Gen Z Slang Defined: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Teenagers’ Hidden Language

**List update 12/19/2025

Let me guess, your kids come home from school nearly every day speaking some foreight language you’ve never heard. They drop a “skibidi rizz Ohio” into a sentence leaving you scratching your head and wondering if you’ve taken crazy pills or if you should maybe just move to Ohio. Am I right?

The worst part? Gen Z slang changes fast. Just when you thought you had their new language figured out, it changes. New words appear overnight, meanings shift weekly, and emojis suddenly carry weight you didn’t agree to. By the time adults understand a phrase enough to use it in a sentence, teens have already moved on.

But here’s the truth parents need to hear: Understanding teen slang isn’t about being cool. It’s about staying connected.

Kids, today, use slang to fit in. Imagine a club called “6 7” and your kids are invited. Humans have always had an innate desire to feel connected and a part of something. Slang is a way of fitting in.  a When teens use slang, abbreviations, or coded language, they aren’t trying to shut parents out. They’re trying to belong, communicate efficiently, and sometimes talk about sensitive topics without feeling exposed.

Kids use slang because it gives them admission into the cool club. Belonging is an important part of growing up.

Our role as parents? Don’t panic. Be curious and have fun with it. Our #1 goals as parents is to build trust with our kids. Because at the end of the day, trust – not vocabulary – is how we keep kids safe!

Why Gen Z Slang Changes So Fast

Teen slang evolves faster than any generation before it because it’s shaped by:

• Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube

• Meme culture and viral sounds

• Group identity and peer validation

• A desire to stay one step ahead of adults

  
  

Slang is intentionally temporary. Once adults adopt it, teens abandon it. So be prepared to always be way behind on the slang trend train.

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Not all Teen Slang is Created Equal

Some of the language kids say is fun and harmless but not all slang is created equal. There are a lot of words that might sound innocent but they aren’t.

This guide will help you know what’s what!

Above all, talk with your kids about the slang terms that need your intervention. Don’t get angry at them – some kids don’t even know that bad terms carry a bad meaning. Just talk with them and help them know the difference.

Gen Z Slang Parents Commonly Hear (Low Risk)

These slang terms usually not harmful and are used in a fun or humorous way. Parents who use these phrases can anticipate an increase in eye rolls and deep sighs.

• 6 7 — It means…nothing! Really. But kids will say it any time 6 and 7 are near each other. This originated from a song lyric and then was popularized in a video edit of basketball player LaMelo Ball.

• A mood — Can be shortened to “mood”. When kids relate to a feeling or situation.

• And that’s on [something] — Said when whatever is said doesn’t need any other discussion. 

• Aura points — Points to determine how cool or not cool you are. Points can be added or deducted.

• Aura farming —Cultivating your aura; see above.

• Bae — You significant other.

• Basic — When someone or something is boring or simple.

• Beige flag — Green flag means yes, red means warning, beige is a something off-putting that you’re not sure about but isn’t enough to give them the red flag.

• Bet — This is an agreement or accord. “I’ll give you $10 bucks if you bark like a dog in class.” “Bet!”

• Beta — The opposite of an "alpha" or "sigma" type. This would be someone weak.

• Bestie —Best friend

• Brain rot — The negative mental effects from consuming too much junk online content growing up our parents would have said our brains are turning to mush. Gen Z uses this in a humorous way.

• Brat summer — similar to Megan The Stallions “hot girl summer”, Brat Summer encourages everyone to feel confident and proud of the way they look and enjoy life.  The term is based on singer Charli XCX's 2024 album "Brat" released in the summer of 2024. Bruh — “Bro”; can be used to address anybody

• BTS — A Korean boy band

• Bussin’ — To describe something awesome or amazing. 

• Canon event — Identity forming moments in your life that help shape you. From the movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

• Cap/Cappin’or No Cap — Lying or Not Lying

• CEO of [something] — To be the boss of some activity. Example: “Tanner is the CEO of being late to school.

