Generation Z, those born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, have significantly reshaped our lexicon, bringing a fresh wave of slang that can sometimes leave older generations scratching their heads. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what your teenagers or younger colleagues are talking about, this blog is for you. Here’s a curated list of 80 popular Gen Z phrases that are dominating conversations, social media, and even workplace communications in 2025:
| Terms | Meaning | Example Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Ate | To succeed at something impressively. | She really ate that presentation today. |
| Bussin’ | Something that’s really good, especially food. | This burger from the new place is absolutely bussin’. |
| Cap | Lying or not being truthful. | No cap, that movie was fire. |
| Cheugy | Something that’s considered out of style or trying too hard to be trendy. | Wearing skinny jeans now is kind of cheugy. |
| Delulu | Short for delusional, often used in the context of romantic expectations. | I was delulu to think he’d call me back. |
| Fam | Short for family, but can also mean close friends. | Just hanging out with the fam tonight. |
| FOMO | Fear of missing out. | I’ve got serious FOMO about not going to the concert. |
| GYAT | An acronym for ‘girl your a** thicc’ or a general exclamation of surprise or admiration. | GYAT, look at that sunset! |
| Ick | A sudden feeling of disgust or loss of attraction. | I got the ick when he started talking about his feet. |
| IYKYK | If you know, you know; used for inside jokes or exclusive knowledge. | Those were the best days, IYKYK. |
| Main Character | Someone who acts like the protagonist in their own life, often in a confident or charismatic way. | He’s definitely the main character at every party. |
| No Cap | Honestly, for real. | I’m telling you, this is the best ramen I’ve had, no cap. |
| Rizz | Charisma or the ability to charm someone. | He’s got so much rizz, he could talk to anyone. |
| Shook | Shocked or taken aback. | I was shook when I found out they were dating. |
| Skibidi Toilet | Refers to a surreal animated series, used as a meme or for humor. | That’s as random as a skibidi toilet. |
| Slay | To do something exceptionally well. | You slayed that outfit choice for the event. |
| Sus | Suspicious or questionable. | That deal seems a bit sus to me. |
| Vibe | The atmosphere or energy of a situation or person. | This place has such good vibes. |
| Woke | Being aware of social injustices and inequalities. | He’s really woke about environmental issues. |
| Yeet | To throw something with force or an expression of excitement. | Yeet, I just got my dream job! |
| Big Brain | Used to describe a clever or intelligent idea or person. | That’s a big brain move right there. |
| Brainrot | Content or activities that are seen as unproductive or a waste of time. | I’ve been watching too many TikToks; it’s just brainrot. |
| Brat | Refers to a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude or person. | She’s such a brat, but I love her energy. |
| Eco-Anxiety | Anxiety about the future of the planet due to environmental issues. | I’ve got serious eco-anxiety thinking about climate change. |
| Era | The phase or period of life someone is currently in, often reflected through interests or style. | I’m in my ‘self-care’ era right now. |
| Extra | Over the top or dramatic. | Why be normal when you can be extra? |
| Facts | Used to affirm the truthfulness of a statement. | You’re right about that, facts. |
| Finna | Short for ‘fixing to,’ meaning about to do something. | I’m finna head out. |
| Flex | To show off or boast. | He’s always flexing his new sneakers. |
| Gas Up | To give someone encouragement or praise. | Let’s gas up our team before the game. |
| Glow Up | A significant positive transformation in appearance or personality. | He had a major glow up over the summer. |
| Hundo P | 100%, absolutely. | I’m hundo p down for that plan. |
| Lit | Amazing, fun, or exciting. | That concert was so lit! |
| Mid | Mediocre or average. | The movie was just mid, nothing special. |
| NPC | Non-player character, used for someone who seems to follow a script or lacks personality. | He’s acting like an NPC with that response. |
| Periodt | Used for emphasis, similar to ‘period,’ but with more force. | I’m the best at this game, periodt. |
| Pookie | An affectionate term for a loved one or friend. | Hey pookie, how was your day? |
| Sigma | A term for someone who is a leader but in a non-traditional, independent way, often seen as cool or admirable. | He’s not just an alpha, he’s a sigma. |
| Tea | Gossip or juicy information. | Spill the tea about what happened last night. |
| Vibe Check | Assessing someone’s or a situation’s mood or energy. | Vibe check, how are you feeling about this? |
| AF | As f***, used to intensify an adjective. | That movie was scary AF. |
| Bop | A good, catchy song. | This new track is a total bop. |
| Coquette | A playful, flirty aesthetic or behavior. | Her outfit is giving coquette vibes. |
