Guide to 88 Gen Z Slang Terms — 2025
March 1, 2025
As a millennial on the internet who loves language, I can tell you that I find Gen Z slang—and the whole phenomenon surrounding it—to be so intriguing. I love the history of so many of these words (more below) and I love the way that young people play with language and turn it into their own thing. I like when adults (ahem, I am 37, I am one) get confused about new usage. Additionally, I like when kids play tricks on their parents by using silly slang terms and giggling about it with their friends. I think it’s all great. Perhaps you, however, want to know precisely what your kids mean when they “rizz” or “drip.” Well, look no further. We’ve got your back when it comes to the most important Gen Z slang around with our list of Gen Z slang terms in 2025.
Where do Gen Z slang terms come from?!
Let’s talk a little bit about the history of Gen Z slang terms. It’s important to mention that a lot of Gen Z slang comes from African American English Vernacular (AAVE), which is a specific dialect of English spoken in the Black community. Even more specifically, a lot of Gen Z slang originated in the Black LGBTQ community of the 1970s and 1980s, including the ballroom and drag traditions. Of course, not every Black person uses AAVE and not all people in the LGBTQ community use the same slang. But the evolution of words within a language isn’t just interesting; it’s important to recognize and to give credit where credit is due. The next time your child says “Slay queen,” they’re saying it because a Black drag queen said it first, likely sometime back in the 1970s.
What’s the point of slang, anyway?
The important thing to remember with slang is that people of all races and ages switch between different dialects and valences of English when they find themselves in different communities and social situations. This process is called “code switching.” You might think of how differently you would speak to your boss while you’re at work from how you would speak to your best friends while having a drink at happy hour. Depending on the social context, you’ll likely use slightly different language with each group.
In that way, you can remember that, when your kids are using slang, they’re just being kids. They’re playing with the language that they hear around them—and that’s one big way they actually learn to use language. It’s sort of counterintuitive, but it’s true. Linguistic research shows that kids use slang as a tool to develop their senses of autonomy and identity.
Playing with slang is another way for kids to understand how the parts of language fit together. Even though you might not use the same words they do, they’re intrinsically learning how adjectives, nouns, superlatives, negation and all sorts of other parts of speech work together to form complex ideas. And they get to do it on their own terms. Letting your kids play with slang and manipulate the language how they want can help them to also develop their sense of creativity and “plasticity” in the world around them.
So, the next time you’re tempted to tell your young one to “speak properly” and avoid using slang, just remember that 1) people have been using slang forever, 2) your child is participating in a rich and diverse socio-linguistic history, and 3) they’re likely also developing some pretty exciting and necessary skills.
You could also jump in with a fun activity to make it a teachable moment, like writing a slang haiku. Why not?
And you can always come back to our guide when you need help with a word or two.
Guide to Gen Z Slang in 2025
1) Rizz
Short for “charisma,” this is a noun that means exactly that. Charisma, charm, and a general ability to woo people.
Example: “How is that guy talking to all those cute girls? He has so much rizz!”
2) Cap / No cap
“Cap” is used like a punctuation to mean that something is untrue. “No cap” is used the opposite way: to mean that something is legit, the truth.
Example: “He said he makes a million dollars working from home? Cap.”
“No dude, that guy runs a Bitcoin mining operation. No cap!”
3) Slay
Think of “slay” like “killing it” or “crushing it.” It became popular on shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race when a drag queen had a particularly killer look, dance, or lip-sync. Now, it’s become ubiquitously used when someone is “killing it” because they look so good or they’re doing something in a particularly skilled way.
Example: “Beyonce looks stunning in that sequin bodysuit. Slay, queen!”
4) Work
Remember RuPaul’s famous 1992 song “Supermodel (You Better Work)”? I know you do. The song goes, “You better work, cover girl, work it girl, give a twirl. Do your thing on the runway.”
Well, that’s what “work” means.
Example: Your friend comes out of the dressing room at a store and looks incredible in a new dress. You say: “You better work, girl!
5) It’s giving
“It’s giving” is used to say that something has a specific quality. It’s often followed by the description of a specific type of “vibe” (see below) or energy.
