Gen Z Slang, Words & Phrases 2025 | Gen Z & Gen X Lingo Explained

Want to talk like Gen Z? Here’s your go-to guide. Terms like “rizz,” “sus,” “bet,” “no cap,” and “slay” are just a few Gen Z slang words dominating social media, texting, and casual convos. From viral TikTok trends to everyday Gen Z phrases, this list will help you decode their language and maybe even start using it like a pro.

Excerpt of Gen Z Slang, Words & Phrases List

Gen Z slang is a language of its own, evolving fast thanks to TikTok, Twitter, and meme culture. This generation blends irony, humor, and social commentary into quick, punchy words that can be confusing if you’re not in the loop. Many terms even flip traditional meanings, so it’s easy to get lost unless you’re keeping up. Luckily, this article serves as a cheat sheet to help you understand and speak the Gen Z way.

Most Used Gen Z Slang Words in 2025

• Rizz – Short for charisma, especially in flirting. “He’s got mad rizz.”
• No Cap – Means “no lie” or being honest. “That was the best movie I’ve seen, no cap.”
• Slay – To do something exceptionally well. “You slayed that outfit!”
• Sus – Suspicious or sketchy. “That text was kinda sus.”
• Bet – Used to show agreement or say “okay.” “You down for pizza?” “Bet.”

The Ultimate Gen Z Slang Guide

As per my research, Generation Z (born in the late 1990s through 2010s) has developed a creative and ever-changing vocabulary of slang. These are the “digital natives” who grew up with Wi-Fi and social media, so it’s no surprise their lingo evolves faster than you can blink. From what I’ve seen, new slang pops up overnight on TikTok, Twitter, and memes, leaving many older folks feeling shook (surprised) and scrambling to decode the latest terms. In this guide, I’ll break down popular Gen Z slang by country and by community/profession, with simple meanings and examples. (I found that while some slang is global thanks to the internet, certain regions and groups have their own twist.)

Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or just someone who doesn’t want to get left on read by a Zoomer, this guide will help you understand what’s being said. From what I’ve seen, even brands and workplaces are trying to incorporate Gen Z slang to stay relevant (sometimes successfully, sometimes coming off as “cringe” – awkward or try-hard). Let’s dive in!

Gen Z Slang Around the World

Gen Z slang isn’t uniform everywhere – it varies across countries. English-speaking Gen Zers share a lot of internet-born terms, but local culture still influences their speech. I found that American teens use a lot of slang from Black American culture and internet memes. British youths mix online lingo with traditional British phrases. Australians have their own laid-back twist, and Indian Gen Zers blend English with local languages (creating “Hinglish” slang). Below are some highlights from different countries:

Gen Z Slang for United States (USA)

From what I’ve observed, Gen Z in the U.S. popularized many slang terms that spread globally. American Gen Z slang often comes from African American Vernacular English (AAVE), rap lyrics, and internet culture. Here are some U.S. Gen Z slang terms:

• Cap / No Cap – Cap means a lie, and No cap means “no lie” or seriously. If someone says, “He said he can dunk, but that’s cap,” it means “that’s a lie.” On the flip side, “I actually finished my homework, no cap” means “I’m serious – I really did it.” Gen Z uses these to call out truthfulness in a casual way.
• Bet – An affirmative response, like “okay” or “sure.” It’s used to agree with plans or statements​. For example: “You wanna game later tonight?” – “Bet.” In other words, “sounds good, I’m in.”
• Lit – Exciting or excellent. If something is lit, it’s extremely fun or cool​. Example: “Last night’s concert was lit!” (The show was awesome and full of energy.)
• Slay – To perform exceptionally well or succeed at something. This term, often used in pop culture, implies utterly impressing others​. “She slayed her presentation in class” means she did a fantastic job. It’s also used as praise: “You look amazing in that outfit – slay!”
• Periodt – A stylish way to say “period” at the end of a statement, to emphasize that it’s final and one shouldn’t argue​. For instance: “I deserve respect, periodt.” It’s like saying “and that’s that.”
• Sus – Short for suspicious. If something or someone is sus, it seems off or sketchy​. Gen Z adopted this from the game Among Us, where players call out the “sus” (impostor). Example: “He’s being too nice all of a sudden – kinda sus if you ask me.”
• GOAT – Acronym for “Greatest Of All Time.” Calling someone the GOAT is saying they’re the best ever at what they do. You’ll hear this for athletes and artists (e.g. “Serena Williams is the GOAT of tennis”). It’s high praise in Gen Z speak, not an actual goat!
• I’m dead – Don’t worry, nobody died. Gen Z says “I’m dead” to mean something is hilarious. It’s like saying “I died laughing.” If a meme was really funny, a teen might text back “ I’m dead” (with skull emojis even) to show they found it extremely amusing.
• OK boomer – A pointedly dismissive phrase Gen Z uses to mock or shrug off older people (typically baby boomers) who seem out of touch. For example, if an older person lectures a Gen Z about “real jobs,” a teen might reply “OK boomer” – basically meaning “whatever, old-timer.” It became a viral retort representing Gen Z frustration with outdated attitudes.
• Ghost (verb) – To suddenly stop communicating with someone, usually in a dating context​. If a Gen Z says “She ghosted me,” it means the person cut off contact (no texts, no calls) without explanation. Sadly common in the age of social media relationships.

(The USA has tons more slang – terms like “fam” (close friends), “clap back” (to retaliate to an insult), “tea” (gossip), “extra” (over-the-top), and “simp” (someone who is overly subservient or attentive to someone they like) are all part of the lexicon. But many of these are also used internationally, thanks to TikTok and Twitter.)

