- Slang term meaning excellent, cool, or amazing.
- Short for radical.
Explanation
Origin
- Shortening of radical, which itself gained a slang meaning of excellent or extreme in the 1970s and especially 1980s.
- Strongly associated with surfer, skater, and general youth culture of the 1980s and early 1990s, particularly in California.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal (Contemporary):
- Cool
- Awesome
- Sick
- Dope
- Lit / Fire
Slang/Informal (Era-Appropriate):
- Gnarly
- Tubular
- Awesome (Was also popular then)
- Wicked
Milder/Standard:
- Excellent
- Great
- Fantastic
- Impressive
Situational Appropriateness
- Highly informal and dated slang.
- Generally understood, but using it unironically today can sound very dated (like you're stuck in the 80s/90s) or like you're deliberately using retro slang.
- It's often used nostalgically or humorously now.
- Avoid in any formal or professional setting.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Low risk of misunderstanding the positive intent, but high risk of sounding dated or out of touch if used seriously in contemporary conversation. People will likely understand it means cool but might be surprised to hear it.
Examples
- That's a rad skateboard!
- He has some rad ideas.
- We had a rad time at the beach.
- Surf's up! Rad!
Dialogue
Context
(Watching an old skateboarding video)
Mia: Look at that move!
Leo: Whoa, that airwalk was rad!
Mia: Totally. The style back then was so different.
Leo: Yeah, super rad.
Social Media Examples
- (Often used ironically or nostalgically)
- Tweet: Found my old Trapper Keeper. Feeling totally rad! #80s #nostalgia #rad
- Instagram caption on a retro photo: Throwback to when everything was rad. #TBT #90sfashion
- Comment: Love the vintage surfboard! So rad!
Response Patterns
- Totally rad!
- Yeah, it is!
- Thanks!
- A simple nod of cool approval.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Express admiration related to the context (surfing, skating, general coolness).
- Share the enthusiasm: Totally!
- Ask for details: Where did you get it?
Conversation Starter
- No. A descriptive adjective or reaction.
Intonation
- Emphasis on RAD.
- Often said with laid-back enthusiasm or excitement, characteristic of the era's slang. Whoa, RAD!
Generation Differences
- Peak usage was among teens and young adults in the 1980s and early 1990s (Gen X).
- Millennials might recognize it from media or older siblings. Gen Z is less likely to use it or even recognize it, except perhaps ironically or through retro trends.
Regional Variations
- Originated in the US, particularly California, strongly associated with surf/skate culture. Spread more widely but always retained that association.