| Gucci | Good or going well, used to affirm that everything is okay. | Everything’s gucci with me. |
| Hits Different | Something that has a unique or enhanced impact. | This song hits different when you’re in the car. |
| Lowkey | Secretly or subtly, without drawing attention. | I lowkey enjoy that show. |
| Mood | Used to express that something perfectly captures or represents one’s feelings or thoughts. | This meme is the ultimate mood right now. |
| Munch | Someone who is sexually interested or eager. | He’s such a munch for her. |
| Noob | A newcomer or someone inexperienced, often in gaming contexts. | He’s a total noob at this game. |
| OOF | An expression of discomfort, pain, or sympathy. | Oof, that must have hurt. |
| Pog | An expression of excitement or accomplishment, derived from ‘PogChamp.’ | Pog, we finally beat the level! |
| Ratio | When a post or comment gets more replies than likes, often indicating disagreement or criticism. | His tweet got a bad ratio, everyone’s against it. |
| Simp | Someone who does too much for someone they’re attracted to, often seen as overly submissive. | He’s such a simp for her. |
| Slaps | Something that’s really good, especially music. | This new album slaps. |
| Snack | Someone who looks attractive or desirable. | She looks like a whole snack in that dress. |
| Stitch | On TikTok, it’s when you take part of someone else’s video and add your own commentary. | I’m going to stitch this video to add my thoughts. |
| Thirsty | Desperate for attention or validation, often in a romantic or social context. | Why are you so thirsty for likes? |
| Vibe Shift | A change in the overall mood or atmosphere. | There’s been a vibe shift in the office since the new manager arrived. |
| W/L | Win/Loss, often used in gaming or sports contexts. | What’s your W/L ratio in the game? |
| Zaddy | An attractive, stylish older man. | He’s not just daddy, he’s zaddy. |
| AFAB/AMAB | Assigned Female at Birth/Assigned Male at Birth, used in discussions about gender identity. | She’s AFAB but identifies as non-binary. |
| Bitch | Can be derogatory, but also used casually among friends to mean ‘friend’ or ‘girl.’ | What’s up, bitch? |
| Bruh | An expression of disbelief or surprise, or simply ‘bro.’ | Bruh, did you see that? |
| Cis | Short for cisgender, someone whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth. | He’s cis, so he doesn’t understand the struggle. |
| Clout Chasing | Seeking fame or attention in a negative or superficial way. | He’s just clout chasing with that stunt. |
| Cringe | Embarrassing or awkward to an extreme. | That moment was so cringe. |
| Deadass | Seriously, for real. | Deadass, that’s what happened. |
| E-girl/E-boy | Internet personas characterized by specific fashion or behavior, often seen as trying too hard for attention. | He’s going full e-boy with that hair. |
| Fuckboy | A guy who’s seen as manipulative or just interested in casual sex without commitment. | Watch out for him, he’s a total fuckboy. |
| Gigachad | An exaggeratedly masculine and attractive man, often used ironically. | He thinks he’s a gigachad but he’s just a gym bro. |
| Hoe | Derogatory term for someone promiscuous, but also reclaimed by some as a term of empowerment. | She’s living her best hoe life. |
| Karen | A pejorative slang term for a middle-aged woman seen as entitled or demanding. | She was acting like a total Karen at the store. |
| Mansplaining | When a man explains something to a woman in a condescending way, assuming she has less understanding. | He was totally mansplaining the game to me. |
| NPC Moment | Having a moment where you act without original thought, like an NPC in a video game. | That was such an NPC moment from you. |
| Pick-Me | A woman who seeks male validation by differentiating herself from other women. | She’s always like ‘I’m not like other girls’, such a pick-me. |
| Poggers | An expression of excitement or approval, an evolution from ‘pog.’ | Poggers, we won the match! |
| Shooketh | Extremely shocked, the past tense of ‘shook.’ | I was shooketh when I heard the news. |
| Simping | The act of being a simp, often mocked for being too eager in pursuit of someone. | He’s been simping for her for months now. |
| Thot | Acronym for ‘That Hoe Over There,’ used derogatorily or reclaimed for self-empowerment. | She’s embracing the thot life. |
| Yikes | An expression of cringe, discomfort, or disagreement. | Yikes, that’s not a good look. |
Understanding these modern slangs can bridge communication gaps and help you connect with the younger demographic in a more authentic way. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or just someone curious about the evolving landscape of language, embracing this Gen Z lingo can make you feel more in tune with the current cultural zeitgeist. Remember, language is fluid, and staying updated with these terms can keep you from seeming, well, cheugy.
Keep this guide handy, and don’t be afraid to use these words in your daily conversations — just be aware of the context to avoid any unintended miscommunications!
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