Gen Z Slang phrases and words in English
Gen Z slang — part AAVE and Black queer ballroom culture ('mother', 'ate', 'slay'), part Gen Alpha internet brainrot from Twitch and YouTube ('rizz', 'sigma', 'skibidi'). Words that escaped the For You Page and now turn up in group chats, brunch, and even board meetings.
46 phrases · meanings & example sentences
“No cap”
Black American slang where 'cap' means a lie or exaggeration; 'no cap' means 'no lie, I'm serious'. Front-loaded before a claim someone might not believe — about money, effort, numbers, or feelings. The opposite, 'cap', calls out a lie.
- I haven't slept in three days no cap, my Apple Watch shows zero deep sleep since Tuesday
- She closed forty deals last quarter no cap, the numbers are on the dashboard
- Mum cooked for thirty people last Christmas single-handed no cap
“It's giving”
From Black queer ballroom culture, popularised by Drag Race and TikTok. The formula 'it's giving + noun' delivers a vibe verdict — naming the aesthetic or energy something radiates, often with playful judgement: 'it's giving substitute teacher', 'it's giving desperate'.
- His apartment had one Eames chair, an espresso machine, and a Dieter Rams print. It's giving Architectural Digest cosplay
- She showed up to the funeral in red satin. It's giving 'I'm the other woman'
- The cafe has exposed Edison bulbs and oat milk in seven varieties. It's giving Brooklyn 2017
“Sus”
Short for 'suspicious'. Exploded with the game Among Us, where players accused each other of being the hidden impostor. Used for a person, story, or situation that seems off — technically plausible but quietly not adding up.
- He says he stopped drinking but his pupils are blown out and he's sweating in February. Sus
- The cofounder filed an expense for 'supplies, $11,400' last week. Sus
- Mum keeps mentioning the neighbour by first name three times a call. Sus
“Delulu”
Playful clipping of 'delusional', from K-pop fan forums. Describes someone with unrealistic hopes — convinced a crush or dream is closer than reality allows. Often affectionate, and sometimes reframed as a motivator: 'delulu is the solulu', acting as if it's already true.
- She's been planning their honeymoon to Patagonia since the second date. He hasn't texted in nine days. Total delulu
- He's pricing the company at 100 million pre-revenue with no users. Delulu
- Aunt Karen still thinks she's going to inherit the cottage. Delulu
“Rizz”
Clipped from 'charisma', coined by streamer Kai Cenat. Means romantic charm — the ability to attract or flirt smoothly. 'Unspoken rizz' is pulling someone with presence alone, no lines needed. Works as a noun or a verb: 'he rizzed her up'.
- He matched with her on Hinge at 8pm and they were at brunch in Tribeca by 11am Saturday. Unspoken rizz
- She walked up to the bartender, said one sentence, walked out with his number. Rizz
- Dad flirts with the waitress at every restaurant and somehow gets free dessert. Inherited rizz
“Caught in 4K”
From 4K video resolution, meaning recorded in flawless, undeniable detail. Used when someone is caught doing something with proof so clear there's no denying it — a screenshot, a photo, a receipt that ends the argument before it starts.
- He told his wife he was at the gym. She found his Strava with a 0-mile run starting at the new analyst's apartment. Caught in 4K
- She swore she'd quit smoking. Three people tagged her smoking on the balcony Saturday. Caught in 4K
- He said he wasn't at the party. Two cousins posted a video with him in the background. Caught in 4K
“Understood the assignment”
Means someone delivered exactly what a moment called for, nailing the brief perfectly. The 'assignment' is the unspoken expectation — a dress code, a tone, a task — and meeting it so precisely that the whole room notices.
- The new VP showed up to her first board meeting in a sharp blazer with three numbers nobody else had. She understood the assignment
- He brought flowers, wine, and a handwritten note to meet her parents. Understood the assignment
- Kid wore the exact theme costume to the school disco — no notes from the parent group chat. Understood the assignment
“Ate and left no crumbs”
A compliment from Black queer ballroom slang — to 'eat' is to perform brilliantly. 'Left no crumbs' is the top tier: did it so completely and flawlessly that there's nothing left to criticise or improve on.