Example: You look at yourself in the mirror on a Monday morning, disheveled, unready to start another hectic week, and you say to yourself, “It’s giving full on Case of the Mondays energy.”
6) Couldn’t be me
In other words: I would never do something like that.
Example: The most anti-school spirit kid you know says, “Cheerleading? At the pep rally? Couldn’t be me.”
7) Periodt.
“Periodt” is just “period” but it’s spelled with a t at the end for added emphasis. This Gen Z slang term means “end of discussion” or serves to punctuate an argument. This is a usage that comes from AAVE, particularly in the Black South, where the d would get dropped in favor of the t consonant sound instead. Think of how often we modify the final consonants of words (hangin’ out, for example). You can overemphasize the d and the t together for added effect.
Example: “That’s that. End of discussion. Periodt.”
8) Queen
Whereas “queen” may have once been used as a pejorative term for a gay man, the term was eventually “reclaimed” by drag queens and then by Gen Z to mean anyone who is at the top of their game. A queen is, of course, royal in her presentation to the world. You’ll often hear “Queen” preceded and/or followed by “Yas” or “Slay.”
Example: “You are looking gorgeous tonight, queen!”
9) King
Same idea as “Queen” above, but masculine.
Example: “Yas, king, work!”
10) Stan
A fan. Maybe even the biggest fan. In extreme forms, an obsessed fan or borderline stalker. This word comes from the Eminem song “Stan,” which was about a fictional fan of Eminem, Stanley “Stan” Mitchell, who wrote the rapper fan letters.
Example: “We stan a short king,” which means, “We love short men,” as a compliment to a specific person.
11) Skibidi
This word comes from an absurdist YouTube video series called Skibidi Toilet where animated heads pop out of toilets. It’s mostly used as gibberish or as a way to set off other slang terms. It’s frequently combined with the word “toilet” to create a pejorative.
Examples: “Skibidi toilet” means something is bad. “Skibidi rizz” means that person has extra rizz. “Skibidi Ohio” means something is not good. (See: Ohio)
12) Chad
Gen Z slang for a super attractive guy. It originated in reference to a handsome cartoon meme, and then became more ubiquitously used to mean an attractive man. It can also refer to exaggeratedly handsome masculine features, often obtained through “looksmaxxing” or “mewing.”
Example: “What a Chad!”
13) Alpha
Shorthand for alpha male. A man at the top of his game.
Example: “That Chad is such an alpha.”
14) Sigma
Like Chad and Alpha above, Sigma represents someone or something that is the pinnacle of cool, good-looking, or particularly powerful in some way. Can be used as an adjective or noun.
Example: “Eric has the new Adidas. He’s totally sigma.”
15) AMOG
Acronym for “A Man Among Gods.”
16) TFW / MFW
Acronym for “That Face When” or “My Face When.” Refers to a specific, universal expression that will be recognizable in the mind’s eye of the reader or listener when the situation is described.
Example: “TFW I get an F on my final exam.”
17) POV
Acronym for point of view. People started using “POV” in TikTok videos to represent a specific “point of view” or experience (we won’t get into why it doesn’t work the way they want it to).
Example: “POV you’re cooking the world’s best dinner!”
18) Bussin’
Bussin’ is a variation of “busting,” as in busting with flavor. Derived from AAVE.
Example: “These wings are bussin’!”
19) Slap
When something “slaps,” that means it’s really good.
Example: “This song slaps!”
20) Tea
As in, “What’s the tea?” or “Spill the tea,” “tea” in this context refers to gossip.
21) Drip
Excessively high amount of fashion and style, so as to be saturated by it. You know the song “Finesse” by Bruno Mars? He sings “Drippin’ in finesse.” You have so much style, you’re dripping in it! It can also be a noun for your style or a specific outfit.
Example: “Look at Robert’s new earrings. He’s got that drip!”
22) Low key
You might already know this one. Gen Z uses “low key,” and it still means “chill” or “laid back,” but it also means “sneakily” or “secretly.”
Example: “They have been low key dating for months!”
23) High key
The opposite of low key. Out loud, obviously, extravagantly.
Example: “The store is high key busy at this hour!”