• Cheeks --- Short for butt cheeks. When something or someone is terrible. Used instead of saying A**. Example: if Tanner is playing bad you’d say “He’s cheeks”.

• Chopped — Unattractive

• Cook/cooked/cooking/Let me cook – Doing something really well or beating somebody at something. It could also be if you are in big trouble: “I’m cooked”.

• Crash out — An expression meaning your “going to lose it”. This would be a way of overreacting or throwing a tantrum.

• Cringe — When something is awkward. Cringy.

• Ded — Intentionally miss spelling of “dead”. This is used when something is shocking, funny or overwhelming. “Dying with laughter”.

• Delulu — This is short for "delusional". It’s used to say someone has unrealistic ideas about something.

• Demure — This is used in the opposite way of the definition of the word. The word is defined as modest or shy but the slang use of the word is someone or something trendy or subtly graceful.

• Do it for the plot — Like building a story. Someone would say they did something for the plot or plot line when you’re taking a chance on something.

• Dope — Cool or awesome

• Drip — Great style or fashion sense. “Look at my drip”

• Egirl / Eboy — A person who has an emo-inspired, punk-rock style

• Facts — It means exactly what you’d think. Say it to punctuate somebody's statement.

• Fam — Friends

• FINSTA — Fake Instagram account

• Fire — Amazing. Could reference something someone does or how they look.

• FOMO — Fear of Missing Out

• FWB — Friends with benefits

• Gas — They can be used various ways. It could be used to “hype someone up”, describe something cool, or it can be used for marijuana.

• Ghosted — Disappearing with no further communication. Maybe not texting back or calling them.

• GOAT — Greatest of All Time

• Gruzz — A way to refer to old people, it originates from the slang word "huzz" which means hoes.

• GTG — Got to go

• Gucci — High value – something good or cool.

• High key — The opposite of low key – which means subtly. This would be something very interesting or strong emphasizing something in a clear way

• Hits different — When something is better than normal. “The AC just hits different”

• I wish I had a free bag of chiiiips — This is from a meme when someone walks by asking a chip restocker for a free bag of chips. Kids will use this when you grab anything out.

• Ick/Ick Factor — When you feel disgusted by someone or something.  If someone gives you the creeps, they could have the Ick Factor.

• ISO — In search of

• IYKYK — “If you know you know”; used when there is an inside joke.

• Karen — Used to refer to an entitled mom

• Left no crumbs — This means you did something perfectly or did it to the fullest.

• Let's get sendy — Means to "full send" something or go “All in”

• Lit/Turnt/Turnt Up — When something was exciting or popular.  “That party was Lit”. It could also refer to someone being stoned or drunk.

• Lock in — Focus fully to achieve a goal.

• Low key — Subtle. “That concert was low key amazing”.

• Mewing — Kids refer to mewing as the act of making your jawline more defined by putting your tongue to the roof of your mouth.

• Mid — Average, low quality.

• Narc — From and undercover narcotics agent. A narc is an informer or spy. Example “Tanner is a narc for sharing this list with parents”

• OFC — Of course

• Ohio — Describes someone or something that’s weird, bad, or cringe. 

• OK, Boomer — Calling someone out for an outdated idea. This refers to the boomer generation who is out of touch.

• Opp —"opponent” in reference to someone’s enemies.

• Pookie — A nickname that you call your best friend or significant other.

• Rizz — Comes from “charisma." Someone who is at the top of their game when it comes to the relationships.

• ROTFLMAO — Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off

• Salty — Cranky about something

• Shading — similar to “throwing shade” which is when you talk about someone. Shading is when you talk about another group but don’t mention their name.

• Ship — “relationship”; This is the process of putting two people in a relationship. “They are shipped”.

• Sigma — Someone who is independent but strong. This isn’t like an Alpha which is more dominant.

• Simp —Kind of like “whipped” back in the day. A simp tries too hard to bend over backwards for their crush. 