- Her closing argument referenced his three previous depositions in eighteen minutes. Defense moved to settle by Wednesday. Ate and left no crumbs
- She did her wedding toast without notes, made the bride cry, hit her mark in seven minutes. Ate and left no crumbs
- He cooked the whole Thanksgiving dinner solo, plated like a restaurant. Ate and left no crumbs
“Let him cook”
From hip-hop and basketball culture. Means 'don't interrupt — let them keep going', said when someone is in a creative flow or on a hot streak. Step back and let them work; the results will be worth it.
- He's been at the whiteboard since 9am, hasn't eaten, won't open Slack. Don't message him. Let him cook
- Toddler is drawing with markers for the first quiet 40 minutes since breakfast. Let him cook
- Dad's deep in the BBQ at 6am, marinades labelled, playlist on. Don't ask anything. Let him cook
“NPC”
Non-Player Character, a gaming term for scripted background figures who repeat the same lines. Used for a person who seems to run on autopilot — same predictable opinions, reactions, and small talk, with no original thought.
- He talks about his Peloton FTP, the new Tesla, and his real-estate side hustle in that exact order, every brunch since 2021. Total NPC
- The receptionist says 'how can I help you today' even when I'm already mid-sentence. Pure NPC
- Mum opens every call with 'are you eating', the weather, and the neighbour's new fence. NPC routine
“Brainrot”
Originally the mental fog from consuming too much low-quality internet content. Now describes that over-saturated state where memes and references replace real thinking — or simply the silly, addictive content itself.
- He pitched the whole startup in nothing but recycled podcast catchphrases. Total brainrot — no real idea underneath
- My niece can't form a sentence without three TikTok sound effects. Brainrot
- He's been watching debate-bro YouTube for six months and now argues like a podcast host at brunch. Brainrot
“Side quest”
From role-playing games, where side quests are optional detours from the main story. Used for any tangent off your main life path — a random job, a fling, a spontaneous adventure — that doesn't fit the main arc.
- She married a guy from Tinder for eleven months in 2018, calls it a side quest, hasn't mentioned him since
- He drove Uber for two years between the failed startup and the next one. Just a side quest
- Spent 90 minutes at the wrong wedding in the same hotel before we figured it out. Side quest
“Mother”
From Black queer ballroom culture, where the 'house mother' leads and protects the younger members. Now a high compliment for an influential woman who set the template others copy. 'Mother is mothering' means she's excelling at being iconic.
- Anna Wintour walked into the gala in a coat she's owned since 1991 and didn't speak. Mother. Six magazines reshot their covers by Friday
- Grandma still cooks for forty at every holiday at age 88, runs the kitchen like a brigade. Mother
- She started the company at 24, sold it at 31, and now every female founder cites her in the deck. Mother is mothering
“Aura points”
From anime fan debates about a character's presence. A made-up social scoring system where every action adds or subtracts points: a smooth move earns aura, an embarrassing slip loses it. The points are imaginary but the judgement is shared.
- He tried to flex about his Range Rover, then locked the keys inside. Lost about 4,000 aura points in 90 seconds
- She handled the heckler with one line and walked off stage without looking back. Plus 5,000 aura
- Dad sneezed into his soup at the in-laws' Christmas dinner. Negative aura for the whole table
“Crashout”
From Atlanta rap, where 'crashing out' meant acting recklessly. Now means a public emotional meltdown — a dramatic, witnessed loss of control like a screaming match or an unhinged late-night post. More performative than a quiet breakdown.
- She found his second phone and hit Instagram Live for forty minutes from the kitchen floor. Full crashout
- He quit the job in a 14-page Slack thread tagging the CEO and every VP. Crashout
- Toddler discovered the iPad was at one percent. Mild crashout in the cereal aisle
“Yapping”
From the sound of a small dog, 'yap yap yap'. Means talking too much, especially with little real substance. A 'yapper' or 'big yapper' is the chronic offender — the long monologue nobody asked for.
