Gen Z Slang Words for Parents to Understand Their Teens

1. Bruh

Meaning: A form of "bro", "bruh" is commonly used to address a friend, family member, or stranger. It's also used to express disbelief, disgust, amazement, or shock.

Examples: "What's up, bruh?" or, Teen 1: "Check out my new Jordans." Teen 2: "Bruh!"

2. Bet

Meaning: "yes" or "OK"

Example: Teen 1: "Wanna come over?" Teen 2: "Bet."

3. Slay

Meaning: to do something really well

Example: "Slay!" (when your friend walks into the room wearing a nice outfit)

4. No Cap

Meaning: "No lie," or, "I'm being totally honest."

Example: "That was the best burger I've ever had, no cap."

5. Bussin'

Meaning: extremely good

Example: "That burger was bussin'."

6. Simp

Meaning: can be used as a noun or verb, meaning "someone who has a crush on someone" or "to have a crush on someone"

Examples: "He keeps staring at you. He's such a simp," or, "He's totally simping right now."

7. Mid

Meaning: mediocre or average

Example: "That movie was so mid. I don't see what the big deal is."

8. Drip

Meaning: nice style

Example: "Did you see her outfit today? She's got the drip."

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Do you have rizz? Your teen will likely say no. 

9. Rizz

Meaning: short for "charisma", meaning "charm" or "game"

Example: "I can't get her to notice me. I have no rizz."

10. Stan

Meaning: a combination of "stalker" and "fan" that can be used as a noun or verb, meaning "someone who is obsessed with someone/something" or "to be obsessed with someone/something"

Examples: "She's such a stan for T. Swift," or, "She stans T. Swift."

11. Sus

Meaning: short for "suspicious"

Example: "We have a math test and he's home sick. That's sus, bruh."

12. Fire

Meaning: really good, impressive

Example: "That song is fire."

13. Glaze

Meaning: a TikTok term meaning "to over-compliment or suck up to someone"

Example: Teen 1: "OMG your videos are bussin' and your shirt is fire and I love your hair." Teen 2: "Bruh, chill with the glazing."

14. Ate and left no crumbs

Meaning: performed better than anyone else; dominated

Example: "The team ate and left no crumbs at the homecoming game."

15. Facts

Meaning: "I agree."

Example: Teen 1: "This song is fire." Teen 2: "Facts."

16. It's not that deep.

Meaning: "Don't worry about it," or, "Chill out."

Example: "Bruh, who cares if you weren't invited. It's not that deep."

17. Vibe

Meaning: energy, feeling, or mood

Example: "I got a weird vibe from her."

18. It's giving.

Meaning: giving off a certain vibe 

Examples: "That dress is giving vintage."

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Brush up on your gen z slang so your kids won't think you're cringe. 

19. Cringe

Meaning: extremely embarrassing or awkward

Example: "He won't stop texting me. It's so cringe!"

20. Low-key

Meaning: refers to a feeling that one wants to keep on the down-low

Example: "I was low-key excited for the new Disney movie."

21. On God

Meaning: "I'm telling the truth."

Example: "I did not sleep at all last night, on God."

22. Slaps

Meaning: is really good

Example: "This song slaps so hard, I can't stop listening to it."

23. Touch Grass

Meaning: to go outside

Example: "All he does is play Fortnite all day. He needs to touch grass."

24. Finna

Meaning: short for "fixing to", meaning "going to"

Example: "I'm finna go to the mall."

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Beware: if you overdo it with the gen z slang, your teen will think you're extra.

25. Extra

Meaning: over-the-top, excessive, or dramatic in behavior or appearance

Example: "My little sister won't stop singing. She's so extra."

26. Basic

Meaning: unoriginal; mainstream

Example: "I don 't listen to her top hits. They're so basic. I like the more obscure stuff."

27. Selling/Sold

Meaning: messing/messed up in a big moment

Examples: "He's totally selling," or "He sold" (after someone strikes out in a baseball game).

28. Yeet

Meaning: to throw an item really hard

Examples: "Sam just yeeted my water bottle across the room," or, "YEET!" (said by Sam as he throws the water bottle). 

29. Cheugy

Meaning: not trendy

Example: "Mom, take off those skinny jeans! They're so cheugy!"

30. Hits different

Meaning: is much better than usual

Example: "I didn't have time to eat breakfast this morning, so this school lunch hits different."

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Do we all want to understand our teens better? Yasssss!

31. Yas

Meaning: a very enthusiastic "yes"

Example: Teen 1: "Do you like Tyler?" Teen 2: "OMG, yassss!"

32. Shook

Meaning: shocked or surprised

Example: "I saw Mr. Jones in the mall with his girlfriend. I'm shook."

33. Salty

Meaning: upset over something small

Example: "I told her I didn't want to play Roblox. She was so salty about it."

34. Glow Up

Meaning: a physical, mental, and/or emotional makeover or transformation for the better

Example: "Did you see Emma? She had a real glow up over the summer."

35. Sheesh

Meaning: an exclamation used when someone is really impressed by something

Example: "Sheesh!" (when a nice sports car zooms by)

More Gen Z Slang: Teen Text Acronyms, Decoded

36. W and L

Short for: "win" and "loss"

Examples: W burger (when texting a photo of a juicy burger), or, Teen 1: I have a chemistry test today. Teen 2: L

37. FR

Short for: for real

Example: She likes you, FR.

38. NGL

Short for: not gonna lie

Example: This group chat is annoying, NGL.

39. IRL

Short for: in real life

Example: I love her YouTube so much. I'm dying to meet her IRL.

40. TBH

Short for: to be honest

Example: I really don't feel like going out tonight, TBH.

41. TFW

Short for: that feeling when

Example: TFW you have a three-day weekend

42. GTG/G2G

Short for: got to go

Example: GTG, my mom is calling me for dinner.

43. WYD

Short for: What're you doing?

Example: WYD? I'm bored.

44. NP

Short for: No problem.

Example: Teen 1: Thanks for helping me with the math homework. Teen 2: NP

Stay in the know of the latest teen texting acronyms.

45. IYKYK

Short for: If you know, you know. (used to reference an inside joke, often in a group chat)

Example: Nate was hilarious the other night. IYKYK.

46. RN

Short for: right now

Example: I'm so tired RN.

47. IKR

Short for: I know, right?

Example: Teen 1: I can't believe the weekend is already over. Teen 2: IKR

48. LMK

Short for: let me know

Example: LMK when you can call.

49. OFC

Short for: of course

Example: Teen 1: You going to the football game? Teen 2: OFC

50. V

Short for: very

Example: I'm V tired right now.

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