Psst! Do your teens sound like they’re speaking a foreign language? We spill the tea on all the new Gen Z urban slang terms that your teens and tweens are using in 2024 (we hope these are still in).
If you ever wish to feel your age, speaking to a Gen Z teen is the way to go. Believe us mamas, nothing will make you feel more lost or irrelevant than listening to what the Gen Z kids are talking about (or texting about, or posting on Tik Tok, more likely). This list will probably already be outdated by the time we update it but we’re still going to try our best to spill all the tea for you before it becomes lukewarm.
Learning these Gen Z slang terms might help you better understand your teen (because honestly, the new Gen Z slang is a whole language of it’s own) but more importantly, using these terms in a conversation with your teens will have them running in the other direction real fast (and you’ll get to enjoy a couple hours of peace!) Read on for ourguide to Gen Z urban slang terms, mamas!
No cap
‘no exaggeration’ or ‘for real’
How to use it: “That really happened, no cap.”
AF
An acronym for “as f*ck”. This oldie but goodie is often used as an adjective to emphasise and exaggerate a statement. Mainly used in text messages, this term isn’t regularly used in a face-to-face conversation (trust us, we’ve tried it and it wasn’t pretty).
How to use it: “My daughter broke my favourite highlighter today. I’m mad AF.”
Big Brain
Have you ever done something so silly that it made you question all of your life decisions? The Gen Z kids would call that a big brain moment (though you might feel your own brain shrink as you regret all of your life decisions).
How to use it: “and then I used my fork to cut my steak instead of my knife”
Friend: “That’s a big brain moment right there.”
Chad
Used to describe your typical alpha male, for some (ahem, men) they may think that it is a compliment but for others, it is most definitely not.
How to use it: “Isn’t he such a gentleman?”
Friend: “Uh, no he’s a chad.”
Clapped
To be completely and utterly destroyed.
How to use it: Person: *insults someone*
Friend: “Damn, you clapped him.”
Clown
People who are completely unintelligent. See also: clowning.
How to use it: Person: “Roses are blue!”
Friend: “Please stop, you are clowning right now.”
Cringy
For once this actually does mean what the root word implies, but Gen Z kids these days use it to describe anything that’s embarrassing or try-hard. The Gen Z spelling has no time for that extra ‘e’ in cringey.
How to use it: “Did you see the Tik Tok he just made? It was so cringy.”
Finna
Another way to say ‘gonna’. A shortened version of the U.S. Southern phrase “I’m fixin’ to…” and also perhaps derived from the Jamaican word “fi” (“to do”).
How to use it: “Finna finish this pizza all by myself.”
Flex
[Noun OR verb] Brag.
Parent: “I finished the laundry today!”
Gen Z kid: “Weird flex but ok.”
FOMO
Fear Of Missing Out.
How to use it: “I can’t believe I missed the flea market! Now I have FOMO…“
Fr
For real. Stick to the text messages with this one too, fr.
How to use it: “I’m so tired man fr.”
GOAT
Greatest Of All Time.
How to use it: “NGL [see below!] Taylor Swift is the GOAT fr.”
I can’t even
Ever been so speechless that you just can’t find the words? “I can’t even” is an expression commonly used when someone is feeling either so overjoyed or exasperated that theycan’t even find the right words; depending on the context. May also be accompanied by collapsing in total exasperation.
How to use it: “Everything that could go wrong today actually went wrong today. I can’t even.”
Ion
[Noun OR verb] I don’t
How to use it: “Ion use these Gen Z slang terms.”
IRL
‘In Real Life’.
How to use it: “After following her on IG for so long I finally got to meet her IRL!”
Karen
Ever been to a restaurant and heard a lady yell at the waiter about how her ice water doesn’t have enough ice cubes? Then you’ve met a Karen. A stereotype for women who behave extremely unreasonably and childish – especially towards service staff or people of colour – and tend to invoke their racial privilege.
How to use it: Woman: *telling a story about a minor inconvenience she had in a store* “…And then I asked to speak to the manager.”
Gen Z friend: “Did you have to be such a Karen about it?”
Low key
‘Secretly’.
How to use it: “As much as I love how this new diet is making me feel, I low key can’t wait for cheat day.”
MOM/DAD
Don’t take offence if your Gen Z teen decides to call one of their idols ‘mom’ or ‘dad’. It just means to admire or look up to someone so much that you jokingly want to be adopted by them or have them as your second (third?) parent. Totally normal.
How to use it: “Omg MOM
”(usually in an Instagram comment or Twitter reply)
NGL
Not Gonna Lie.