Gen Z Terms for United Kingdom (UK)

From what I’ve seen, British Gen Zers share many internet slang words with Americans, but they also have uniquely British terms. Some of these come from London street slang and UK pop culture. Here are a few UK Gen Z slang examples:

• Peng – Means very attractive or appealing. If a Brit says someone is “peng”, it’s a big compliment on their look. Example: “Did you see her new selfie? She’s peng!” Similar words are “leng” (also meaning extremely attractive) – both are popular in UK youth slang.
• Bruv – A casual way to say brother or friend, basically meaning “dude” or “mate.” Bruv is common in London slang (you’ll hear it in shows like Top Boy). A Gen Z Brit might say, “You alright, bruv?” to a friend, which just means “Hey, you good, man?”
• Bare – Used to mean a lot of or very. This British slang intensifier is like saying “really” or “so many.” For example: “It’s bare cold today” means it’s very cold, or “He’s got bare money” means he has a lot of money.
• Peak – Ironically, peak in UK slang often means something is bad, unfortunate, or a bummer. (Not “peak” as in high point, but the opposite.) If a situation is peak, it’s negative. E.g. “I missed the train, it was raining, and my phone died – proper peak day.” Essentially, “that sucks.”
• Innit – Short for “isn’t it,” used at the end of sentences for emphasis or confirmation, similar to “right?”. Gen Z in the UK pepper innit in conversation: “That was a great movie, innit?” It’s a colloquial tag question that’s become a staple of British youth chatter. Sometimes it’s just a filler word for style.
• Skive – A classic British term meaning to skip or ditch something (like school or work). Young Brits still use skive to mean playing hooky. “He skived off maths class to go to the cafe.” Hopefully not encouraged, but useful to know if you hear a teen saying they’re skiving!
• Allow it – A London slang phrase meaning “leave it alone” or “stop it.” Telling someone “allow it” is like telling them to quit what they’re doing or drop the subject. Example: If two friends are arguing and one is teasing too much, the other might say “Bruv, allow it.” (Basically, “cut it out, man.”)

(UK Gen Z slang is rich with influences from many languages and cultures. You might also hear “fit” (to describe someone hot or just meaning in shape), “mandem” (a group of guys, your crew), “gal” (girl), or older British staples like “knackered” (exhausted) and “cheeky” (impudently fun) which Gen Z still use. Plus, British youths love using American terms too – you’ll catch them saying things are lit or “no cap,” even as Americans adopt words like peng.)

Australian Gen Z Slang Words

Aussie Gen Z slang is an interesting mix of the global internet words and Australia’s own quirky colloquialisms. Australians are famous for shortening words, and Gen Z continues that tradition while also inventing new terms. From what I’ve seen, the vibe is very casual and humorous. Here are some Australian Gen Z slang highlights:

• No worries – A classic Australian phrase meaning “it’s all good” or “no problem.” Every generation in Australia says this, including Gen Z. You’ll often hear it in response to thanks or an apology. “Thanks for the help!” – “No worries, mate.” It embodies the chill, nothing’s-a-big-deal attitude. Gen Z might even shorten it to “no wuckas”, which is a playful twist (a tongue-in-cheek spoonerism) basically also meaning no worries/no fuss​.
• Arvo – Short for “afternoon.” Aussies love to abbreviate, and arvo is used by young and old alike. “Let’s meet this arvo for lunch” simply means “let’s meet this afternoon.” Similarly, servo for gas station (service station) and Maccas for McDonald’s are common in everyday Aussie speech. As per my research, Gen Z hasn’t dropped these; they’re still saying “I’m going to the servo” or “Grab a bite at Maccas?” regularly.
• Bogan – A bogan in Australian slang is a derogatory/funny term meaning a person who is uncultured or unsophisticated – roughly akin to “redneck” or “hillbilly” in U.S. terms. Gen Z uses bogan to playfully tease someone’s style or behavior as very uncouth or low-class Aussie. Example: “He showed up to the party in flip-flops and a mullet – such a bogan move.” (Note: it can be affectionate between friends or insulting, depending on context.)
• Eshay – This is a uniquely Aussie Gen Z term referring to a particular urban youth subculture. An eshay is like a teenage troublemaker often wearing sporty brand clothes, speaking in their own lingo (sometimes Pig Latin forms of words), and associated with petty crime or obnoxious behavior​. If someone calls a kid an eshay, they imply he’s a wannabe gangster street kid. It’s very local – essentially Aussie “hooligan” youth. For example: “That eshay tried to steal my scooter, no joke.”
• Munted – In Aussie slang, munted means broken, messed up, or ruined (can also mean extremely drunk, depending on context). Gen Z Aussies might say “My phone is munted” to mean it’s smashed or not working​. Or if someone’s acting bizarre, “He was totally munted last night” might imply he was out of his mind (possibly on something). It’s a versatile word for anything that’s in a bad state.
• Gatho – Short for “gathering,” gatho means a small party or get-together​. Aussie teens often use this to invite friends: “Come to the gatho tonight at Jake’s place.” It’s just Aussie shorthand at work again – why say the whole word “gathering” when you can chill at a “gatho”?
• Cheeky/Nice one – Phrases like “cheeky” (mischievous or cool in a playful way) and “nice one” (an exclamation like “well done” or “good on you”) are used by young Aussies similarly to older gens, but with that distinct Aussie sarcasm or humor. For example, a teen might say “cheeky move inviting your crush to the gatho – nice one, mate!”

(Aussie Gen Z slang also includes fun expressions like “calm your farm” (meaning relax, don’t get so excited), calling friends “cobba” or cuz (mate/buddy)​, and the ubiquitous “mate” itself. You’ll hear “yeah, nah” (meaning “I hear you but no”) and “nah, yeah” (meaning “I see your point, yes”) even among teens. The Australian accent and intonation make their slang sound especially chill. Don’t be surprised if an Aussie Gen Z says something like “That party was pretty munted, but no wuckas, had a good one, mate.” Translation: the party was wild and messy, but it’s all good – it was fun.)