24) Cheugy
Decidedly uncool, often used to describe millennials when they’re doing something characteristic, like wearing a fitted jean jacket.
Example: “She said ‘doggo’? How cheugy.”
25) Locked in
In the zone, focused, working absolutely for an objective.
Example: “Just one more video before I lock in.”
26) Dupe
Short for “duplicate,” a less expensive version of a product that does the same thing (or almost the same thing), but costs less.
Example: “Does anybody know a dupe for the Loubibelle Lip Oil?”
27) Menty B
Short for “mental breakdown,” a self-deprecating way to say you’re going through a rough patch.
Example: “Nothing like a little menty b during finals week!”
28) Side eye
When one looks out of the side of one’s eye in order to cast aspersion or judgment. Can be expressed verbally or non-verbally.
Example: “What is that outfit? Side eye.”
29) Bestie
Your best friend. Can be used in a way to connote friendship levels of intimacy with anyone, even if they aren’t your best friend.
Example: “Bestie, hold on, there’s something in your hair.”
30) Serve / serving
Some people think “serving” is just about wearing a great outfit, but it’s so much more than that. In Gen Z slang, to serve is to bring a sense of ultimate style and attitude to whatever outfit you’re wearing and whatever context you’re in. A person could serve equally well in some cowboy boots and denim as they could in a Dior dress—it just depends on how you wear it.
Example: You see someone walk into a public place like they’re a supermodel, and you might say to your friend, “That person is serving, yes!”
31) Ohio
Used in reference to the state to mean weird or awkward.
Example: “Ugh, Mr. Johnson was being so awkward in class today. So Ohio.”
32) I fear
Used to express an opinion ranging from simple bias to doubt or suspicion that may or may not rise to a true level of fear.
Example: “Angela will not be making the cheerleading squad this year, I fear.”
33) Crash out
To crash, mentally, emotionally, or physically.
Example: “School was so exhausting this week, I’m about to crash out.”
34) Finna
Short for “fixing to.” Demonstrates intention or prefaces what you are about to do. Derived from AAVE.
Example: “School was so exhausting this week, I’m finna crash out.”
35) Bet
Short for “you bet,” “bet” indicates affirmation.
Example: “Nolan’s house for nachos after practice today?” “Bet.”
36) We ate / She ate / They ate / He ate
If someone eats (or if they ate in the past tense), they absolutely slayed. They killed a look, a task, a move, whatever. Derives from drag and ballroom culture.
Example: “Did you see Trisha take off her jacket in homeroom? I know she was trying to impress her crush.” “She did! Girl ate.”
37) Left no crumbs
Typically follows “ate,” as in, someone achieved their desired outcome completely.
Example: “Did you see Trisha take off her jacket in homeroom? I know she was trying to impress her crush.” “She did! Girl ate and left no crumbs.”
38) Mother
A queen so benevolent that she nourishes others with her general sense of style, status, goodness, capacity, etc.
Example: “Beyonce won best country album at the Grammy’s? She is so mother.”
39) Aura
The general vibe and presence that someone or something brings to bear.
Example: “Christy seems off. Her aura was unpleasant today.”
40) Basic
Elemental so as to be incomplete, lacking, boring, or bad.
Example: “She thought she ate in that new dress, but it was just so basic.”
41) Beige flag
Used primarily in romantic relationships, but may extend to other realms. Neither a red flag (which would stop you) or a green flag (which would tell you to proceed), a beige flag is a quality that does not create alarm.
Example: “He calls his mom every day—do you think that’s ok?” “In my book, total beige flag.”
42) Boujee
Short for “bourgeoisie,” boujee refers to conventional materialistic values of the middle or upper classes. Used to imply that something is materialistic in a way as to lack culture, class, or awareness. Unnecessarily snobbish.
Example: “The baby shower was fun, but I felt like the whole thing was overdone—so boujee.”
43) Bed rot
Gen Z slang for getting into bed and not doing anything for an extended period of time. Hyperbolic way to represent rest. May involve binge-watching television and snacking.
Example: “Saturday calls for an extended session of bed rot.”
