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Slang file #012Here to stayFeelings & vibes

What does random mean?

Say itRAN-dum/ˈræn.dəm/adjective (also noun)

Strange, unexpected, or out of place, often in a funny way, or, for a person, unknown and not belonging in the situation.

Written by the Second Language TeamWritten

In slang, random describes something strange or unexpected, often in a funny way: "That was so random!" It can also describe a person you don’t know who does not belong in a situation, like "some random guy." You will see it in group chats, comments, and everyday talk, especially among young people.

Say it like the normal word: RAN-dum. It is casual but not rude, and people of all ages know it. Be careful with "a random" for a person, though. It can sound like you think that person doesn’t matter.

Word stats

How casual
Informal but very common in everyday talk. Just keep it out of your essays.
OK at work
Fine in work chat ("random question, but…"). In a report, people will think you mean the math sense.
Grandma-safe
Safe with everyone. Grandma knows the word, though she may think you are talking about the lottery.
Cringe risk
Low. It is an everyday word, so it rarely sounds try-hard. Shouting "so random!" at everything is another story.
Freshness
Steady. About as many people look it up as last year, and it has been around for decades.

Spotted in the wild

Group chat · Friday, 10:15 pm
  1. Samwhy is there a random guy in our group photo 😂
  2. Jinno idea, he just walked in and smiled
  3. Youhonestly he looks great, keep him

What it means here: A random guy is a stranger who does not belong in the photo.

Comments under a cooking video
  1. cook.with.anaMaking pancakes… and then my cat starts singing??
  2. Leothat was so random 😂
  3. Miathe cat at 0:42 is the best part, so random lol

What it means here: So random means surprising and funny, and the people watching liked it.

Text with Mom · Tuesday, 3:20 pm
  1. MomWhy did you send me a photo of a goose?
  2. Yousorry, random, I saw it at the park and thought of you
  3. MomThat’s very random. I love it.

What it means here: Random means unexpected and without a clear reason, in a sweet way.

How to use it

  • so randomMy teacher started talking about her pet snake in math class. So random.
  • some random + personSome random guy started following me on every app.
  • a random (as a noun)I’m not giving my phone number to a random.
  • random question, but…Random question, but does anyone have a phone charger?
  • randomly = unexpectedlyI randomly saw my old teacher at the airport.

Don’t say it like this

  • Sounds offThat was so randomly!

    Say thisThat was so random!

    After "was", use the adjective. "Randomly" is the adverb: "I randomly met him."

  • Sounds off"RAN-dom" (rhymes with "Tom")

    Say this"RAN-dum"

    The second syllable is short and soft, like the end of "wisdom". Do not give it a full "o" sound.

  • Sounds off(in a report) Our sales results this month were random.

    Say this(in a report) Our sales results this month were unusual.

    In formal writing, random means "by chance, with no pattern". Readers will think the numbers were luck, not strange.

  • Sounds offWho is that random with your sister?

    Say thisWho is that guy with your sister?

    Calling a person "a random" can sound dismissive, as if they don’t matter. It works for strangers in a story, not for someone your friend knows.

random or not?

Is each of these random? Pick an answer to find out.

  1. In the middle of a math lesson, your teacher starts singing about pizza.

  2. A person you have never met joins your private group chat.

  3. Your best friend comes to your birthday party, as planned.

  4. You eat cereal for breakfast, like you do every morning.

The random family

  • randoA short, very casual word for a random person.Random’s little sibling, who fits better in a text.
  • randomerAnother noun for someone you don’t know or have no connection with, heard mostly in British English.Two extra letters, same stranger at the party.
  • weirdStrange, in a general way.Weird can feel creepy. Random usually makes you laugh first.

Where it came from

  1. 1971According to Language Log, the Oxford English Dictionary’s earliest examples of random meaning "strange" or "unexpected" come from The Tech, a student newspaper at MIT in the US [2].
  2. 1980sDictionary.com says teenage slang took over the word in the 1980s and used it to mean weird, odd, or out of place [1].
  3. TodayRandom is everyday English for anything strange, unexpected, or unknown, from a funny video to the stranger in your group photo.

Slang random or everyday random?

Random also has an older, standard meaning: chosen by chance, with no pattern. That is the meaning in "a random number" or "a random sample." You can use this meaning in any kind of writing, even science.

The slang senses grew from that idea. Something that happens for no clear reason feels strange. A person with no clear reason to be there feels out of place. Dictionaries label these senses slang or informal [1][3].

MeaningExampleWhere
By chance, no pattern (standard)"The computer picks a random winner."Anywhere, even formal writing
Strange, unexpected (slang)"Why is there a fish in the elevator? So random."Casual talk and chats
Unknown, doesn’t belong (slang)"Some random guy took my seat."Casual talk and chats

A quick test: if you can say "strange" or "unknown" instead, it is the slang. If you can say "by chance" instead, it is the standard meaning.

Sources

  1. RANDOM Definition & MeaningDictionary.com
  2. That's randomLanguage Log (University of Pennsylvania), November 2010
  3. RANDOM – English–Traditional Chinese dictionaryCambridge Dictionary

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