I grew up watching Friends and I remember hearing the term "commando" in one episode. I was completely clueless as to what it meant (I was very young) and it drove me nuts, but ultimately figured it out years later. And that's why I think it's time to translate all those Friends terms into today's vernacular, because the NBC sitcom sextet are from a totally different era. It was a time when you had to say "commando" on TV instead of just coming right out and saying you weren't wearing any underwear.
Friends premiered all the way back in 1994 — seriously. Kids who were born back then are now in college. But much like its Must-See-TV cousin Seinfeld, Friends came up with a lot of iconic expressions that totally influenced pop culture — at the time. But things have changed since the '90s: We worship the Internet and our cell phones, you might be able to find your "lobster" on Tinder, and Friends episodes are on Netflix, to be watched whenever you feel like it. While the sitcom will always have a special place in my heart, some of its vocab desperately needs some updating, because 2015 is definitely not the mid-'90s.
FRIENDS Glossary
Friends Term: Your Lobster
Definition: Your soulmate; your one true love.Today’s Term: Bae
Friends Term: How you doin'?
Definition: Joey's often-used opening line and expression of interest in a woman. Most women. All women.Today’s Term: DTF?
Friends Term: We Were On A Break
Definition: A defense of the ability to have sex with someone else while still kind of, sort of in a relationship. Often screamed by Ross.Today’s Term: It's Complicated
Friends Term: Moo Point
Definition: As explained by Joey, "It’s like a cow’s opinion; it doesn’t matter. It’s moo."
Today’s Term: Pointless
Friends Term: Transponster
Definition: This is the job Rachel thinks Chandler does for a living.Today’s Term: Corporate Bulls--t job
Friends Term: Central Perk
Definition: The best damn coffee shop in Manhattan.
Today’s Term: Starbucks
Friends Term: Pivot!
Definition: Something Ross screams when trying to move a couch up some stairs.
Today’s Term: It's the same, but it's something you scream when trying to find the right angle with your selfie stick.
Friends Term: Unagi
Definition: A state of total awareness. Or freshwater eel.
Today’s Term: Chill
Friends Term: The Friend Zone
Definition: The dreaded location in which friends just stay friends and the possibility of romantic possibilities developing is long gone.Today’s Term: The Friend Zone. This one has endured and there are so many articles written about it on the internet. Thanks, Joey.
Image: friends.tv/Facebook
