture has evolved massively and slang is an inclusive part of it. 

Want to know how gaming slang evolved and became a communicative medium of gamers? Read along this blog as it discusses why these gaming slangs have become a part of gaming communities. 

Gaming as a Global Culture

Gaming culture has been around for the past decades and has created a cool culture around the world. Thanks to wider internet penetration and device accessibility, a gaming culture has become prevalent. In recent years, the gaming industry has become worth hundreds of billions and millions of people are connected through different gaming communities. 

Games are highly diverse and played by people of different age levels. If there is a community forum of Valorant, there is also a community of players who play rummy online. Therefore, online communities have developed their own culture, and ‘gamer slang’ has become a popular thing. In this blog, we are going to discuss gaming slang and how it has evolved throughout the years.

What is Gamer Slang?

Gamer slang refers to some phrases that people from gaming communities use among themselves. These include acronyms and informal expressions that help players to communicate amongst them. Video game enthusiasts prefer to use these slangs during the gameplay or even while interacting with fellow gamers. 

Gaming slangs have a cultural connotation, which fosters a sense of community and creates an emotional bond amongst the people. Besides, gaming slangs are used to create a sense of speed and efficiency while communicating with the players in the game. Furthermore, many people use gaming slang as an emotional expression which is an outburst of mockery, excitement and frustration. 

Types of Gamer Slangs and Their Purposes

Now that we know what gamer slangs are, let’s discuss different types of gamer slangs used by the players and their functions. Here is a tabular presentation of gaming slangs used in different situations. 

Slang Type	Purpose of Use	Examples
Tactical Terms	Quick in-game communication. Mainly used in tactical shooter games.	‘GG’, ‘Frag’, ‘Push’.
Meta Vocabulary	Refers to Game Mechanics	‘Buff’, ‘Nerf’, ‘DPS’.
Cultural	Conveying Humour or Emotion	‘Git Gud’. ‘rekt’, ‘Noob’

Table: Different Types of Slangs and Their Purposes

Where Did These Gamer Slangs Originate?

Some of the main sources of evolution for the gaming slangs are the memes and the popular gaming forums, where gamers talk about their favorite games. From gaming communities to trans-cultural references, gaming slang has come a long way. 

Evolution in Community-based Platforms

Platforms like Reddit, Discord, and more recently Twitch have been responsible for popularizing the gaming slangs among the players. Famous gamers and streamers coin new terms frequently and then it becomes popular on these platforms. 

However, some of the terms, like “AFK” (Meaning: Away from Keyboard) and “GG” (Good Game) have been in mainstream use since the Eighties and Nineties. So, it is evident that these terms are not as new as it appears. 

Game-Specific Needs

Games which are faster and played in co-op with other players require faster in-game communication. For example, in a first person tactical shooter game like ‘Valorant’ words like ‘OHK’ (Meaning: One Hit Kill) and ‘DPS’ (Meaning: Damage per second) are in very common use. This way, the terms are created depending on the game mechanics and meta-strategies used by players.  

Why Slang Matters in Gaming Communities?

Figure: How Gaming Slangs Influences Gamer Communities

Now we understand how slangs in gaming evolved through different platforms and secured a place in popular culture. But why did the slang become so relevant? Let’s find out. 

Gaming slangs are significantly important for gamers, because the slangs have been a part of their identity. 

A Sense of Belonging

Slang terms have contributed as a shorthand for particular in-game concepts or meta strategies. Besides, the slangs can act as a sign of communal authenticity online.  The shared use of the slang can develop a collective recognition. 

Faster Communication

Gaming slangs are also a good way of fostering quick communication. On top of that, slangs also assist in introducing new members in the online clan for a particular game. For example, while playing rummy in a rummy app, players can communicate through in-game chat. 

A Better Way of Reflection

Using gaming slang, players connect with fellow players. Streamers who stream games online often use gaming slangs which their followers can relate to. Sometimes, gamers use slang in a sarcastic way, mocking the skills of opponent players. These slangs can be part of the popular culture or some meme which is popularized online in context of the slang. 

Risks and Downsides of Gaming Slangs

As of now, we understood the pretext of using gaming slangs, especially on livestreams and community forums. But is there any negative impact of using gaming slang? Well, there are certain shortcomings of using gaming slang which can demotivate new players or new community members. 

Gaming slang can be easily misinterpreted, as it consists of complicated jargons and contracted words. Therefore, people who are not familiar with certain types of games can find it difficult to understand the slangs and its contexts. 

People who are unaware of certain games and not part of communities can feel left out if gaming slangs are used too often. Hence, it can create a sense of social exclusion and isolation. Moreover, if gamers rely too much on gaming slang, their natural ability of communication might be affected. Slangs can also cause cultural misunderstanding and create gaps between players. 

It’s a Wrap!

Gamer slang is not only some jabbering, it is part of a well-grown culture which is a reflection of rapid communication and creativity of people who play games online. It gives us an insight about the gaming community and how stronger their presence is becoming. Using slang, the gamer communication has shaped in a way which focuses on shared identity building. 

Join in a Gamer Community and Learn more About Gaming Slang!

Are you into online gaming? Learning one or two gaming slang would make you a pro in your community! So, hurry up and join an online gamer community to explore different ways of communication.