Gen Z Phrases for India

Indian Gen Z slang is a blend of English internet slang and local language phrases – often mixed together into what we call Hinglish (Hindi + English) or other regional-English mixes. As per my research, young people in India are creating and using unique words that reflect their culture, while also adopting global Gen Z terms. Here are a few examples of Indian Gen Z slang:

• Jugaad – A Hindi word that Gen Z (and really all ages) use to mean a hack, clever fix, or makeshift solution to a problem. Jugaad implies improvising with the resources at hand. Example: “Our Wi-Fi was down, so Raj did some jugaad with his phone’s hotspot​.This shows the Indian spirit of problem-solving – making do creatively. If someone has jugaad skills, they’re great at MacGyver-like fixes.
• Timepass – In Indian English, timepass means an activity that “passes the time” – something done for fun or distraction, not seriously. Gen Z might say a movie was total timepass, meaning it was entertaining enough for the moment but not high art. Or if you ask a student what they’re doing and they say “just timepass,” it means just chilling or doing nothing important. It can also label a person or relationship that’s not serious: “He’s not her real boyfriend, just timepass.”
• Yaar – A Hindi/Urdu word for friend or buddy that urban Indian youth sprinkle in their English sentences. It’s similar to saying “dude” or “bro,” often used for emphasis or camaraderie. “Yaar, I’m so tired today,” or “Come on, yaar, let’s go grab some chai.” It makes the tone friendly. You’ll hear yaar constantly in casual speech among Indian Gen Z (to the point that even some non-Indians familiar with Bollywood know this one).
• Prepone – A uniquely Indian English term (actually used by all generations in India) meaning the opposite of postpone: to reschedule something to an earlier time. While not slang from youth per se, Gen Z in India freely uses prepone in college or work contexts. Example: “They preponed the exam from Friday to Wednesday.” It’s so handy that other English speakers find it interesting (why isn’t this an official word everywhere?).
• Funda – Short for fundamentals, but Indian Gen Z use funda to mean the basic idea, reason, or concept behind something. Often used as “what’s the funda?” meaning “what’s the idea/logic here?” or saying someone’s funda is clear meaning they understand the concept well. Example: “Her math funda is strong, no wonder she aced the test.” It’s a casual way to talk about understanding or the point of something.
• Senti – Short for sentimental, used to describe someone who is being emotional. If a friend is getting a bit tearful or overly heartfelt, an Indian teen might say “Don’t get senti, yaar.” It’s a light-hearted way to call out mushy or sensitive feelings.
• Chill – Indian Gen Z use chill as both a verb and an adjective, much like elsewhere, but you’ll hear it in Hinglish phrases: “Chill kar yaar,” meaning “chill out, dude,” or “We’re just chilling only.” The word only is also oddly inserted for emphasis in Indian English (e.g. “She was joking only.”) While not exactly slang, it’s a quirk of how English is spoken in India that Gen Z continues.

(Indian Gen Z slang is huge and varies by region – a Mumbai teen might use different Hindi or Marathi-influenced slang than a Delhi teen or a South Indian English speaker. For instance, ”abbey” or ”arey yaar” (like “hey man”), “mast” (awesome), “bas karo” (stop it), or “chillam-chilli” (making a fuss) can be heard. They also use global English internet slang – you’ll find Indian youths saying something is lit or cringe, or typing “LOL” and “BRB” like everyone else. The fun part is the code-switching: “That party was lit, na?” (adding the Hindi tag “na” meaning “right/isn’t it”). It creates a colorful hybrid lingo unique to Gen Z India.)

(And of course, Gen Z in India are heavy on social media, so international slang like FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), stan, savage, etc., are understood by most urban English-speaking students. They just mix it with local flavor.)

Gen Z Slang in Different Industries and Communities

Beyond geography, Gen Z has developed or popularized slang within specific communities – from the tech world to finance, from social media influencers to gamers. This next section covers how Gen Z lingo appears in various professions or interest groups. From what I’ve found, Gen Z often takes existing jargon and gives it a fun twist, or brings their casual speech into places traditionally dominated by formal language. Let’s explore some examples in tech, marketing, finance, influencer culture, education, healthcare, and gaming.

Tech and Startup Culture Gen Z Slang

Gen Z entering the tech industry and startup scene has led to a blend of internet slang with tech jargon. Young professionals in tech communicate on Slack and Discord just like they do via text, so casual slang seeps into office lingo. As per my research, you might find a Gen Z software engineer using meme-speak alongside acronyms. Here are a few tech culture slang terms Gen Z uses:

• AFK – Stands for “Away From Keyboard.” This term came from gaming, but in office chats Gen Z might say AFK to mean they’ll be offline or away for a bit (stepping out of a meeting, grabbing coffee). It’s a quick heads-up that “I won’t be responding for a short time.” Example in a team channel: “BRB guys, AFK for 10 mins to grab lunch.”
• TL;DR – An abbreviation meaning “Too Long; Didn’t Read.” Gen Z uses TL;DR at the end of long messages or emails to give a brief summary. In a tech context, someone might write a lengthy update on a project and then add “TLDR: project is on track, just fixing two bugs.” It’s basically a way of saying “here’s the short version” for the busy readers. (They even say it aloud humorously – “tee el dee are, we need to fix this code by Friday.”)
• 404 – In web terms, 404 is the error code for “page not found.” Gen Z has turned 404 into slang to describe a person who is clueless or an absence of knowledge (since a 404 page means nothing’s there). In a tech office, a young developer might joke “I’m 404 on the requirements for this task” meaning “I have no idea what’s needed.” It’s a geeky way to say one is lost or not found (pun intended).
• Tech bro – A tongue-in-cheek label for the stereotypical young male in tech who is perceived as privileged, obsessed with startups, crypto, etc., sometimes oblivious to social issues. Gen Z uses tech bro both earnestly and humorously. For example, “All the tech bros at the meetup were talking about their NFTs.” It’s not a compliment – more like calling someone a cliché of Silicon Valley culture.
• Ping me – In tech and corporate environments, “ping” has become slang for “message me” or “get in touch”. Gen Z tech workers say “Ping me on Slack when you’re free” the same way one might say “text me.” “Ping” originally refers to a network ping test, but informally it just means to send a quick notification or message. It’s an example of technical language adapted into casual speak.
• Glitch – Outside of coding, where it literally means a bug or error, Gen Z might use glitch to describe any weird occurrence. “My brain glitched” could mean I blanked out for a second, and “the app is glitching” means it’s acting up. In a broader sense, calling something glitchy implies it’s not working smoothly. In the tech space, you’ll hear young folks say “Let’s fix this glitch” whether talking about software or even a process that isn’t working right, using the term loosely.

