A grandparent’s guide to Gen Alpha talk

We’ve decoded over 45 of the most popular Gen Alpha slang terms, so you don’t have to feel lost next time someone says “That food is bussin’ bussin.”

Just nonsense? Not quite

Some phrases feel like they were made just to confuse adults. But often, they’re part of viral trends.

Skibidi: A nonsense word from the YouTube series Skibidi Toilet, now used like an adjective or silly exclamation.
Six seven: Comes from a rap lyric; now just shouted randomly for comic effect.
Ohio: Describes something weird, cringe or off. E.g. “That haircut is so Ohio.”
Canon event: A meaningful or embarrassing life moment you have to go through.
Delulu: Short for ‘delusional’, but used positively. As in: believing something great will happen if you want it enough.

Style, attitude and ‘aura’

These are all about vibes, fashion, and how cool someone looks or acts.

Aura: A person’s general vibe or energy. High aura = cool.
Aura farming: Doing things just to seem cool online.
Preppy: A girly, colourful aesthetic using trendy brands. Think “Lululemon meets TikTok.”
Serve: To look amazing or pull off an outfit. “That look is a serve.”
Face card: Refers to someone’s facial beauty. “Her face card never declines.”

Born from TikTok, YouTube and streamers

If it feels like your teen’s vocabulary came straight from the internet… it probably did.

Chat: Used to address a group, like streamers do. “Chat, is this real?”
Fanum tax: Taking a bite of someone else’s food—made popular by a streamer.
CEO of: Being the best (or worst) at something. “She’s the CEO of being late.”
Let him cook: Trust the process; let someone do their thing.

Love, flirting and relationships

Crushes and drama haven’t gone anywhere—they just sound a bit different.

Rizz: Short for charisma. Having good flirting game. “He’s got W rizz.”
Ohio rizz: Really bad or cringe flirting.
Simp: Someone overly obsessed with a crush or partner.
Gooning: Originally explicit, now sometimes just used to mean obsessing over something or someone. Use with caution.
Huzz: Slang for a romantic interest, though it can have sexist roots.

Gaming slang in real life

Words from gaming culture now show up in everyday conversation.

Mogged: Outshined or made to look worse. “She mogged her with that outfit.”
W / L: Win or loss. Used like “That’s a W!” or “Massive L.”
Crash out: To break down emotionally or give up.
Lock in: To focus or get serious.

Sounds rude… but aren’t (always)

Some words sound cheeky, but aren’t always offensive—though some need context.

Unc: Short for ‘uncle’, used to mock people seen as old or uncool.
Big back: A fat-shaming term. Often used mockingly.
Bop: Used to slut-shame. Previously meant a catchy tune.
Out of pocket: Doing or saying something inappropriate.
Cooked: In trouble or overwhelmed. “He’s so cooked right now.”

When they’re being cool (or think they are)

Compliments—Gen Alpha style.

Drip: A great outfit or look.
Zesty: Flamboyant or expressive, often describing someone perceived as gay. Can be offensive.
Chopped: Ugly or unattractive.
Gas: Amazing or exciting. “That outfit is gas.”
It’s giving: Means something is giving off a certain vibe. “That jumper is giving.”

Lying, bragging or roasting

From gentle ribbing to outright roasting, here’s how they call out a lie or boast.

Cap / No cap: Lie / no lie. “That’s cap” = “you’re lying.”
Glazing: Over-the-top compliments, usually fake.
Mid: Average in a bad way. “That film was so mid.”
SYBAU: Short for “shut your b*tch ass up” — used like “STFU,” but newer.

When they find something funny

Saying “LOL” is passé—here’s how they show something’s hilarious or weird.

Ratio: Used to win online arguments by getting more likes.
Lore: Backstory or gossip. “Did you hear the new school lore?”
Highkey / lowkey: Highkey = obvious, loud; lowkey = subtle or secret.
Chalant: Made-up opposite of ‘nonchalant’. As in: “He’s so chalant about it.”

Words to be cautious about

Some slang has iffy or problematic roots, and teens may not realise.

Gooning: Originates from explicit content; avoid use without knowing the context.
Zesty: Can carry homophobic undertones.
Huzz, Bop, Big back: Often used to objectify or mock women.
Mid, Unc: Can be hurtful even if said as a joke.

Staying clued-up on teen slang doesn’t mean you have to start saying it. But knowing what words like “delulu” and “rizz” mean can give you a helpful peek into your grandkids’ world—and maybe even help you laugh along with it.

So next time someone says their lunch is “bussin’ bussin,” you’ll know exactly what they mean.

Serafina Kenny