When you get older, keeping up with the newest slang might not seem that important to you, but it really is. After all, how else do you expect to talk to any younger people? Here are 18 Gen Z phrases and slang you need to know if you want to have any chance of speaking to younger generations.
Caught in 4K
Saying someone was “caught in 4K” means they were caught red-handed doing something wrong or embarrassing. Although 4K is a type of high-definition video, you don’t actually have to catch someone doing something with a camera to say they were “caught in 4K.” It just means there’s clear evidence that they did this bad or cringey thing.
Delulu
“Delulu” comes from the word “delusion,” and it describes someone who has unrealistic dreams or beliefs, usually about themselves or a situation. If someone thinks they can get the highest grades in class without putting in any effort or studying, Gen Z might say that they’re “delulu.” Sometimes, though, delusion can actually be a good thing.
Fanum Tax
“Fanum tax” is a word that Generation Alpha mostly uses, although there are plenty of people in Gen Z who use it, too. It sounds pretty strange, but it’s just describing friends stealing each other’s food. This one even has grammatical rules to it, as “fanum taxed” is for the past, and “fanum taxing” is for the present tense. Gen Z really is quite bizarre.
Snatched
When something is “snatched,” it’s as good as it gets, and you’re essentially telling someone that this thing looks great. For example, you might hear some people in Gen Z tell each other that they look “snatched.” It means they really like how this person looks, although you can use “snatched” to talk about objects, too.
Receipts
“Receipts” are proof or evidence of something. When someone in Gen Z asks for someone to “show me the receipts,” they’re asking for solid proof or examples of it. At the same time, they might also complain that someone “doesn’t have the receipts” when they’re talking about something they claim is true without any evidence.
Stan
To “stan” someone means you’re a huge fan, and this love you have for this celebrity is bordering on obsession. Some people think this phrase comes from a combination of the words “stalker” and “fan,” but the truth is a little different. It comes from the Eminem song of the same name, which is about a fan who becomes obsessed with his musical idol.
Slay
Although “slay” still means killing someone, most people in Gen Z use it more positively. It means to do something exceptionally well or in a way that completely destroys the competition. For example, if a singer “slayed” during a performance, it means they absolutely “killed” it or that they really impressed everyone who was there.
Vibing
When you’re “vibing,” everything just feels right. You’re in a great mood, and you’re enjoying the moment because everything around you seems to fit perfectly. It doesn’t matter if you’re at a concert or just chilling at home because “vibing” means you’re feeling happy and connected with your surroundings.
Gucci
As you might expect, describing things as “gucci” means you think that everything’s great. Gen Z really does have a lot of sayings to describe things as being good. The name comes from the brand of the same name, which most of us associate with luxury and quality. Although you can use it in the same way, “gucci” mostly just means something’s going well.
Bussin’
Here’s another way to describe something really good, especially food. Gen Z will use the phrase “bussin’” to say that something’s fantastic, like a sandwich. It’s a way to describe something better than you ever expected. Like many Gen Z phrases, this one comes from African-American Vernacular English (AAVE).
Savage
Someone who’s “savage” is someone you don’t want to get on the wrong side of, as they’re an incredibly blunt person. This is someone who doesn’t mince their words and is so brutally honest that it actually catches everyone off guard. This one kind of makes sense, as Gen Z sees honesty as being the most important trait in a person.
I’m Dead
Gen Z uses “I’m dead” when someone cracks a hilarious joke or when something’s completely unbelievable. Obviously, they’re not actually dead, but this phrase shows that this situation or joke was so funny or shocking that it metaphorically “killed” them. If Gen Z knows how to do one thing, it’s how to exaggerate things.
Mood
Calling something a “mood” means that it matches exactly how you feel right now, and Gen Z will use it for practically anything. For example, they might use it for ordinary things, like saying “mood” when they see a picture of an angry person after they’ve had a long day. But they might also use it for things that seem completely left-field, like an overflowing trash can.
Hits Different
“Hits different” sounds like it should be a negative thing, but that’s not true for Gen Z. They’ll use it to talk about something that stands out in a good way, like a dish that tastes way better than it looks or a song that’s become an earworm for them. When something impresses them, it “hits different.”
CEO Of
Saying someone is the “CEO of” something is an expert of or really good at that thing. For example, you might have a friend who knows all of the best coffee places in town. In that case, they’d be the “CEO of coffee runs.” It’s usually a good thing to be the CEO of something, although it really depends on what you’re talking about.
Sus
If someone or something feels “sus,” it just doesn’t seem quite right. It’s a shortened form of the word “suspicious,” although we’re not entirely sure why Gen Z needed to shorten that word anyway. Feeling that something is “sus” is that gut feeling you get when things just don’t add up right.
Big Yikes
“Big yikes” is what Gen Z will say when something’s beyond just regular embarrassment or awkwardness. It’s for those moments that make you cringe so hard that you’re physically wincing. Scientists still aren’t sure how humans developed a sense of shame, although it’s possible it helps us on an individual level.
No Chill
When someone has “no chill,” they just can’t relax or let anything go. This is the kind of person who overreacts to even the smallest of things, or they’re just pretty enthusiastic about something. Saying that a friend “has no chill with video games” means they’re intense and probably a bit too competitive about them.
