What’s in Word? A Lot, If It’s “Cool”

Stepping foot on any high school campus, an outsider can quickly become lost in a sea of phraseology. For what was popular, word-wise, last year, may not be the same this time around.

Hot Topics wonders: What is this year’s “cool” word or saying at your school? What does it mean?

“ Bogus . . . That’s wrong or no way.”

Andrea Schuette, 14, freshman, Brea-Olinda

“Though I hate to admit it, dude is a very popular word.”

Tim Engwall, 17, senior, Brea-Olinda

“ What’s up? . . . A way of saying hello.”

Ryan Killam, 14, freshman, Brea-Olinda

“ Be excellent to each other and cool .”

David Davila, 17, junior, Brea-Olinda

“We all joke around to relieve the tension of our long school days, so by saying just kidding , my friends know I’m not serious.”

Mary Lou Sanchez, 17, senior, Brea-Olinda

“ Sick pig . . . Something is gross.”

Chris Kennedy, 14, freshman, Century

“ How rude . . . It means how rude.”

Wendy Hopkins, 14, freshman, Century

“ Fresh . . . Pretty cool and pretty awesome.”

Mark Ellis, 14, freshman, Century

“ Simply fresh . . . Something is all right.”

Heather McRea, 14, freshman, Century

“ Head guru . . . The top dog.”

Mona Roy, 17, senior, Connelly

“ Let’s get busy! . . . Did you see Arsenio last night?”

Angela Gross, 17, senior, Connelly

“ Scary . . . Neat or interesting.”

Jane Oglefvy, 16, junior, Connelly

“ Oh my . . . Basically an all-purpose phrase.”

Jenny Craft, 17, senior, Corona del Mar

“ Killer . . . great.”

John Boom, 18, senior, Corona del Mar

“ I don’t know . . . The most common words said every day.”

Paco Miller, 17, junior, Corona del Mar

“ Epic . . . Totally outrageous.”

Jeremy Goldstein, 14, freshman, Corona del Mar

“ Kosher . . . Cool or happening, like this is a kosher party or that’s a kosher idea.”

Vera Velacic, 17, senior, Costa Mesa

“ Gads . . . Like ‘Oh my God’ or ‘This is just too much.’ ”

Quang Bui, 16, junior, Costa Mesa

“ Toad Power . . . Because a couple of years ago, Corona del Mar High School put a bunch of toads on our campus the night before the football game because our colors are green and white. So we turned it around and made it a positive thing.”

Lynn Sowter, 16, junior, Costa Mesa

“ That’s weak . . . How stupid; dumb.”

Jeff Omaye, 17, senior, Costa Mesa

“ Kick back . . . Stay home, relax.”

Lori Borja, 16, junior, Costa Mesa

“ Bodacious . . . Beautiful and outgoing.”

Clementine Latimer, 17, junior, Cypress

“ Excellent . . . Fantastic.”

Bart Boulton, 14, freshman, Cypress

“ J.K. . . . Just kidding.”

Shelby Woolever, 17, junior, Cypress

“ Wet . . . You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Shawn Havican, 17, senior, Cypress

“ Rad . . . Cool.”

Van Thu, 15, sophomore, Marina

“ Do I know you? . . . Someone stupid comes up and talks to you, you say it even if you know them.”

Eik Kawhe, 14, freshman, Marina

“ Hey, cool guy . . . If you’re being stupid, someone says it to you.”

Peter Lent, 14, freshman, Marina

“ Attaboy . . . Good job, that’s the way.”

Brenda Madsen, 17, senior, Marina

“ I was blind and now I see . . . When you feel back-stabbed by another student.”

Sai Foisia, 14, freshman, St. Michael’s

“ Budget . . . Cheap, not up to par.”

Tommy Nguyen, 15, sophomore, St. Michael’s

“ You must chill . . . Calm down and take it easy.”

Matilde Casas, 17, senior, Santa Ana Valley

“ How funky . . . How weird.”

Jennifer Lynch, 16, sophomore, Santa Ana Valley

“ Hey sexy . . . Hey friend, what’s up?”

Leslie Coulter, 16, sophomore, Santa Ana Valley

“ Give me a slap in the face . . . You say that after telling a story about something stupid.”

Ben Aguilar, 17, junior, Santa Ana Valley

“ M.O. Tiger . . . Mellow out, kid.”

Kirsti White, 17, senior, Southern California Christian

“ Dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria! . . . I just say that to amuse myself.”

Greyson Hackett, 17, senior, Southern California Christian

“ Grodo . . . Totally, way beyond gross.”

Brandie Rodney, 17, senior, Southern California Christian

“ Kinda wow, kinda now! “

Melanie Fowler, 17, senior, Southern California Christian

“ Beggar . . . A total idiot.”

Jeff Tescher, 15, junior, Woodbridge

“ You dogged me . . . You left me hangin’.”

Garry Gibson, 18, senior, Woodbridge

“ Dirtbag . . . It means what it sounds like.”

Danny Garcia, 15, junior, Woodbridge

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

For what in your life do you give the most thanks?

Hot Topic responses gathered by Jooyoung Lee (Brea-Olinda), Jason Welty (Century), Jennifer Chen (Connelly), Dean Camaras (Corona del Mar), Cindy Nguyen (Costa Mesa), Blythe Latimer (Cypress), Jenny Henderson (Marina), David Quezada (St. Michael’s), Hang Nguyen (Santa Ana Valley), Stacey Kimsey (Southern California Christian) and Tomarra Wilds (Woodbridge).