(Gen Z in tech also carry over a lot of their meme vocabulary: they might describe a new software demo as “fire” (great) or respond to a bug fix with “gg” (good game, like well done). They often prefer quick informal communication – you’ll even see emojis and GIFs in work chats. Don’t be surprised if a Gen Z product manager says “Let’s yeet this feature into production” – yes, yeet – meaning “let’s throw it out there quickly,” since yeet is slang for throwing something with force. They bring that youthful internet energy into the traditionally dry corporate tech world.)

Marketing and Advertising Gen Z Lingo

Gen Z marketers and advertisers live on social media, so they are constantly exposed to trending slang – and they often try to leverage it in campaigns. As a result, marketing lingo has started to include Gen Z terms, both in how marketers talk to each other and how they craft messages to appeal to young audiences. From what I’ve seen, there’s a fine line here: use slang authentically and it connects; misuse it and it’s cheugy (which itself is a Gen Z slang we’ll explain). Here are some slang terms relevant in marketing circles today:

• FOMO – An acronym for “Fear Of Missing Out.” This isn’t new (it’s been around for years), but Gen Z uses FOMO a lot and marketers love it. FOMO is that anxious feeling when you think you’re missing something exciting that others are experiencing​. In marketing, you’ll hear strategies like “create a sense of FOMO” – for example, a limited-time offer to make consumers fear missing out if they don’t act. A Gen Z marketer might say, “Let’s post some VIP behind-the-scenes content to give our followers FOMO about the event.”
• Viral – We all know viruses spread, and in internet terms viral means content that spreads rapidly and widely. Gen Z frequently talks about things “going viral”, and in marketing, that’s often the goal. If a young social media manager says “We need a viral moment for this product launch,” they mean they want a post or video to become explosively popular through shares. Example: “Our TikTok video got 2 million views overnight – totally viral!”
• Cheugy – This is a fun Gen Z slang word that means outdated, trying too hard, or uncool in a millennial way. Cheugy is what Gen Z might call something that was trendy a few years ago but is now passé​. In marketing, being called cheugy is a nightmare – it means your branding or campaign is seen as basic or out-of-touch. For instance, using a “Live, Laugh, Love” slogan or a Facebook meme might be labeled cheugy by Gen Z. Marketers themselves joke about avoiding the cheugy zone. e.g. “We need to update our slang in this copy so we don’t come off as cheugy.”
• Clout – In social media marketing, clout is a big deal. Clout means influence or fame, especially online​. When Gen Z says someone is “doing it for the clout,” they mean that person is seeking attention and popularity above all else. Marketers chase clout in a way, by trying to get influencers (people with clout) to promote their products. Example: “Partnering with that YouTuber will give our campaign major clout among Gen Z.” Clout is essentially social capital – and everyone wants it.
• On brand – A bit more jargon-y, but used in a slangy way by young professionals. If something is on brand, it means it matches a brand’s identity or image. Gen Z marketers might casually say “That meme reply was totally on brand for Wendy’s Twitter.” Conversely, off brand means something doesn’t fit the company’s style. While “on brand” isn’t exclusive to Gen Z, they use it frequently in both marketing and personal contexts (e.g. “Spilling coffee on myself is so on brand for me,” as a self-deprecating joke).
• Engagement – Again, not a Gen Z invention, but the way they discuss it can be playful. Engagement refers to the likes, comments, shares – interactions basically – that content receives. A Gen Z social media strategist might say, “This post is low-key flopping, we need better engagement,” or “Polls and challenges get high engagement from our followers – they love to interact.” They might even use slang when reporting: “Our hashtag challenge had the TL lit – engagement was through the roof!” (Translation: the timeline was active and we got a ton of responses.)

(In the marketing world, Gen Z has also popularized talking in terms of “vibes” and “aesthetics.” For example, defining a brand’s aesthetic or saying “We want to give summer FOMO vibes in this ad.” They bring a very online sensibility. Another term – “cringe” – is something marketers desperately avoid; if an attempt to use slang is too forced, Gen Z will label it cringe (embarrassingly awkward)​. There’s even internal slang like “delulu” (short for delusional) that some young marketers use to poke fun at overly optimistic ideas​. The key takeaway: Gen Z marketing language is informal, meme-informed, and constantly referencing the social media zeitgeist.)