- The interviewee asked one question and yapped for the next 38 minutes about his time at Bridgewater
- Mum's been yapping about the neighbour's new fence since Tuesday
- He's been yapping on the date about his crypto portfolio for two hours. She's eyeing the exit
“Looksmaxxing”
Systematically optimising your appearance — skincare, gym, grooming, even surgery — to maximise attractiveness. Originally a fringe internet term, now used widely and often half-jokingly for anyone visibly running a self-improvement protocol.
- He came back from Ibiza in August with a tan, a new jaw, and seven new tagged pictures. Looksmaxxing arc, calling it a meditation retreat
- Mum bought three new creams and a red-light mask after her birthday. Quiet looksmaxxing
- He stopped drinking, started running at 5am, and got veneers in three months. Full looksmaxx
“Very demure”
From a viral 2024 TikTok where a creator described acting 'very demure, very mindful' at work. Used with self-aware irony to praise behaviour that's understated, classy, and tastefully restrained — often about something that's secretly anything but.
- His ex showed up to the engagement party in a beige cashmere set, brought champagne, said 'so happy for you both' and left in nine minutes. Very demure
- She emailed HR the resignation in three lines with a smiley. Very demure
- Toddler asked for one biscuit, ate it slowly, said thank you. Very demure
“Sigma”
From manosphere forums for the aloof 'lone wolf' male who supposedly sits above the social hierarchy, too detached to compete. Now used almost entirely as a joke, mocking the silent, too-cool-to-care, stoic-loner persona.
- He hasn't posted on Instagram in three years, took the senior title, and showed up to the offsite in a black Uniqlo t-shirt and sunglasses. Pure sigma
- She eats lunch alone every day with sunglasses on, won't tell anyone what she's reading. Sigma
- Dad refuses small talk at family events, nods once at the host, sits in the corner. Sigma grandpa
“Hits different”
Describes something familiar that lands much harder under the right conditions — a song after a breakup, coffee on a quiet Sunday, your mum's call after a bad week. It's not just 'better'; context changes its whole emotional dimension.
- Coffee on the balcony at 6am before anyone else is up. Hits different
- Listening to that 2014 album the week after she moved out. Hits different
- Mum's lasagna after a 14-hour flight home. Hits different
“Living rent-free”
Describes a person, memory, or moment that occupies your mind constantly without your consent — and gives nothing back, like a tenant who never pays. Used for crushes, grudges, regrets, or a clip you can't stop replaying.
- The way she said my name wrong at the dinner — living rent-free in my head for six months
- That one video of the dog answering the phone is living rent-free in my brain
- His sister's wedding speech mistake from 2019 still lives rent-free at every family event
“Main character”
From a TikTok trend romanticising your own life as if it were filmed. Used for someone acting as though they're the star and everyone else is supporting cast — admiring when it's confident self-belief, critical when it's pure self-absorption.
- She quit her job, dyed her hair red, and moved to Lisbon in three weeks. Pure main character energy
- He gave a 14-minute toast at someone else's wedding. Main character on the wrong show
- Mum walks into the doctor's waiting room like it's a film set. Main character
“Cooked”
From gaming and sports, the opposite of 'let him cook'. Means finished, doomed, or beaten beyond recovery — a failed exam, a dead phone, a hopeless scoreline. 'We're cooked' is cheerful resignation to certain disaster.
- Phone's at 2 percent, no charger, three hours till her flight lands. We're cooked
- He sent the unredacted draft to the entire client list. Cooked
- Down 4-0 at half-time against the under-12s. Dad's team is cooked
“Goated”
Adjective from GOAT — Greatest Of All Time. Means the best in its class, applied as casually to a sandwich as to a sports legend. The lowercase, everyday tone is the point — the highest praise without any of the ceremony.
- The fried chicken sandwich at the corner shop is absolutely goated
- She taught herself three languages in two years while raising twins. Goated mother
- He memorised every Premier League fixture for the season. Goated nerd behaviour
“Glow up”
A dramatic positive transformation — in looks, confidence, or circumstances — usually over a noticeable stretch of time. From a 2010s hip-hop lyric, now used for any person, place, or thing that has levelled up impressively.
- He showed up to the reunion taller, tanned, and actually confident. Massive glow up
- She went from intern to running the whole department in two years. Career glow up
- The cafe repainted, changed the menu, and hired a real barista. Proper glow up
“Slay”
Means to do something exceptionally well or look fantastic. A word of hype and praise — 'you slayed that' — rooted in Black and queer culture, now everyday approval for a great performance, outfit, or win.
- She walked into the pitch, owned the room, and closed the deal. Slay
- You in that suit? Absolutely slaying
- He revised for one night and still aced it. Slayed the exam
“Bet”
A one-word reply meaning 'okay', 'sure', or 'I'm in' — and sometimes a confident 'watch me'. From 'you bet', now a casual agreement or a relaxed acceptance of a challenge.
- 'Pub at eight?' 'Bet'
- 'You'll never finish that in time.' 'Bet.' He finished early
- 'Can you cover my shift Saturday?' 'Bet, no problem'
“Lowkey”
Means 'slightly', 'secretly', or 'kind of' — softening an admission you're a little shy about. Its opposite, 'highkey', means openly and emphatically. From hip-hop, now everyday for quietly confessing something.
- I'm lowkey nervous about the interview tomorrow
- That cheap supermarket pizza is lowkey amazing
- Highkey think this meeting could have been an email
“Salty”
Means bitter, resentful, or visibly annoyed — usually over something small or after losing. From the idea of tears or sweat, now everyday for someone sulking and unable to hide it.
- He's been salty since he lost at Monopoly two hours ago
- She got salty when someone else got the credit for her idea
- Fans are still salty about the referee's decision last week
“Mid”
Means mediocre — average, unremarkable, overhyped. A dismissive verdict that something didn't live up to its reputation. The sting is in the indifference, not the anger.
- Everyone raved about the film but honestly it was mid
- The new burger place? Overpriced and kind of mid
- His big speech was mid — nobody remembered a word by lunch
“Valid”
A word of acknowledgment meaning 'your feelings or reasoning make sense'. Often 'that's valid' — it doesn't agree or disagree, just recognises a take as legitimate. From therapy-speak that went mainstream in Gen Z conversations.
- 'I just don't feel like going out tonight.' 'That's valid, I'll cover for you'
- She's nervous about the pitch — that's valid, it's her first one
- 'Honestly I'm exhausted by networking events.' 'Valid.' Nobody argued
“The ick”
A sudden, often irrational feeling of disgust toward someone you were attracted to, triggered by a small turn-off. From British reality TV, now everyday for an instant, hard-to-explain loss of interest.
- He chased the bus and tripped, and just like that I got the ick
- She got the ick when he ordered for her in a baby voice
- Loved that singer until the interview — instant ick
“Touch grass”
Telling someone to step away from the internet or an argument and reconnect with real life. A gentle, or pointed, suggestion that they're too online and badly need some perspective.
- You've been arguing with strangers online all day. Go touch grass
- He rage-quit the game and posted ten times about it. Mate, touch grass
- Take the weekend off the laptop and touch grass — the emails can wait
“Flex”
To show off — wealth, skill, status, or a win. Works as a verb ('stop flexing') or a noun ('big flex'). 'Weird flex but ok' mocks an oddly specific or pointless boast. From hip-hop, now everyday.
- He parked the new car right outside the office. Pure flex
- She casually mentioned she speaks five languages. Lowkey flex
- 'I haven't watched TV in ten years.' Weird flex but ok
“Locked in”
Means fully focused and in the zone, with every distraction shut out to concentrate on one thing. From gaming and sports, now everyday for anyone in deep, determined work or study mode.
- He turned off his phone and didn't speak for four hours. Fully locked in
- She's locked in on the exam — same desk, same playlist, every morning this month
- Don't text Dad during the match, he's locked in
“Drip”
Means stylish clothing and the confidence that comes with it. Works as a noun ('serious drip') or a verb ('dripped out'). From hip-hop, now everyday praise for someone's outfit or overall look.
