Darling. Baby. Babe. Boo. Bae. Ball? Terms of endearment for a significant other have evolved and changed over time as the human vernacular tends to do, and the latest slang has TikTokers, teens, and Love Island contestants alike calling each other “my ball.” But what does it mean, and why has your teen suddenly started saying it? 

Like many modern language trends, “my ball” was popularized via the internet—this time on Twitch, thanks to Twitch streamer and rapper DDG—and spread quickly from there.

"[These words] gain traction because they feel personal, funny, or shorthand for something bigger," explains Noël Wolf, a linguist and language teacher. Teens in particular pick up these new words and phrases quickly because they’re “deeply embedded” in online spaces. “From there, the language spreads peer-to-peer, and suddenly it's showing up in group texts, in schools, and eventually even in adult conversations," she says.

Has “my ball” become part of your teenager’s vocabulary seemingly overnight? There’s a reason for that! Ahead, learn more about the trending slang, where it came from, and what parents need to know.

While “my ball” was inspired by basketball, it isn’t actually referring to the object or the game itself. There are a few different interpretations and uses of the phrase, but the most popular is as a term of romantic interest. Saying “That’s my ball” can mean “That’s my girlfriend/boyfriend/person/love interest” in a loving, admiring way. It can also be used to establish dominance with another interested party; saying “That’s my ball” means you’ve called dibs on someone or they belong to you, so to speak, and the other person should back off. If teens are interested in someone, they could ask them “Are you my ball?” to see if the feelings are mutual.

Though “my ball” had been used before, the phrase really gained popularity when DDG started using it during his streaming sessions, including during the massively popular Streamer University series. DDG said he first heard of the term via his social followers—a.k.a. “the chat”—who took inspiration from a LeBron James quote that eventually turned into a meme, making an actual basketball reference into something romantic.

The phrase has been criticized by some TikTok users who see it as negative or disrespectful, especially as balls can be “passed around” to others or “played with.” Others don’t find it all that complimentary to be compared to an object. DDG has clarified his intent behind the phrase. “I would like to write a declaration in the lingo dictionary that this is not a disrespectful term,” he shared. “The synonym is not b*tch, it’s saying my woman, my beautiful woman. Ball is an acronym for ‘beautiful-a** little lady.’” He’s also said it stands for “beautiful aura lovely lady.”

Younger audiences are extremely interested in streaming culture, and for many, streamers are their celebrities. Most of these streamers use Twitch to reach teens and tweens. Though Twitch began as a gaming platform, it has evolved to include so much more content, including “day in the life” videos.

According to a 2025 report, more than 40% of Twitch users are between ages 16 and 24, and the platform skews heavily male. In recent years, phrases like “gyatt,” “chat,” and “Fanum tax” have become widely popularized due to streaming, trickling down from Twitch streams to group chats to classroom conversations.

“Streaming platforms are like living laboratories for language,” says Wolf. “On Twitch or TikTok, influencers speak in real time, often inventing or popularizing phrases that capture a mood, reaction, or shared experience. And these words can explode basically overnight."

“My ball” quickly made its way through Twitch and TikTok, and even ended up on Love Island, a massively popular reality dating show. One of the contestants, Ace, used it to describe his partner Chelley, interrupting a conversation she was having with another male contestant by asking "Can I have my ball back?"

DDG also turned the phrase into a song, the aptly named “That’s My Ball.” The song then spawned a TikTok dance where the male partner lip syncs the lyrics and the female partner “bounces” like a ball.

If your teen watches a lot of streamers, it’s natural that they’d pick up on some of the language used, especially if it feels like every creator is repeating the same phrases. Because streaming is so popular, these phrases and viral slang terms—like “aura farming" for example—catch on quickly.

“Language is evolving faster than we've ever seen,” Wolf shares. “In the past, new slang might have taken years to enter the mainstream. Now, one viral video or meme can introduce a new term overnight. This accelerates the natural process of linguistic change and makes language feel more democratic. Instead of academics creating the new lexicon, teens and online creators feel more agency over the way we speak.” 

It may feel like your teen is speaking an entirely different language, but it’s because they’re picking up vernacular from different communities online. And while it might seem confusing, it's actually pretty similar to the way teens used slang in the past. Back in the AIM days, parents were confused with slang like “ROTFLOL” and “BRB."

Samantha Silverman, a licensed clinical social worker and CEO of Silver Linings Mental Health, says that as a parent of a teen, staying current with internet slang isn’t just about keeping up, “it’s about understanding how my teen sees the world, and how they see themselves.” 

Slang has long been a way for teens to participate in the culture around them. “Adolescence is a time when kids are figuring out who they are, often by trying on different styles, ideas, and even words,” says Silverman. “Slang is one of the most immediate ways teens carve out space for self-expression and belonging. It helps them feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves, a shared culture that their parents don’t fully understand—and that’s kind of the point.”

While “my ball” is typically used to playfully express affection or romantic interest and appeals to Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s specific, generational humor, it could also be used to show possession towards a romantic partner or love interest—and that’s when parents might want to pay attention. “‘You’re my ball and no one else can have you’ might be said jokingly, but the language of ownership can carry deeper messages,” says Silverman. “As parents, we know that early romantic relationships shape how our teens learn to give and receive love. The way they talk about relationships matters because it reflects how they think about boundaries, respect, and emotional safety.” 

If you suspect that your child is using the trending term in a controlling or possessive way, it might be time for an honest conversation about healthy relationships. Here are a few easy ways to get started: