Alright, let’s just be real for a sec. If you’ve scrolled TikTok for more than five minutes or peeked at a group chat full of teens, you’ve probably felt like you needed a decoder ring. Gen Z and Alpha? Yeah, they’re out here inventing whole new dialects on the daily. Bless their chaotic little hearts.
Honestly, it’s not just about sounding cool—it’s about carving out an identity, finding your tribe, and sometimes, just confusing the heck out of anyone over 25. Maybe you’re a parent trying to translate your kid’s texts (good luck), a brand hoping not to embarrass yourself, or just someone who refuses to Google “rizz” one more time.
Whatever your deal is, I got you. Grab your emotional support beverage and get ready. Here’s a breakdown of 50+ Gen Z and Alpha slangs, served up with meanings so you don’t have to ask, “Wait, what does that mean?” out loud again.
Let’s go.
Top Gen Z and Alpha Slangs with Meanings
- Rizz – Charisma or flirt game (e.g., “He’s got rizz”)
- No cap – Honestly, for real
- Delulu – Delusional, but often playfully used
- Skibidi – Nonsense slang from TikTok meme culture
- Slay – To do something amazingly or with confidence
- Based – Confidently speaking your truth, even if unpopular
- NPC – Someone who acts dull or robotic (like a game character)
- Bet – “Okay” or “Let’s do it”
- Mid – Mediocre, average
- Goofy ahh – Silly or cringe behavior
- Touch grass – Go outside, stop being online too much
- Gyatt – Admiration of curves, used playfully
- Ratio – When a reply gets more likes than the original post
- Bussin’ – Really good, especially for food
- Yeet – To throw something with force or excitement
- Simp – Someone who does too much for someone they like
- Cap – Lie
- Stan – An extreme fan
- Ate – Did extremely well
- It’s giving – Describing the vibe or aesthetic
- W – Win
- L – Loss or fail
- Slaps – Sounds great, usually music
- Drip – Cool clothing or style
- Vibe check – Quick judgment of mood or energy
- On god – Seriously / I swear
- Big yikes – Really embarrassing or awkward
- Pressed – Upset or mad over something small
- Flex – To show off
- Glow up – A major improvement in appearance or lifestyle
- Sksksk – Laughing or keyboard smash used by VSCO girls
- OOMF – One of my followers
- Main character – Someone acting like they’re the center of attention
- Core – Aesthetic type (e.g., cottagecore, clean girl core)
- Tea – Gossip or truth
- Spill the tea – Tell the juicy details
- Boujee – Luxury-loving or high-maintenance
- Hits different – Feels more meaningful than usual
- Sus – Suspicious
- Caught in 4K – Caught red-handed, often via screenshot/video
- Sussy baka – Silly + suspicious; meme form
- IZK – I don’t know (text shorthand)
- OOMFIE – Friendly way to say “one of my followers”
- Lowkey / Highkey – Quietly / openly
- Cringe – Embarrassing or awkward
- Chad – Confident, assertive male
- Karen – Entitled or difficult woman
- Finsta – Fake Instagram for close friends
- Snack – Attractive person
- I’m him / She’s her – Self-confidence catchphrase
- Delulu is the solulu – Delusion is the solution (joke way of coping)
How Gen Z & Alpha Slang Is Basically Rewiring Society
Let’s be honest—these Gen Z and Alpha slang words? They’re not just some TikTok fad people will forget next week. Nah, they’re flipping the script on how we talk, learn, and even hustle at work.
- Language = Identity (Yeah, It’s a Whole Vibe)
Dropping slang like “slay” or “rizz” isn’t just for clout—it’s how you show you’re part of the squad. It’s like a secret handshake, but noisier.
- Blink & You’ll Miss It
Slang used to crawl around for decades before your mom picked it up. Now? One viral TikTok and suddenly everyone from Seoul to Sao Paulo is using “delulu.” Blink and you’ll miss five new phrases.
- School & Work Are Getting a Crash Course
Teachers are out here Googling what “mid” means so they don’t look clueless. And HR? They’re realizing “ratioed” isn’t a spreadsheet disaster—it’s what happens when your tweet flops. Welcome to the future, boomer.
- Slang Without Borders
The wildest part? This stuff isn’t just local. Gen Z and Alpha slang is global—thanks to gaming, anime, K-pop, you name it. It’s like everyone’s sharing the same inside jokes now, no matter where they live.
Honestly, if you don’t keep up, you’ll sound ancient before you even hit 30.
Why Marketers and Educators Should Actually Give a Damn
Look, if you’re trying to vibe with Gen Z or Alpha and you’re out here dropping “lit” like it’s still 2016, congrats—you just earned yourself a front-row seat to the cringe Olympics. Seriously though, if you don’t know your “slay” from your “L,” good luck resonating with anyone under 25. Brands that get it (Netflix, Nike, you know, the big dogs), they’re not just sprinkling slang for the memes—they’re cashing in on being in the loop. Same goes for teachers: you wanna actually get through to your students? Meet them where they are. Speak their language, or risk sounding like that teacher everyone secretly roasts.
Final Thoughts
Words like “delulu” and “NPC” aren’t just trendy noise Gen Z and Alpha are tossing around for kicks. Nah, these are basically secret codes, little badges of identity, and half the time they’re roasting the world or poking fun at themselves. It’s wild how language morphs online—one day you’re confused, the next you’re ironically calling yourself an NPC.
Look, you don’t have to memorize every single slang term, but honestly, figuring out what these words mean? It’s like getting a backstage pass to how this whole generation ticks. Whether you’re a marketer, a parent, or just someone who wants to not sound ancient in group chats, this stuff’s gold. And who knows, you might even find yourself dropping a “delulu” or two. Welcome to the vibe shift.