- He walked into the interview in a tailored suit and fresh trainers. Serious drip
- Where did you get that jacket? The drip is unreal
- Grandpa showed up to the wedding in a three-piece and a pocket square. Unexpected drip
“Snatched”
Means looking sharp, polished, and perfectly put-together — clothes, hair, everything fitting exactly right. From drag culture, now everyday praise for someone's look. Often used as a standalone reaction: 'snatched'.
- She walked into the party and her whole look was snatched
- His suit for the interview was snatched — got the job on the spot
- Grandma showed up to brunch absolutely snatched, new haircut and everything
“Glazing”
Means praising someone so much it gets embarrassing. From glazing a doughnut — laying it on thick. Used to call out over-the-top flattery, often of a celebrity, a boss, or a friend's new partner.
- He spent ten minutes telling the CEO how visionary she is. Stop glazing
- Every reply under the post is just glazing — nobody will admit it was mid
- She keeps glazing her new boyfriend like he invented breakfast
“Bussin”
Means really good, especially about food — delicious enough that you have to say so out loud. From Black American slang, now everyday hype for a great meal, and sometimes anything excellent.
- The tacos at the corner stand are absolutely bussin
- Mum's Sunday roast was bussin, I had three helpings
- This new playlist is bussin, hasn't skipped a track all morning
“Era”
Frames the current phase of your life like a chapter or an album era — 'my fitness era', 'my soft era'. From pop fandom, now everyday for self-aware reinvention or whatever stage you're going through.
- She's in her healing era — therapy, long walks, no group chat drama
- I'm in my saving era, no takeaways until the holiday's paid off
- Dad bought a road bike and lycra. He's fully in his cycling era
“Iykyk”
Short for 'if you know, you know'. Marks an inside joke or shared experience that needs no explanation to the people who get it — and quietly leaves everyone else out of it.
- We just looked at each other and started laughing. Iykyk
- The third table from the window at that little bar. Iykyk
- Wore the lucky socks for the final again. Iykyk
“Big W”
From sports and gaming scoreboards, where W stands for Win and L for Loss. A 'big W' is a clear victory or great outcome; 'taking the L' means accepting a defeat or embarrassment. Now everyday shorthand for any win or loss, big or small.
- Got the flat, the landlord waived the deposit, keys on Saturday. Big W
- He asked her out after three weeks of nerves and she said yes. Massive W
- Forgot Mum's birthday and remembered one hour before dinner. Taking the L on that one
“Spill the tea”
'Tea' means gossip or the inside story, from Black drag culture where T stood for 'truth'. To 'spill the tea' is to share the juicy details everyone wants to hear. 'What's the tea?' simply asks what's going on.
- Sit down, you missed everything at the reunion — let me spill the tea
- Two managers left the same week and nobody will say why. What's the tea
- Grandma spilled the tea on the family feud from 1985 over dinner
“Vibe check”
An informal read of someone's mood or the energy of a room. To 'pass the vibe check' is to give off the right energy; to 'fail' it is to feel off or unwelcome. Used to size up a person, place, or moment before committing to it.
- Walked into the party, looked around once, and left. Failed the vibe check
- New manager bought everyone coffee on day one. Passed the vibe check
- The hostel looked sketchy online but the common room was warm. Vibe check passed
“Based”
From rapper Lil B, who flipped it from an insult into a compliment. Means being admirably true to yourself and unbothered by what others think — or agreeing with a bold, honest take. The opposite of just following the crowd.
- He told the whole table he doesn't drink and doesn't care what they think. Based
- She turned down the promotion to keep her four-day week. Honestly based
- 'I still use a flip phone and I sleep fine.' Based
“Gatekeep”
To hoard access to something — a band, a spot, a recipe, insider knowledge — and act as if you decide who's allowed to enjoy it. Often a playful accusation when someone won't share a good find.
- She won't name the brand of her jacket so nobody copies her. Total gatekeeping
- He found a quiet beach and won't tell anyone where it is. Stop gatekeeping
- The senior dev knows the fix but makes everyone work it out alone. Gatekeeping the codebase