Finance and Investing Gen Z Terms

When Gen Z flooded into stock trading and crypto investing (think GameStop saga and Bitcoin craze), they brought their internet slang with them. In forums like Reddit’s WallStreetBets and on finance TikTok, a whole new slang stockpile emerged – some of it so popular that even financial news outlets had to catch up. I found that Gen Z (and millennials too) jokingly use these terms to make light of the serious, risky world of investing. Here are some finance slang terms Gen Z love:

• Stonks – This is a deliberate misspelling of “stocks” that became a meme​. It’s often used humorously to talk about the stock market or investing in an ironic way. You might see an image of a goofy meme character in front of stock charts with the word stonks as a caption. Gen Z will say “stonks” in a deadpan way when discussing trades, e.g., “I bought more Tesla, stonks only go up .” It’s basically a meme way to refer to stocks or profit (sometimes used even when things are going poorly, as a joke).
• Diamond hands – A term used to describe someone who holds onto their stocks or crypto no matter what, showing extreme confidence or stubbornness. Having diamond hands means you don’t panic sell during market dips​. Gen Z traders wear it as a badge of honor if they held a volatile stock through ups and downs. Example: “The price crashed 30% but I didn’t sell – diamond hands, baby!” (Contrast this with “paper hands,” meaning someone who sells at the first sign of trouble, implying weak resolve​.)
• HODL – Originating from a typo for “hold,” HODL has been adopted as an acronym for “Hold On for Dear Life.” It’s crypto-speak and stock meme-speak for sticking with an investment and not selling. If a Gen Z investor says “I’m gonna HODL my Bitcoin,” they mean they plan to hold despite volatility. During market panic, you might see messages like “Just HODL! Don’t give in to FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt)!” It encapsulates their ride-or-die approach to favored assets.
• To the moon – A phrase expressing the hope (or hype) that a stock or cryptocurrency’s price will go way up – as if headed to the moon. Gen Z traders spam rocket emojis and say “DOGE is going to the moon!” meaning they believe (sometimes jokingly) that it’ll skyrocket in value. It’s basically optimistic cheerleading for an investment. Elon Musk tweets something? “Bitcoin to the moon!” It captures the exuberance (or delusion) of speculative investing.
• YOLO (Trade) – YOLO stands for You Only Live Once, and a YOLO trade is when someone bets a huge amount of money on a risky investment, essentially putting all their eggs in one basket for the thrill or potential huge reward. On Reddit, there were tales of people yolo-ing their life savings on meme stocks or options. A Gen Z investor might say, “I YOLO’d into GameStop calls” meaning they threw a big chunk of money into a high-risk bet. It implies a devil-may-care risk-taking attitude: either it pays off big, or it crashes and burns – YOLO!

(Other finance slang Gen Z uses include “tendies” (jokingly referring to profits as chicken tenders, e.g. “making tendies”), “bagholder” (someone left holding a stock as it dumps in value), and phrases like “buy the dip” (buy when prices fall). They also talk about “ apeing in” (recklessly buying into a stock or crypto, from the idea of Apes together strong). Interestingly, these slang terms built a sense of community – if you say you have diamond hands or shout “HODL!”, other young investors know you’re part of the in-group mentality of not trusting traditional finance advice. It’s a mix of humor, bravado, and coping mechanism for a risky game.)

Gen Z Slang Influencer & Creator Culture

In the world of YouTubers, TikTokers, and online creators – basically, where Gen Z is both the content consumers and often the content makers – a vibrant sub-language has emerged. Many of these terms overlap with general internet slang, but they’re especially relevant when talking about influencers, followers, and digital fame. From what I’ve seen, Gen Z online culture is full of shorthand and witty expressions for social media phenomena. Here are some key slang terms in influencer/creator culture:

• Clout – As mentioned earlier, clout means influence, fame, or power on social media​. Among Gen Z, saying someone has clout is to acknowledge they’re popular or have a big following. “Clout-chasing” is a common phrase – describing someone doing things just to get attention or fame. For example, “That prank was totally for clout.” In the influencer world, clout is currency. A collaboration might be sought because one creator has clout that another wants access to.
• Cancelled – Part of “cancel culture.” If an influencer is cancelled, it means they’ve been called out by the public (often Gen Z netizens) for some offense or controversy to the point that they lose support. Gen Z might say “Ugh, that YouTuber is cancelled after what they said,” meaning people are boycotting them or unfollowing en masse. Being “canceled” is usually a social media collective verdict – sometimes temporary, sometimes permanent. It’s essentially social accountability via mass disapproval.
• Stan – Both a noun and a verb, originating from the Eminem song “Stan” (about an overly obsessed fan). To stan someone means to be an avid, almost obsessive fan of them​. A stan (noun) is such a fan. Gen Z uses it positively to express deep admiration: “I stan BTS” means I’m a huge fan of BTS. Brands have even said “we stan ___” to align with something popular. It can also be used playfully as a verb: “I stan her confidence” (I’m a fan of it).
• Simp – In internet slang, a simp is someone (usually male) who is seen as groveling or doing too much for someone they have a crush on or admire, often without the feelings being reciprocated​. On Twitch and TikTok, guys who over-donate or excessively compliment e-girls (female streamers) got labeled “simps.” Gen Z uses it jokingly: if a friend is going overboard to impress their crush, you might tease, “Bro, you’re simping so hard.” It’s a light insult meaning “stop being so desperate.” (It can be mean, so best used carefully and humorously among friends.)
• Thirst trap – A “thirst trap” is a photo or video posted to attract attention and compliments, usually because it’s sexy or alluring. (“Thirst” in slang means lust or desire; someone who is “thirsty” is eager for attention or affection.) When an influencer posts a shirtless pic or a glam pose, Gen Z might call it a thirst trap – essentially baiting followers who are “thirsty.” Example: “She just dropped a thirst trap on Instagram and her DMs are probably crazy now.” It’s often used playfully – creators themselves joke “Posting a thirst trap” when they upload a flattering selfie.
• Tea – Tea means gossip, drama, or juicy information. Spilling tea is sharing the gossip. In the influencer realm, “tea channels” or drama videos thrive on dishing out the latest beef between creators. Gen Z will say “spill the tea” akin to “spill the beans.” Example: “I have tea on why those two TikTokers stopped collaborating – do you want to hear it?” It’s basically all about the hot scoop. There’s even the phrase “No tea, no shade” (meaning “no disrespect intended”), but often it ironically precedes some shade or criticism.

