Keep current. Talking cool is all about keeping in touch with the latest trends in language. For example, using the 1970s phrase "far out" will give you a very uncool vibe. Likewise, you shouldn't use the word "gnarly" unless you are a 1980s surfer. Knowing when to ditch a particular phrase can be difficult, but the following steps should help keep you in modern times.
Know where to listen for the latest slang. Listening to young people is the easiest places to start. If you're an adult, listen to the kids in your family or neighborhood. If you are a kid, listen to your peers in the school hallways. Chances are, these young people will be using up-to-date language.
Tune in to media aimed at kids (such as MTV or top-40 radio stations) to hear more of the latest cool slang.
Keep your ear to the city. New slang often originates in urban areas. This may mean chatting up friends who live in urban environments or listening carefully to what the locals say on your next venture to a city.
Throw in topical material for another way to amp up your language. For example, after Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's clothing snafu at the 2004 Superbowl, the phrase "wardrobe malfunction" entered pop culture. Similarly, the phrase "Show me the money!" gained a certain cachet after the 1996 movie "Jerry Maguire." And who could forget Budweiser's commercial catchphrase from the early 2000s: "Whassup?" Of course, all of these phrases are out-of-date and clearly off-limits for serious purveyors of hip slang. The message here is to keep up with your current events.
Don't be afraid to be unique. Being cool does not mean being exactly like the crowd. Truly magnetic people—those who everyone believes are cool—make styles of dress, mannerisms and speech their own. For example, you could develop your own slang term. You might find inspiration in books, television or your everyday life. Or, perhaps you'd like to designate a term as your catch phrase—a signature utterance that adds to your persona. Personalizing your language helps you stand out as both cool and confident.