Gen Z slang is here to stay. Here’s a list I know will slay.
💀 (skull emoji): this emoji has replaced 😂 as the acceptable way to indicate laughter. “I laughed so hard I died”. (In use since the early 2020s according to KnowYourMeme)
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4+4: very good. Derived from the fact that 4+4=eight, which sounds like ate, and for Gen Z “you ate that” means “you did very well on that task” (On Urban Dictionary since 2023)
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75 cosy challenge: a variant of the “75 hard challenge”, a rigorous 75-day regiment of self-improvement. During “75 cozy,” you just relax for 75 days (not (yet) on Urban Dictionary)
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acoustic: another way of saying autistic, also used as a way of using “autistic” as an insult without using “autistic” as an insult. (On Urban Dictionary since 2016)
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altered my brain chemistry: had a significant impact on thoughts, emotional state or worldview, whether positively or negatively (On Urban Dictionary since 2022)
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aura: the unquestionable confidence of a person (On Urban Dictionary with this definition since 2006)
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auramaxxing: maximizing your energy and overall presence (not yet on Urban Dictionary)
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babygirl: a man with energy that’s vulnerable, submissive, and somewhat cutesy (On Urban Dictionary with this definition since 2022)
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bones day / no-bones day: a good day vs a bad day. Named after a dog called Noodle on TikTok who would be made to sit up straight in the morning. If he stayed upright: bones day. If he melted back into bed: no-bones day. (On Urban Dictionary since 2021)
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bop: good music “that artist’s latest track is a total bop” (On Urban Dictionary since 2016)
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boujee: people who enjoy wearing fancy clothes, being affluent and wealthy (from bourgeoisie) (earliest Urban Dictionary entry 2006)
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brainrot: a state of mental deterioration caused by consuming repetitive, low-quality, and highly addictive online content, typically in the form of short videos. Often used in combination with the thing causing the brainrot “you’ve got TikTok brainrot” (On Urban Dictionary with this definition since 2023)
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breadcrumbing: when a person flirts with you but doesn’t make an effort to date you (On Urban Dictionary since 2018)
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chat: a way of calling on an invisible audience by mimicking a streamer asking the chat a question. “Chat, am I right, or am I right?” (On Urban Dictionary since 2014, but meaning has shifted, current earliest definition on Urban Dictionary is from 2020)
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cheugy: (pronounced chew-gee) out-dated and lame, often used to refer to styles as worn by millennials or from the 2010s (oldest entry on Urban Dictionary: 2018)
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coquette: a fashion style that’s flirty, hyper-feminine, and soft with references to the Victorian Regency era (On Urban Dictionary with this definition since 2021)
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face journey: a series of expressions that appear on someone’s face showing different emotions that they are experiencing as a reaction to something (On Urban Dictionary since 2019)
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fanum tax: Gen Alpha slang. Used to jokingly justify taking something that belongs to someone else. Person 1: “You took my food.” Person 2: “Fanum tax.” (25 definitions on Urban Dictionary, ALL from 2023)
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fax, no printer: I am telling the truth. A play on words, as the word fax sounds like facts. (On Urban Dictionary since 2018)
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gassed: to be overcome with excitement (on Urban Dictionary since 2004)
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griddy: a victory dance performed by athletes and gamers (On Urban Dictionary since 2022)
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gyat: Gen Alpha slang for a big behind. Rhymes with “yacht”. (On Urban Dictionary since 2021, though meaning seems to have shifted from “gyat” meaning “goddamn (that person is voluptuous)” to referring to the voluptuous body parts directly from 2022)
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he’s him/ she’s her: that person is the greatest “Did you see how he stopped that ball? He’s him!” (On Urban Dictionary since 2022; “she’s her” not yet on Urban Dictionary)
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high-key: To be the utmost of something (opposite of low-key) (earliest Urban Dictionary entry 2012)
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iPad kid: Gen Alpha children that get too much screen time and do not develop social skills (on Urban Dictionary since 2021)
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mew: a.k.a. “mewing”; to do an exercise with your mouth that is said to define your jawline; as the mouth must remain closed, this is also an excellent reason to not have to answer the question an adult just asked you (on Urban Dictionary with this definition since 2022)
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micro-cheating: actions or behaviours by your partner that make you question their emotional or physical commitment to your relationship, like regularly texting someone they find attractive or obsessively liking their social media posts (oldest entry on Urban Dictionary: 2008)
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ngl: not gonna lie (on Urban Dictionary since 2004)
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out of pocket: For Gen Z English speakers, “out of pocket” means something that’s inappropriate, out of character or unacceptable. “Never say that again. That was so out of pocket.”
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peng: of a person, thing, or drug: very good quality (London English) (on Urban Dictionary since 2003)
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pick me girl/boy: someone who seeks validation by underlining how different they are (on Urban Dictionary since 2020)
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poggers: good, exciting, amazing. “That match was poggers!” (On Urban Dictionary since 2018)
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pop off: to go crazy (On Urban Dictionary since 2019)
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ratio-ed: when a reply to a post on social media gets more likes than the original post, that original post was ratio-ed (On Urban Dictionary since 2020)
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rizzler: “like when you’re a pro at flirting with people” (On Urban Dictionary since 2022)
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salty: to be upset over something little, angry, in a bad mood (oldest entry on Urban Dictionary: 2005)17
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say less: conveys clear agreement and confirmation of shared feelings or sentiments. Probably derived from “say no more”. (On Urban Dictionary since 2011)13
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sigma: a lone wolf; a highly successful man focused only on himself (counterpart of “alpha”, the leader of the pack) (On Urban Dictionary since 2021)22
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simp: to allow the other person to always get what they want, often used in terms of a relationship (On Urban Dictionary as a verb since 2020)23
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skibidi: The sources include this term in a list of Gen Alpha slang, but do not provide a definition.
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slay: to be really cool or successful
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slept on: ignored, overlooked, underappreciated. “Everyone slept on that group’s latest single” (on Urban Dictionary since 2002)
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sneaky link: having a rendez-vous with someone without anyone else knowing (On Urban Dictionary since 2020)23
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sexy water: water mixed with “fun and functional ingredients” like electrolyte powders and mineral tinctures (not (yet) on Urban Dictionary)
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vanilla girl: a modern-day girl next door, elegant, pretty, but not showy (on Urban Dictionary since 2022)
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W: text response when something good happens, short for “win” (On Urban Dictionary since 2009)
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weird: this will make you feel less old; apparently American 13-year-olds are saying “sus” is out for when something is odd or suspicious, and instead they say, wait for it… “that’s weird”.
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White People Shit (WPS): used in reference to stereotypes or things that are perceived as more popular or common among white people than people of color (on Urban Dictionary since 2010)
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wig snatched: (adj.) used to express extreme surprise, usually in a positive way “When I saw that she had won it got me wig snatched” (on Urban Dictionary since 2017)
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yap: though similar in meaning to the classic sense, for some Gen Zers, yapping has lost its negative connotation27 It is the ability to talk about anything and something to be proud of28. To me, as a Brit, it feels close to the word “banter” (not (yet) on Urban Dictionary in this positive sense)
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zillennial: young millennials and old Gen Z-ers. Now in their early and mid-twenties. (earliest Urban Dictionary entry 2020)
Heddwen Newton is an English teacher and translator. She is fascinated by contemporary English and the way English changes. Her newsletter is English in Progress. 1900 subscribers and growing every day!