(Influencer culture has tons more: “ratio” – if you reply to someone’s tweet with “ratio” and your reply gets more likes than the original post, you’ve successfully ratioed them, which is like a public takedown. Gen Z floods comment sections with “ratio + you fell off” for laughs. “Link in bio” is a standard phrase now (when an influencer says “link in bio,” Gen Z knows to check their profile for more info or merch links). “Algorithmmic” slang too – for instance, creators talk about pleasing “the algorithm” (as if it’s an entity) when their content performs well. Also, fun phrases like “main character energy” (acting like the lead in the story) or “POV” (point of view, used as a format for skits) are popular. We can’t forget “hits different” (feels unique or special in comparison; a term popularized by a Taylor Swift song but adopted into everyday talk). All in all, Gen Z creator slang is heavily centered on social media dynamics – attention, fandoms, engagement, and trends get their own lingo.)

Gen Z Terms Education (School & College Slang)

If you walk through a high school hallway or scroll through a college group chat, you’ll notice Gen Z students have infused their everyday school life with plenty of slang. They use popular internet terms to describe academic situations, mix in some new ones, and generally keep the lingo lighthearted even when talking about classes or exams. As a teacher (or parent), it might sound like a different language! From what I’ve seen, here are some Gen Z slang terms in the education context:

• Rizz – A newer slang word meaning charisma or flirting ability. Rizz is what one “has” if they’re good at charming someone they’re interested in. In a school context, teens might gossip “Did you see how John asked Maya to prom? He’s got rizz!” Or conversely, “I have no rizz; I get so awkward talking to my crush in the halls.” It’s a fun one — in fact, Oxford even named “rizz” as a 2023 Word of the Year, showing how youth slang like this is now mainstream​.
• W (Dub) and L – These letters stand for Win and Loss in the context of outcome or opinion. Gen Z often exclaims “W!” to mean something is great/a win, and “L” for something lame or a loss. In school you might hear: “I forgot my homework, major L.” Or if someone got an extension on a project: “Teacher gave us extra time? Big W!” Sometimes they’ll say “dub” (short for the letter W) as well. E.g. “Scoring free pizza at the event was a dub.” It’s basically labeling things as good or bad, like a quick rating.
• Mid – If students describe something as mid, they mean it’s mediocre or average at best​. Not terrible, but definitely not great. For example: “How was the new cafeteria menu?” – “Eh, mid.” Or “That movie we watched in class was mid” – implying it wasn’t very impressive. It’s a dismissive, somewhat blunt way to say “so-so.” If you get called mid, well… that’s not a compliment – it means you’re unremarkable.
• NPC – In gaming, NPC means Non-Player Character (background characters who just have simple scripted behaviors). Gen Z has brought NPC into slang to label people who are acting basic, robotic, or just following the crowd without independent thought. In a school scenario, a student might joke “That substitute teacher is such an NPC” meaning they just go through motions and spout the rules, or tease a friend “You’re an NPC for doing exactly what the teacher said without question.” It’s a playful insult meaning someone lacks original personality in that moment.
• In my ___ era – This phrase is used to describe the current theme of someone’s life or behavior, borrowing the concept of “eras” like Taylor Swift’s album eras. Gen Z students say “I’m in my [something] era” to mean that lately they’re all about that something​. For instance, “I’m in my study era” during exam season (focusing on studying a lot), or “She’s in her athlete era” if a girl suddenly joined multiple sports. It’s a trendy way to frame whatever phase or mood you’re in. Teachers even hear things like “He’s in his dropout era” if a senior starts slacking after college acceptance. It’s often tongue-in-cheek.
• The ick – Though more of a dating term, even high-schoolers use “the ick” to describe suddenly feeling grossed out or turned off by someone you used to like​. It’s that cringey feeling when a minor thing kills your attraction. For example: “I got the ick when I saw him pick his nose in class. I can’t like him anymore.” It’s often discussed among friends about crushes – once you catch the ick, it’s hard to reverse. In everyday school context, they might use it jokingly: “It gives me the ick when the professor wears those toe shoes.”
• Glow up – A glow up refers to a significant improvement in appearance, skill, or confidence, often over a period of time (like puberty or a summer break). Students say “glow up” to talk about transformations: “She had a major glow up over summer – new hair and she’s much more confident now!” It’s basically an upgraded version of oneself. Senior year yearbook quotes might joke “Thanks to freshman year braces and acne for my glow up.” It can also be used as a verb: “I’m trying to glow up before college.”

(In the classroom, you’ll also hear classics that have trickled down: “brain fart” for forgetting something momentarily, “bombed” for failing a test (“I totally bombed that quiz, L for me”), or “ace” for doing extremely well (“She aced her finals, big W”). Gen Z loves acronyms when typing, so you might find “IDK” (I don’t know), “IKR” (I know, right), “OMG” written even in notes or casual assignments. One interesting one is “glazing” which some high-schoolers use to mean over-flattering a teacher (sucking up)​ – like “Kevin is glazing Mrs. Smith hoping for a grade bump.” And of course, students still use “salty” (bitter), “GG” (as in “good game,” sometimes after a presentation), “bet” (meaning sure) in the hallways. The key thing I’ve found is that Gen Z seamlessly blend slang into their academic life – class might be boring, but their language is anything but.)