• Skibidi — Derived from a YouTube video “Skibidi Toilet”. Skibidi can have multiple meanings like as “cool,” “dumb,” or “bad."

• Skibidi toilet —Animated video on YouTube of a singing toilet. Don’t try and make sense of it.  It’s just a funny video that went viral.

• Slaps— An expression when something is amazing or awesome.

• SMDH — Shaking my damn head

• SMH — “Shaking my head”. It’s used as disappointment.

• Snack — Describing someone who is attractive

• Spam — A fake social media account

• Squad — Close friend group or crew

• Sus — Short for "suspicious."

• Swoop — When someone picks you up in a car.

• TBH — To be honest

• Tea/Spill the tea —Gossip

• Trap phone — Burner phone or an older iPhone that is used to get online with WIFI. Kids want trap phones when their parents take their phone away.

• Trash — When something is garbage or terrible

• Unc — Someone old (usually a guy)

• Vibe — Stating that it’s a good place or thing.  “it’s a vibe”

• Vibing — Having a good time or feeling the energy

• Woke — Socially or politically conscious

• YAAS — A very emphatic yes

• YEET — A way to express surprise, approval, or excitement.

Teen Slang Parents Should Pay Closer Attention to and Likely Put a Stop To.

These terms don’t always mean there’s a problem but parents need to pay attention. The way they are used could indicate a problem or that kids aren’t being kind or respectful to others:

• AF — As f***

• ASL — Age/sex/location

• Bih — Short for b*tch

• Body count — The number of people someone has slept with

• Chuzz — Comes from the word "huzz" which means “hoes”, chuzz means "chopped hoes," and is used to describe someone as ugly or unattractive. 

• Daddy — Attractive man, usually older, who conveys a sense of power

• DTF — Down to f***

• FBOI — F*** boy; a guy just looking for sex

• Fine shyte — Started as "fine as sh*t," describes someone attractive. 

• GYATT/Level 10 GYATT — Shortened term for "godd**n" used to express approval or excitement. It’s used frequently to talk about a girl with a large bottom.

• Hentai — Graphic anime pornography

• Huzz — It means "hoes." 

• Juul — Type of e-cigarette that is small and discreet;

• KMS — Kill myself

• KYS — Kill yourself

• LMP — This could innocently mean “Like my pic” but it could be used as “lick my p***y”

• Plug — Also look for the plug emoji. The term is used to refer to someone who can “connect” you with drugs; a drug dealer.

• Skeet — To ejaculate

• Smash — To have casual sex

• STFU — Short for “shut the f*** up,” sometimes it’s used in a not dangerous way but other times it can be used for cyberbullying.

• SYBAU — Stands for "shut your b*tch @ss up"

• Thirsty — Desperate for attention, usually sexual attention

• Thot — Stands for “that ho over there” and is often used instead of “slut”

• WAP — Wet @ss p***y

If any of the above terms are being used by your kids, then it could be cause for concern. This is your cue to talk with your kids.

You Don’t Need to Speak Teen Slang — But You Do Have to Listen

Look, teen slang changes as fast as technology and AI. It’s truly hard to keep up with. Here’s the thing though, you don’t need to use all the teen slang. You don’t need to sound cool, and you don’t need to keep up with every trend – although, I do recommend dropping a few 67’s, bets, and slaps.

I do believe it’s critical to be present in your kid’s life. Today, showing up might just be: learn and use some slang, even if it means eye rolls.

Slang will change and fade. You’re love and presence shouldn’t. When parents focus on connection, teens are far more likely to speak up when something actually matters.

That’s the real goal and slang can be a connection point.

Why I Speak Teen Slang During School Assemblies

I know teens call me "Unc" when I speak at schools but when I speak in schools I always incorprate a few Gen Z slang terms to connect with the kids. One of my gifts has been to connect with teenagers to relate with them so I can help them change their life. Connection is key!

For more information about having me come and speak at your school click here!