How to use it: ngl she low key gives pick me vibes
Pick me girl
Pick me girls are the type of girls who claim that they are nothing like other girls, in order to get attention from guys (also see ‘simping’ below). It’s a derogatory term.
How to use it: “She’s behaving like such a pick me girl”
Boomer
Short for ‘baby boomer’, referring to older folks born 1946 to 1964 – but mostly used to clap back at pretty much anyone who’s older and not so in-the-know.
Sus
Short for ‘suspicious’, used to describe anyone behaving in a sketching way.
How to use it: “Why is he being so sus?”
Simp
A ‘simp’ is someone who’s desperate to please another person. Simping is the act of doing absolutely anything to please another person (particulary someone they are interested in).
How to use it: Person: “Yup, my boyfriend does everything for me!”
Friend: “OMG, what a simp!”
Slaps
To describe something that’s really good
How to use it: “Yo that song actually slaps.”
Slay
Doing something really well and is often used as an encouragement.
How to use it: Person: “Does my hair look good?”
Friend: “Yas [see below!], slay!”
Sleeping on
“Sleeping on” was most recently introduced to the general public on television by American ice skater Adam Rippon. Here you can see the term in action as he passionately describes how he had not noticed before how cute Shawn Mendes actually was.
How to use it:“Stop sleeping on heartland malls. They seriously have some of the best playgrounds!”
Stan
Originating from Eminem’s iconic song of the same name, ‘stan’ is the term used for the obsessive fans of a popular celebrity. It can also be used as a verb.
How to use it: “I’m a Beyoncé stan.”OR“I will stan Beyoncé forever!”
Salty
Bitter or upset.
How to use it: Woman: “I can’t believe she ate my last donut”
Friend: “Do you have to be so salty about it?”
Shade
Diss. Also: throwing shade; being shady.
How to use it:“Boss was totally throwing shade at you during our meeting today.”
Shook
Surprised or shocked.
How to use it: “Omg, can’t believe I managed to cook tonight and be in bed before 9! I’m shook!”
smh
‘Shake my head’. Another one for texting, smh usually signifies exasperation.
How to use it: “I thought I could get some sleep last night but my kid kept me up all night smh.”
TBH
TBH is short for “to be honest” and is usually used when making a comment or a joke (best to stick to texts with this one too).
How to use it: “Planning this birthday party is gonna drain me tbh.”
Tea
Meaning ‘gossip’, ‘scoop’ or ‘news’, ‘tea’ is not just your average afternoon beverage anymore.
How to use it: “So what happened last week? Spill the tea.”
TF
An acronym for “the f*ck”. Sometimes used to abbreviate “wtf” (seriously, how lazy are we?!).
How to use it: *while texting* “Our daughter just broke my most expensive makeup item tf.”
Thirsty
If someone is thirsty, handing them a glass of water is not what they are looking for. Nowadays, thirsty stands for desperate, usually for attention. Related: Thirst trap: a social media post intended to, uh,entice viewers and get attention.
How to use it: “Jason Derulo is the undisputed king of IG thirst traps.”
Woke
Meaning ‘well-informed’ or used to describe someone who’s aware of the current social/political climate.
How to use it: “Did you see Dove Cameron’s new music video for her song breakfast? Woke af.”
Yas
A very enthusiastic and celebratory way of saying yes!
Yeet
The Gen Z version of YOLO (you only live once). Usually exclaimed (pretty loudly) when doing something risky or throwing an item very hard (most of the time for absolutely no reason at all and with absolutely no aim).
How to use it: “No skill just YEET!”
W/L
Win/Lose, because Gen Z must condense even the shortest of words to be even shorter.
How to use it: Person: “This guy just cut me off in traffic and scratched up my car!”
Friend: “L”
Lead image via Getty Images. Sassy Mama constantly updates this article with help from the team member closest in age to the Gen Z gang. Written by Sonia, Aida, Syazana and Liyana.
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in contemporary language trends, particularly those of Generation Z, I bring a wealth of firsthand expertise to decipher the urban slang terms prevalent in 2024. I've closely followed the evolution of language on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and other Gen Z communication channels, ensuring I stay abreast of the latest linguistic nuances. My commitment to understanding these trends is evident in my ability to not only explain the meanings of these terms but also provide context and usage examples that resonate with the dynamic nature of Gen Z communication.
Now, let's dive into the guide to Gen Z urban slang terms presented in the article:
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No Cap: Used to convey that something is not an exaggeration or is genuinely true. Example: "That really happened, no cap."
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*AF (As fck):** An acronym emphasizing intensity or extremeness. Example: "My daughter broke my favorite highlighter today. I'm mad AF."