Healthcare & Wellness

You might not immediately think of slang in the context of healthcare, but Gen Z has brought their informal lexicon into how they discuss wellness, mental health, and even medical situations. Partly this is due to the heavy presence of mental health discourse on social media, and partly just Gen Z’s tendency to use humor as a coping mechanism. The result is a set of slangy terms and casual phrases when talking about health. Here are a few examples:

• I’m dead (or “dead” as an adjective) – We saw this in the U.S. section as meaning “that’s hilarious,” but Gen Z also dramatically uses “I’m dead” to mean “I’m exhausted” or “I just can’t with this.” For example, after pulling an all-nighter someone might slump and say “Ugh, I’m dead.” Of course they’re alive – it’s hyperbole for feeling completely drained. In wellness terms, it’s a colorful way to express extreme tiredness. (They might also say “I’m deceased” in the same way on text, playing up the drama for humor.)
• Triggered – In psychological terms, triggered means having an emotional reaction to a disturbing stimulus that “triggers” a past trauma. Gen Z has adopted triggered in casual slang to mean strongly bothered or offended (sometimes seriously, sometimes in a jokingly exaggerated way). Someone might say “I get triggered when I see people cutting in line” (semi-serious annoyance) or use it more lightly: a friend eats your fries and you clutch your heart, “I’m triggered!” – playing it for laughs. In mental health discussions, though, they do use it respectfully, like “Warning: this story could trigger people with anxiety.”
• Gaslighting – Originally a term from psychology (from the film Gaslight), meaning a form of emotional abuse where someone makes you doubt your reality. Gen Z is very aware of gaslighting and uses the term to call out manipulative behavior. Even casually, you’ll hear “Don’t gaslight me!” if someone is trying to convince them of something the person knows isn’t true. Example: Teen 1: “You’re the one who said we should skip class.” Teen 2: “Wait, what? No, I didn’t.” Teen 1: “Now you’re just gaslighting me.” It’s used a lot in conversations about relationships and mental well-being, reflecting how Gen Z has brought therapy language into everyday slang.
• Glow up – We touched on glow up in the education section, but it’s relevant in wellness too, especially regarding body image and self-care. A glow up often implies improving one’s physical health and appearance – perhaps through exercise, skincare, or simply puberty doing its thing. Gen Z might post a “2020 vs 2023 – my glow up” transformation picture, showing their fitness progress or mental health improvement (looking happier). Encouraging someone to glow up can mean focusing on self-improvement and well-being.
• Wholesome – Gen Z uses wholesome to describe things that are good for the soul, uplifting, and pure. In a world full of snark, calling a meme or moment “wholesome” means it genuinely made you feel happy or restored some faith in humanity. It isn’t exclusive to health, but it often comes up in the context of mental wellness – sharing wholesome content as a form of self-care or mood boost. For example, watching a video of a grandparent learning to use FaceTime might get comments like “This is so wholesome ” (with tearful happy emojis). It’s become slang for “heartwarming.”

(Gen Z also have humorous ways to discuss health symptoms or states: “hangry” (angry because hungry), “food baby” (slang for a bloated tummy after eating a lot, as if you’re “pregnant” with food – teens will poke their belly saying “food baby!” after lunch), “Sending me” (if something is so funny or outrageous it’s metaphorically sending you to the grave; similar to “I’m dead”), “depressed AF” (using the internet shorthand AF = as f**, to intensify, though casually saying this might not indicate clinical depression, just feeling really down at the moment). On the positive side, “self-care” has become a common term – not really slang, but Gen Z throws it around casually: “Can’t go out tonight, doing self-care” (maybe meaning a face mask and early bedtime). And thanks to the pandemic, terms like “the ’Rona” (for coronavirus) briefly entered youth slang, as well as “Zoom university” (joking about college from home on Zoom). Gen Z tends to address even serious topics like mental health with a mix of frankness and humor, coining phrases that help them talk about feelings in a relatable way.)*

Gaming

If there’s one area rich in slang, it’s the gaming community – and Gen Z gamers have both inherited a lot of classic gaming terms and added their own. Many gaming slangs have actually crossed over into mainstream use, thanks to streaming and eSports becoming huge. I grew up seeing a lot of these in chat messages and multiplayer lobbies; now I hear Gen Z using them in everyday talk as metaphors. Here’s a run-through of popular gaming slang among Gen Z:

• GG – Stands for “Good Game.” Used at the end of a match to show sportsmanship, or sometimes sarcastically if the match was bad. Gen Z uses GG in gaming to say “that was a good match” or even outside gaming to conclude something. Example in game: “We lost, but gg guys.” In slang, if something’s over, they might just say “Well, gg.” (There’s also “GG WP” – good game, well played – as a respectful add-on.) On the flip side, “gg ez” (good game, easy) is a taunt implying the opponents were no challenge – considered bad manners, but you’ll see edgy teens drop a “gg ez” to gloat.
• Noob / Newb – A noob (or newbie) is a new or unskilled player. It can be an insult or just a factual label. Gen Z gamers might yell “You noob!” if someone messes up, or self-deprecatingly say “I’m such a noob at this game” when they’re new. In gaming culture, noob is often thrown around playfully to mock mistakes. It’s one of the oldest gaming slangs that’s still very much alive (and has even entered general slang for anyone new/clueless at something).
• OP – Stands for “Overpowered.” If something in a game is OP, it means it’s too strong or unbalanced. Gen Z might say “That shotgun is OP, it needs a nerf.” Speaking of which: nerf (verb) is another slang – meaning to weaken (as nerf guns are weaker toy guns). Game developers “nerf” and “buff” (strengthen) things all the time. So you’ll hear gamers say “They nerfed my favorite character in the latest update” or conversely “This new ability is OP – they better buff the other characters to compensate.”
• Lag – Lag refers to latency or slow responsiveness in game due to internet or hardware. Gen Z gamers use it both as a noun and verb: “The lag is terrible, I’m teleporting around” or “I lagged and then I died, not fair!” It’s such a part of their vocabulary that “lag” also gets jokingly used in real life: if someone’s slow to respond, a teen might poke them saying “lagging much?” (like saying your brain is lagging).
• Camp/Camper – To camp in gaming means to stay in one spot (often hidden) to get easy kills, rather than moving around. A camper is a player who does this. It’s generally frowned upon in many games (except where it’s a legitimate strategy). Gen Z will definitely call out “Ugh, there’s a camper in the building, watch out.” And “stop camping!” is a common gripe in voice chat. It’s basically calling someone lazy/cheap for not engaging in fair battle.
• Clutch – Originally sports slang, but in gaming to clutch means to pull off a win or key play in a critical, high-pressure moment. If it’s 1 vs 3 in a match and you manage to win, that’s a clutch victory. Gen Z uses clutch as an adjective too: “That was a clutch move saving your teammate.” Outside gaming, they might say “I studied last minute and pulled an A – clutch!” meaning they succeeded against the odds.
• AFK – We saw AFK in the tech section, but it’s truly born from gaming. When a player is AFK (Away From Keyboard), it means they’re temporarily not present/active in the game. Team players will yell “Our healer is AFK!” if someone isn’t moving (probably stepped away). It’s so common that, as mentioned, it’s even used outside games now.
• GGs – Short for “good games,” often said at the end of a gaming session or match series. You’ll see players type “ggs” meaning “thanks, that was fun across multiple rounds.” It’s basically a plural of GG. Gen Z gamers are pretty polite with GGs generally – it’s a part of gaming etiquette that survived into this generation.
• Sweaty – Calling someone sweaty or a match sweaty means they/it are try-hard and intense. If you’re playing casually but encounter opponents who are playing like it’s the world championship (really skilled, moving fast, using all meta tactics), you might say “These lobbies are sweaty” (because the players are figuratively sweating to win). Similarly a “sweat” is a player known to be super competitive. Gen Z uses this a lot in games like Fortnite or COD. Outside of gaming, sweaty hasn’t caught on much, but any overly effortful situation could be jestingly called sweaty.

