Decoding Gen Z Slang: Your Guide to Popular Phrases

Want to know more about Gen Z slang? This comprehensive guide will have you confidently speaking fluent Zoomer in no time.

Hey fam.

You know TFW you tried out new lingo — like Gen Z slang — but you looked like a total cheug and everyone thought you were highkey delulu… Big yikes! If these moments are living rent-free in your head, say less. You can pause the menty b, cos we’ve got the tea on some Gen Z slang so you’ll be totally bussin' next time you come up against the Zoomer army on Azar. Like the CEO of convo. No cap.

Time to glow up your Gen Z slang? For those of you born before 1997, here’s the translated version:

Have you ever tried to embrace the evolving language of our younger generations, only to find everyone staring at you like you’re delusional? If you’re feeling bashful about your Gen Z vocab rendition, we get it. Don't stress — we’ve got the full operational manual to get you confidently speaking fluent Zoomer on your favorite video chat platforms in no time.

Ready to slay? Let’s dive in.

What is Gen Z Slang, and Why Is It Important?

Every generation has a code. When the baby boomers started saying “groovy,” their folks didn’t understand. Then, in the ‘80s, Gen X told everyone to take a “chill pill,” and the boomers were confused. Millennials didn’t discover avo toast until they started “adulting.” And now Gen Z is rearranging the alphabet with words like “cheugy” and “NPC.”

Gen Z — born between 1997 and 2012 — is the second youngest generation. Growing up in the digital age, they’ve had greater access to lightning-fast communication, social media and online platforms than any generation prior. Zoomers are the most recent initiates into the adult world, and now, they’re building upon the English lexicon.

But it doesn’t stop there. Gen Z are the leaders of tomorrow, the teachers of our (possibly grand) kids and the ones who will carry our flaming torch into the future. Learning about Gen Z lingo provides a foundation for mutual understanding and collaboration. Here’s why:

Culture Relevance

Language is a reflection of culture. Generational slang reflects the perspectives and world views of different people living under the same sky. These words shape our culture as much as they are a product of it. Tapping into the outlooks of Gen Z offers insight into their ethos, helping us understand how they perceive the world.

Social Interaction

You’ll hear a spattering of Gen Z slang on online video chat platforms like Azar, and read legions of it across social media. If you’re working with Gen Z, have Gen Z kids or want social interaction with young people, it’s a good idea to stockpile a few terms for basic linguistic troubleshooting. Besides, garnering an understanding of their intended meaning (then jumping online and practicing) fosters valuable connection — regardless of whether you fall under the Gen Z banner.

Language Evolution

Using words to create new meanings is powerful. Consider this: The concept of loneliness had been experienced for centuries before Shakespeare first coined the term in Coriolanus. And here we are, still throwing around Shakespearian slang 400 years later. Language is malleable.

Like many other instances of generational slang, the words young people add to the dictionary will become integrated into everyday language — no matter which generation you're part of. Embracing these new words early gives you a solid grasp of their meaning and significance.

With that said, by the time you’ve finished reading this article, Gen Alpha may likely have generated a new dialect of its own. So without further ado, let’s check out which Gen Z words are circulating and how to use them.

*Models depicted

Common Gen Z Slang and How It’s Used in a Sentence:

Time for the good stuff. Below, you’ll find a directory of common Generation Z terms and phrases with explanations and examples to gear you up for Zoomer speak fast.

Big yikes

This term describes any cringe-worthy situation where you feel so embarrassed that a simple yikes doesn’t quite cut it.

Example: “I accidentally killed my mom’s house plant. Big yikes!”

Bussin’

Got something super tasty on your plate? Been to an epic event? Need a cooler way to say something is really good? That’s bussin’.

Example: “This flan is bussin’. Where’d you get it?”

Cap / No Cap

Cap refers to something that is false or a lie. No cap is the antonym of cap, meaning something is truthful. Generally added at the end of a sentence, these terms communicate whether someone is being genuine. The phrase is rooted in African American Vernacular English (AAVE), indicating somebody is bragging or lying.

Example: “Did you see the aurora? The whole sky was pink — no cap!”

CEO

Not too far removed from its origin, the term CEO refers to being an expert or master at something. Although now, we can be the CEO at a much wider scope than business. This can be used to flag something negative too. For example, being late.

Example: “He is the CEO of scrambled eggs.”

Cheugy

Pronounced chew-gee, cheugy calls out that which is uncool. Think last season, cringe or trying too hard. Note that cheugy will often label items from within the Gen Zer worldview.

Example: “Side parts are totally cheugy.”

Delulu

Delulu is a cute way of saying the word delusional. This often points to a softer version of crazy, for example, when someone acts irrationally in love.

Example: “She’s already got seven cats — how will she care for two more? She’s so delulu.”

Drip

You can say something is dripping when you think it’s super cool or in style. Use it to compliment an outfit or part of an outfit, such as shoes, a dress or a coat.

Example: “I love your leather jacket. It’s dripping!”

Fam

The word fam may come in handy to address friends, colleagues or groups of people you feel close to. It’s a shortened version of family, though it doesn’t need to relate to your literal family.