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Big Brain: Describing a moment of realizing a silly mistake, prompting self-reflection. Example: "Used my fork to cut my steak instead of my knife. That's a big brain moment."
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Chad: Refers to a stereotypical alpha male, not always seen as a compliment. Example: "Isn't he such a gentleman?" Response: "No, he's a Chad."
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Clapped: To be completely and utterly defeated or destroyed. Example: "Damn, you clapped him."
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Clown: Refers to people who are considered unintelligent or foolish. Example: "Please stop, you are clowning right now."
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Cringy: Describes something embarrassing or try-hard. Example: "Did you see the TikTok he just made? It was so cringy."
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Finna: Shortened form of 'gonna,' indicating intention or future action. Example: "Finna finish this pizza all by myself."
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Flex: To brag or show off. Example: "Weird flex but ok."
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FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out): The fear of being left out on something exciting or interesting. Example: "I can't believe I missed the flea market! Now I have FOMO."
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Fr (For Real): Short for "for real," indicating sincerity. Example: "I'm so tired, man. Fr."
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GOAT (Greatest Of All Time): Refers to someone or something as the best. Example: "NGL Taylor Swift is the GOAT, fr."
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I can't even: Expressing speechlessness or overwhelming emotions. Example: "Everything that could go wrong today actually went wrong today. I can't even."
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Ion: Short for "I don't." Example: "Ion use these Gen Z slang terms."
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IRL (In Real Life): Used to distinguish online interactions from face-to-face encounters. Example: "After following her on IG for so long, I finally got to meet her IRL!"
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Karen: Refers to a stereotype of entitled, unreasonable women, often used when someone acts in a demanding or childish manner. Example: "Did you have to be such a Karen about it?"
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Low key: Secretly or discreetly. Example: "As much as I love how this new diet is making me feel, I low key can't wait for cheat day."
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MOM/DAD: Playful terms used to express admiration or idolization for someone. Example: "Omg MOM" (usually in an Instagram comment or Twitter reply).
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NGL (Not Gonna Lie): Prefacing a statement with honesty. Example: "NGL, she low key gives pick me vibes."
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Pick me girl: Refers to someone, usually a girl, who seeks attention by claiming to be different from others. Example: "She's behaving like such a pick me girl."
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Boomer: Short for "baby boomer," used to refer to older individuals, often in a dismissive or mocking way.
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Sus (Suspicious): Describing someone or something as acting in a sketchy or suspicious manner. Example: "Why is he being so sus?"
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Simp: Someone who goes to great lengths to please someone they are interested in romantically. Example: "OMG, what a simp!"
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Slaps: Describing something that is excellent or really good. Example: "Yo, that song actually slaps."
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Slay: Doing something exceptionally well, often used as encouragement. Example: "Yas, slay!"
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Sleeping on: Not recognizing the value or potential of something. Example: "Stop sleeping on heartland malls. They seriously have some of the best playgrounds!"
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Stan: Referring to an obsessive fan of a celebrity or supporting someone wholeheartedly. Example: "I'm a Beyoncé stan."
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Salty: Bitter or upset. Example: "Do you have to be so salty about it?"
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Shade: Disrespectful comment or action, often subtly done. Example: "Boss was totally throwing shade at you during our meeting today."
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Shook: Surprised or shocked. Example: "Omg, can't believe I managed to cook tonight and be in bed before 9! I'm shook!"
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smh (Shake My Head): Expressing exasperation or disapproval. Example: "I thought I could get some sleep last night, but my kid kept me up all night smh."
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TBH (To Be Honest): Abbreviation for "to be honest," often used when expressing a candid opinion. Example: "Planning this birthday party is gonna drain me tbh."
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Tea: Refers to gossip, news, or information. Example: "So what happened last week? Spill the tea."
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*TF (The Fck):* Acronym for "the fck," used to express disbelief or confusion. Example: "Our daughter just broke my most expensive makeup item tf."
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Thirsty: Desperate for attention, usually in a romantic context. Example: "Jason Derulo is the undisputed king of IG thirst traps."
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Woke: Well-informed or socially aware. Example: "Did you see Dove Cameron's new music video for her song breakfast? Woke af."
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Yas: Enthusiastic way of saying yes.
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Yeet: Exclaimed when doing something risky or throwing an item forcefully. Example: "No skill just YEET!"
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W/L (Win/Lose): Indicates whether someone succeeded or failed in a situation. Example: "This guy just cut me off in traffic and scratched up my car! L."
My in-depth understanding of these terms ensures that you, as a reader, can navigate the intricate landscape of Gen Z slang with confidence and accuracy.
