Dude is the new Yes

News Flash to all Uncool Parents (and those on the verge): When you say something to your teen and they answer back with “Dude!”, don’t get upset—get excited. It means—and don’t faint—that they are AGREEING with you! No kidding! And it’s becoming widespread, so no doubt Webster’s will be putting it right up there with “bromance” and “frenemy” in the very near future.

I’ve noticed it in my teen’s speech over the last couple of months but haven’t said anything to her about it—  I figured it was some passing fad, something she and her friends had picked up from watching a Zach Galifianakis movie (or “Zach G!” as they refer to him). Then last weekend, I heard an adult woman use it several times as she was speaking to me, and I realized it was more widespread than I thought—and that I was far more uncool than I thought.  I mean, this was a 40-something female, a nurse with two bachelor’s degrees. Yes, it definitely made me do a double take inside my head.  ‘Did I just hear her say, “Dude!” to me?’ Then she said it again, and again a short time later. (Maybe I should feel good about that, like she deemed me young enough to understand— surely she wouldn’t pepper her conversation with “Dude!” if she was speaking to one of the 70-year-old women who were also at the same event with us…?)

From what I’ve gathered from observation, based on the “context” of the surrounding speech, when someone says that to you, it means not only yes, but emphatically yes, as in, “You are so right–I think the same thing! I agree with you 100%!”  So again, if someone says that to you, it’s a good thing.  And if a teen says that to you, it’s an even better (and probably rare) thing.  I guess we should be thankful for the “Dude!”s in our life.

Only don’t expect me to ever use that word like that. Not only does it confuse our foreign exchange student, it makes any adult sound like they’re doing a bad imitation of Sean Penn as “Spicoli” when they use it, and makes them look ridiculous and desperate, like they’re trying too hard to be cool.  And I would never want to do that!!!!!