44) Cook
To be in the process of or to achieve completion of a task of some perceived difficulty with a modicum of talent or expertise. Often heard as “Let him/her/them cook,” as an imperative to mean, “Be patient.”
Example: “Regina can’t actually solve that geometry problem…” “Yes she can! Let her cook.”
45) Clapback
To comment back to someone, typically online, in a witty, snappy, or ferocious manner. Can be used as a verb or a noun.
Example: “Ariana Grande clapped back at critics who said she’d lost too much weight.”
46) Dead
To be mortified by either laughter, embarrassment, or another overwhelming emotion.
Example: “Look at your dad dancing! He looks so funny. I’m dead.”
47) Delulu
Short for delusional, used to imply that one is going through a period in which they know better, but are acting in favor of their delusions regardless.
Example: “Yeah, I know he doesn’t like me, but I’m going to keep hanging out with him to feed my delulu.”
48) Era
A described period of time that can be defined by a specific quality, most often “flop,” to indicate that a person is passing through a particularly difficult time. Can also be positive and descriptions can be creative and inventive.
Example: “I thought I was going into my flop era, but in fact, I am embracing my mindful era instead.”
49) Extra
Too much, overly one thing or another.
Example: “That girl is so annoying, she’s always so extra.”
50) Face card
Face, very simply. Often used in music and on TikTok, it implies a sense that someone has an unlimited credit card based on the attractiveness of their face.
Example: “His face card never declines.”
51) Fire
Really, really good, as in “on fire.”
Example: “These wings are fire.”
52) Fit/fit check
An outfit. A “fit check” is either done in a video online or with a group of friends, and is simply checking out and appraising one’s outfit.
Example: “Girls, quick fit check before we go out?”
53) Gagged
Stupefied by the overwhelming presence of someone’s style or presence. A person can “gag” others or others can be “gagged” by someone else.
Example: “Marsha looked so good at prom, I was gagging.”
54) Glizzy
A hot dog.
Example: “We caught Richard guzzling glizzies at the 7-Eleven.”
55) Gucci
In reference to the high-end brand, this Gen Z slang term is used to mean that something is particularly good or of a high quality. Also used to affirm.
Example: “I got the new Adidas Sambas this weekend—check them out.” “Gucci.”
56) Hits different
Distinctive so as to invite discourse.
Example: “That new Kendrick Lamar album just hits differently.”
57) The ick
A small but perturbing feeling that can turn one off from a potential romantic partner or anything else.
Example: “He bites his nails almost constantly. I had to dump him—it gave me the ick.”
58) IJBOL
Acronym for “I just burst out laughing.” Often used in text or online in place of “haha” or “lol.”
59) I oop
Interlocutor used to indicate a mental or physical pause in the face of mild embarrassment or surprise. Originated in 2015 on YouTube with drag queen Jasmine Masters.
Example: “So I was going to leave and then I oop—saw my ex and ran to the bathroom instead.”
60) L
Short for loss. Often heard in the context of “Take the L,” as in “take the loss.”
Example: “There’s nothing you can do about it, man. Take the L.”
61) W
A win. Often used in the same way as L, above.
Example: “It wasn’t pretty, but you know what, I’m gonna take the W.”
62) Looksmaxxing
Maximizing one’s attractiveness.
Example: “Jack’s trying so hard right now, but he looks good. Definitely looksmaxxing.”
63) Lore
Backstory. Fundamental information about a person.
Example: “I heard part of her lore—she went to private school before she moved here.”
64) Main character / main character energy
Used to describe someone who has the character of a protagonist or who simply brings a high level of energy to a situation.
Example: “Ever since Rebecca came back from summer camp, she’s got main character energy.”
65) Mid
Middling so as to be somewhat negative.
Example: “Lunch today was pretty mid.”
66) Moot
Gen Z slang term that is short for “mutuals,” as in mutual friends or followers on social media.
Example: “I didn’t even know that he was one of my moots.”
67) Nyaa
A cat noise used to impart cuteness.
68) OOMF
Acronym for “one of my followers,” as in followers on social media.
69) Out of pocket
To find oneself being or doing something that is out of context, perhaps wildly or extravagantly so.