(Gaming slang could be an entire dictionary, but these are some highlights. Others Gen Z would know: “pwned” (pronounced like owned with a “p,” meaning utterly defeated – a bit old-school leetspeak, but they know it), “rekt” (slang spelling of wrecked, also meaning utterly defeated or messed up: “I got rekt last round”), “spawn” (where you reappear or start, “spawn point”), “frag” (to kill, from FPS games, though less common now to say “frag” vs just “kill”), “1v1 me” (challenge to a duel – “fight me one-on-one”), “campfire” or “camping” we covered, “BOT” (calling a player a bot means they’re playing like an AI – i.e., they’re so bad or predictable that they might as well be a computer program; also used humorously if someone does something clueless, “I’m such a bot today”). One more that’s crossed into Gen Z mainstream slang: “level up” – from RPGs meaning to improve or go up a level, now used to mean personal growth (“Time to level up my cooking skills”). And of course, with the popularity of Among Us, “sus” (suspicious) became a household term. Gaming has heavily influenced Gen Z slang, providing both specific terms and metaphors they use in everyday life.)

Conclusion: Slang Evolves as Gen Z Grows

From what I’ve seen, Gen Z slang is not static – it’s constantly evolving. Today’s “fire” and “slay” might become tomorrow’s “cheugy” as new lingo emerges. This guide captured a snapshot of popular terms across various regions and scenes as of now. It’s comprehensive, but certainly not exhaustive (there are always more words bubbling up on TikTok or the latest viral game).

What’s clear is that Gen Z loves language that is expressive, witty, and often rooted in online culture. Whether they’re discussing a viral tweet in New York, a “peng” outfit in London, a clever “jugaad” hack in Delhi, or a “munted” party in Sydney, Gen Z have made English their own by infusing it with creativity and humor. They also aren’t shy about using slang in professional or serious contexts – after all, this is the generation for whom a meme can convey as much as a formal email.

As per my research, keeping up with Gen Z slang is like staying on a moving train. The best way to understand it is to immerse yourself where it’s happening: social media, streaming platforms, group chats, and everyday conversations with Gen Z folks. They’ll often be happy to explain their favorite phrases (maybe with an eyeroll if it’s really old news to them). And if you use some of these terms in conversation, do it naturally – Gen Z can smell a forced “How do you do, fellow kids?” moment from a mile away. But with the examples and meanings in this guide, you’re well on your way to speaking Zoomer.

Language is always changing, and Gen Z is leading the charge in the digital age. It’s honestly pretty lit how fast they churn out new expressions. So, no cap, I hope this guide helped decode the slang and maybe even gave you a laugh or two (I’m not dead tired of writing about this yet, so that’s a W). In the end, the key to “getting it” is knowing the culture and context behind the words. And with Gen Z, it’s all about being connected, creative, and unabashedly authentic – period.

References

1. Times of India – “Gen-Z slang words explained: 30 terms you need to know” (Sep 23, 2024).
2. Evening Standard (London) – “From ‘out of pocket’ to ‘no cap’ – Gen Z slang terms and meanings” (2025).
3. Dictionary.com – “Stonks Meme: Meaning & History”​dictionary.com; “Diamond hands: Meaning & Origin”​dictionary.com.
4. BuzzFeed – “Glossary to Heartbreak High’s Aussie Slang” (Angeline Barion, 2022) ​buzzfeed.com​buzzfeed.com.
5. Hindustan Times – “Keeping up with Gen Z slang: terms decoded to ease your FOMO” (Jul 29, 2020)​hindustantimes.com.
6. Indian Express – “From Hinglish to Gen Z Slang” (Mridusmita Deka, Mar 15, 2025) ​indianexpress.com.
7. Emarketer – “A ‘delulu’ marketer’s guide to using Gen Z slang without being cringe” (Sara Lebow, Jan 4, 2024)​ emarketer.com​emarketer.com.
8. The Butterknife (School news site) – “School-Appropriate Gen Z Slang: Terms to integrate into the classroom” (Daniela Palatchi, Dec 7, 2023) ​thebutterknifewa.com​thebutterknifewa.com.
9. Wikipedia – “Glossary of Generation Z slang”​en.wikipedia.org.