Example: “Hey fam, I need to ask a favor…”

Giving

You can use giving on its own or when comparing one thing to another. When used alone, the phrase, “It’s giving!” carries a positive message, like an unfinished sentence where you silently fill in the blanks. This includes — but is not restricted to — commenting about somebody’s clothing.

Example: “Your eyes are giving ocean vibes.”

Glow Up

A glow up is when someone or something undergoes measurable transformation or enhancement compared to how it was before. The term can be used broadly, from physical appearance to a skill, a freshly painted wall and most things in between.

Example: “Wow, you've really given your phone a glow up! What's with the sequins...”

GYAT

GYAT, or GYATT is a cryptic way to say 'goddamn' commonly used when you've seen an attractive person, and most often online. General caution and respect are advised when using this term since — while not carrying malicious intent — the recipient could potentially be offended.

Example:

“Did you see Alex’s glow up? She posted before and after photos on Instagram.”
“I sure did. GYATT.”

Living Rent-Free

Typically followed by "in my head,” this phrase points to something that you can’t get off your mind. It could be a song you like, a person or a memory. While the term carried negative connotations when it emerged, it has evolved into a more positive saying and can apply to anything you’re obsessed with.

Example: “That comment your mom made has been living rent-free in my mind. So funny!”

Lowkey / Highkey

Lowkey is a casual way to say 'under the radar,' and highkey is its counterpart, meaning 'absolutely on the radar.' Using these terms indicates whether something is obvious.

Example: “I started lowkey packing my bags three weeks early.”

Main Character

Someone who has main character energy is perceived as charismatic and likable. Main character vibes can also apply to someone causing a dramatic scene and usually carry positive undertones.

Example: “Your girlfriend has main character vibes.”

Menty b

Menty b is a cute way of saying mental breakdown. Often used as a hyperbole, it doesn’t necessarily carry the clinical definition of an actual breakdown.

Example: “I’ll be with you soon. My dog is having a menty b.”

OK Boomer

We may need a vibe check on this one (see: vibe check). OK, boomer is a somewhat wry agreement term pointing to discrepancies between the values and worldviews of the two generations. While it carried a derisive energy when it emerged, the tone has since subdued. Now, it’s akin to saying, “OK, Mom,” after you’ve been asked to wash the dishes three times in the same evening.

Example:
“Young people expect everything to be handed to them.”
“OK, boomer.”

Rizz

When someone’s got charisma, they’ve got rizz — except you can save yourself on a few syllables. Think cha-rizz-ma. The term often lies on a backdrop of dating and relationships, similar to ‘game.’

Example: “I met this great guy on Azar yesterday. He’s got serious rizz.”

Say Less

If ‘say no more, my friend,’ was level one, then ‘say less,’ would be level two. When you’ve understood someone’s point or concerns loud and clear, let them know with this phrase.

Example:
“I can’t make it this weekend, I’m moving apartments.”
“Say less! I’ll come help you.”

Serve

Serving is a slang term that means someone looks good or has a great outfit. A person serves looks, or they're serving when their outfit will draw attention — especially if it’s loud or quirky.

Example: “You’re serving up the looks today, girl.”

Slay

When you are delivering something exceptionally well, you are slaying. When you have delivered something exceptionally well, you slayed. This word is a complement and arises in the context of any well-executed action or performance.

Example: “Did you see Karl’s band last night? He slayed!”

Sus

If you feel suspicious about something, you can save yourself more syllables by saying sus. Note that sus describes the object or behavior you feel suspicious about.

Example: “Did you hear that noise outside? It sounded sus.”

Tea

If Gen Z has the tea, they’ve got something far juicer than a warm beverage. Spilling tea means you are gossiping, sipping tea means you are listening to gossip and having tea means you have secret insider knowledge that your friends probably want to know about.

Example: “Have I got the tea for you!”

Vibe Check

Vibes here describe the energy or intention brought into a situation. A vibe check assesses how someone is feeling or how you make them feel.

Example: “Quick vibe check: How are you feeling about this?”

Added Bonus: Acronyms

Thought you could get away with learning a couple of words? No, Generation Z is way too smart for that. To add to your conversational toolkit, we’re going to throw in a few popular acronyms drifting through Zoomerspeak.

Hint: Watch out for these in messages, chat platforms and social media — they tend to crop up more in written language.

TFW

TFW is That feeling when… It presents a nostalgic or relatable scenario along with the emotion usually attached to it. You’ll find this term features a lot in memes.

IYKYK

This particularly cryptic acronym means If you know, you know. A little satirical because if you don’t, you don't. And now you do.

NPC

NPC is the response to main character. It stands for non-player character, a term used for video game characters that are not controlled by a player. If someone is called an NPC, they are perceived to lack independent thought and blindly follow others.

Put Your New Language Skills to the Test

And there you have it: Generation Z's finest take on the English language. They say learning new languages improves memory and focus. This surely applies to learning colorful new slang in a language you already know. But here’s the catch: learning new words is not just about the vocab! The best part is getting out there and practicing so you can become comfortable and familiar with your new words.

Ready to show the world your handle on Gen Z slang? Connect with new people across the globe by joining a chat on Azar. Put your language skills to the test in a space where you can be unapologetically yourself, and who knows, maybe you’ll learn some new phrases while you’re at it.

Start chatting now!

    

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