Example: “Jerry just started yelling at everybody, he was totally out of pocket.” .
70) Pick-me / pick-me girl
To be a pick-me or pick-me girl is to evoke a sense that one comports oneself chiefly to align with the perceived desires of a group in order to be accepted by them. Heard most commonly in reference to a girl who wants to be “chosen” or “accepted” by a group of boys.
Example: “Lucy always laughs at their stupid jokes. She’s such a pick-me.”
71) Ratio
When a post online, particularly Twitter, gets more replies than retweets or likes, indicating that the general population is in opposition to the opinion expressed by the author of the original post. Can also be extrapolated and used to mean that someone received overwhelmingly negative feedback.
Example: “Did you see Nathan posted about the election? He got totally ratio’d.”
72) Roman Empire
A recent or ongoing obsession. Derived from an internet video when a woman asked her husband how often he thought about the Roman Empire, and he replied that he thought about it daily.
Example: “Mac Lipstick is my Roman Empire this month. I can’t stop.”
73) Secure the bag
As in, securing a bag of money, this means that someone is working hard to achieve their goals (or has already done so). Derived from hip-hop culture.
Example: “Just a few more months on this project and we are securing the bag.”
74) Fumble the Bag
The opposite of “secure the bag,” to fumble the bag is to lose out on a big opportunity. One can also fumble romantic opportunities.
Example: “I started crying in the middle of the interview. Absolutely fumbled the bag.”
75) Sheesh
Often said with extended “e” sounds, meant to impart praise or awe for someone else’s accomplishments. Came in reaction to basketball player D’Angelo Russell making a shot and doing the “ice in my veins” pose.
76) Shook
Shocked, stunned, surprised.
77) Situationship
A portmanteau of “situation” and “relationship,” this is another word for “dating,” but in an undefined context.
Example: “We were in a nine-month situationship before he told me that he didn’t want to be in a relationship.”
78) sksksksksk
Gen Z slang term used to connote a light laughter, like snickering through one’s teeth. Used in place of “haha” or “lol.”
79) Snatched
Comes from a “snatched waist,” which is a well-defined waist, this is someone or something that is looking very good or well put together.
Example: “She looked absolutely snatched in those leggings.”
80) Sus
Short for suspicious.
Example: “Did you hear that Mike was trying out for the football team? But doesn’t he hate sports? I don’t know, seems sus.”
81) Touch grass
As in, getting grounded or coming to grips with reality, this means that someone needs to “get off the internet” and come back into the real world.
Example: “You people are all too online. Time to go touch grass.”
82) Understood the assignment
To comprehend a task, either stated or implicit. Used to mean that someone has achieved something of note.
Example: “Nancy automatically knew not to wear white to Trisha’s wedding. She understood the assignment!”
83) Vibe
A general feeling about a situation or a person. Can be positive, negative, or aesthetic in nature. Often something someone wants to assess before attending an event in order to know how to prepare or what to wear. Can be used after showing up to an event to conduct a “vibe check.”
Example: “Yeah, I’d love to come to your party. What’s the vibe?”
84) Who is she?
Question asked, often rhetorically, to express positive surprise or awe at the presence of someone else. You could know or not know the person.
Example: Your friend walks into the room looking particularly good before you go out to dinner. You might say, “Who is she?” rather effusively to compliment her outfit.
85) She’s her / He’s him / They’re them
Superlative used to indicate that a person is “the” person, as in, the most distinctive or attractive person in their immediate orbit.
Example: As heard in Megan Thee Stallion’s “Her” lyrics: “I’m her her her her / she she she she she.”
86) Yap
To chat, blab, gossip, catch up, etc.
Example: “We need to catch up. Got time to yap?”
87) On god
Used to connote veracity, as in, “I swear to God.”
Example: “I saw Roberta and Troy in his car together, on god!”
88) Pop off!
Used to praise someone for looking really good or doing something with particular proficiency. Also used as an imperative to tell someone to continue making an argument or a particularly compelling point.
Example: Your friend is ranting about how unfair their boss is being at work, and they are justified in their argument. You might reply, “Yes! Pop off!”
Guide to Gen Z Slang Words in 2025 – Additional Resources
