Generation Z (or Zoomers), born from around 1997 to 2012, are the first digital-native generation, shaped by social media and smartphones. They are now about 14 to 29 years old.
Millennials (Generation Y) are usually defined as those born between 1981 and 1996. They are the first generation to come of age in the new millennium and digital era, and are generally technologically fluent.
Each generation has its own language, or at least its own slang. For us Baby Boomers, it was groovy, far out, outta sight, and a gas if you liked it and could dig it. It was a bummer if you didn’t. Police were the fuzz and hippies were called flower children. Of course we had no emojis. And we didn’t have acronyms because we didn’t have texting or email. All we could do was put little hearts on our writing — or maybe circles to dot our i’s.
The 😂 is apparently outdated; Gen Z uses the skull emoji to mean “I am dead from laughing,” often in a string for emphasis. Sometimes they add (or use alone) the crying emoji instead of LMAO. And LOL is for “old” people to use. Or instead of the skull, you can just type “I’m dead,” for extreme laughter. Hey, I don’t know. I am just the messenger, and I have never used that.
Here is a short list to get you started with Gen Z slang:
- Ate: Used to praise someone who did something exceptionally well (e.g., “She absolutely ate that performance”).
- Aura: Refers to someone’s overall energy or “coolness” level (e.g., “+1000 aura” for a cool move).
- Basic: Unoriginal, uninspiring, mainstream.
- BFFR: An acronym for “Be For F***ing Real,” used when someone is acting ridiculous or lying.
- Boujee: Someone or something fancy.
- Brain Rot: Content that is low-quality or mindless, often found on TikTok.
- Cap / No Cap: “Cap” means to lie, while “no cap” emphasizes that you are telling the truth or being serious.
- Cheugy: Not at all trendy.
- Cooked: Used when someone is in a hopeless situation or has no chance of winning (e.g., “I failed the test; I’m cooked”).
- Delulu: Short for “delusional,” often used to describe someone with unrealistic romantic expectations or beliefs.
- Ghosting: To start ignoring someone you are dating; to stop answering their texts.
- Ick: A sudden feeling of disgust or repulsion toward someone, usually triggered by a minor habit.
- IYKYK: If you know you know.
- Let Him Cook: To allow someone to showcase their talent or proceed with a plan without interference.
- Rizz: Derived from “charisma”; refers to someone’s ability to charm or flirt effortlessly. ( I knew this one!)
- Sigma: Describes someone who is independent, successful, and a “lone wolf.”
- Skibidi: A versatile “nonsense” word used as a meme, often to describe something weird or bad.
- Slay: To do something exceptionally well or to look amazing. (Heard of this one.)
- Sus: Short for “suspicious” or untrustworthy.
- Touch Grass: A suggestion for someone to go outside and disconnect from the internet after spending too much time online. (Heard this one a couple of times lately.)
- Unc: Short for “uncle,” used to jokingly label someone as older or “out of touch” (even if they are only in their 20s).
- W or L: Short for “Win” or “Loss,” used to rate a situation or person’s actions.
Thanks for the post. I thought I was Generation x born in 1982. Was I wrong?
Apparently you are a millenial, or Generation Y
thanks for sharing this topic
You’re welcome