The 1960s were a time of political protest and cultural change, much of which is evident in the music, clothes, and movies of the time. With that came some far-out slang. A few of these words survived and became part of our everyday lexicon, while others are relics of a more psychedelic time. You might cry, "OK boomer," at some of these slang terms today, but in the 1960s, they were the height of cool.
Babe
The first documentation of "babe" being used to refer to an infant was in the 14th century, but hippies used this as a term of endearment for women and significant others. The latter continues to be the most common usage of “babe” today.
Cat
The use of this word — as in "cool cat," or someone who exudes style and grace — originated in the 1930s but peaked in the 1960s. Try resurrecting this moniker instead of "bro."
Crash
This means to stay over at someone’s house, usually for free and probably on the couch. When "crashing," keep in mind this old piece of wisdom: What do fish and houseguests have in common? They both start to go bad after three days.
Dig
If someone explained a difficult concept or experience, they might want to confirm by asking, “You dig?” The term arose in African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) in the 1930s, in relation to the excavation sense of the word, as in unearthing knowledge. "Dig" is also used to denote approval, such as, “I really dig your threads!”
Drag
Too-cool-for-school hippies needed a term for something that disappoints or bores. “You know that cat who is crashing on my couch? He’s such a drag!”
Endangered Species
This one is still used regularly, but it came into vogue during the ’60s when people started becoming more environmentally conscious. The term refers to animals, plants, and other living things whose continued existence is in danger.
Groovy
Hippies also used "cool," but something especially impressive was "groovy" or "outta sight."
Fad
A "fad" is something that becomes fashionable quickly, and then goes out of style just as quickly. The word still stuck though. “Platform shoes are a returning fad that needs to go away!”
Far Out
Remember yet another synonym for "groovy." “Your new shoes are far out!”
Flower Power
Hippies were fond of using flowers as accessories at concerts, gatherings, and, of course, protests. "Flower power" described the hippie desire to make the world a better place with peaceful actions.
Hacked
Sometimes paired with "off," this term was used to describe someone who was angry. Nowadays, you’ll get pretty hacked if your email gets hacked.
Mellow
Being mellow meant feeling relaxed, carefree, and at peace. It’s the opposite of being hacked off.
Sock It To Me
Aretha Franklin popularized this phrase in her 1967 song “Respect.” It didn’t always have a family-friendly connotation, but comedians began using the phrase to mean "give it to me," and they’d often see consequences, such as getting a pie to the face.
Threads
Adapted from jazz slang, the word "threads" was used to refer to clothes — usually covered in flowers, patchwork, and paisley.
Feature photo credit: Marlon Trottmann/ iStock