Gen Z Slang Dictionary (A–Z)
Ate
Meaning: Did something extremely well
Example: She ate that dance routine and left no crumbs!
AF
Meaning: Very / extremely
Example: I'm tired AF after that workout.
Aura
Meaning: Someone’s overall vibe or presence
Example: He walked in with so much positive aura.
Aesthetic
Meaning: A pleasing visual style or vibe
Example: Her entire feed is such a cozy aesthetic.
And I oop
Meaning: Expression of shock or stopping mid-sentence (humorous)
Example: He walked in looking like that... and I oop—
ATM
Meaning: At the moment
Example: I'm busy ATM, text you later.
Based
Meaning: Confident, unapologetically yourself
Example: She's so based for speaking her mind like that.
Bet
Meaning: Okay / yes / agreed
Example: Want to grab food later? Bet!
Bop
Meaning: A really good song
Example: This track is a total bop—I can't stop playing it.
Bussin’
Meaning: Extremely good (especially food)
Example: These tacos are bussin’, no cap.
Bae
Meaning: Term of endearment (baby/babe)
Example: Grabbing coffee with bae real quick.
Big yikes
Meaning: Major awkwardness or embarrassment
Example: He tried to dance in front of everyone... big yikes.
Boujee
Meaning: Fancy, high-class, materialistic
Example: She only stays at five-star hotels—she's so boujee.
Cap
Meaning: Lie
Example: You're saying you finished already? That's cap.
Clap back
Meaning: Sharp or savage reply
Example: She clapped back at the hater so perfectly.
Cringe
Meaning: Embarrassing
Example: That old video of me dancing is pure cringe.
Caught in 4K
Meaning: Exposed with proof
Example: He got caught cheating in 4K on the security cam.
CEO of
Meaning: The absolute best at something (often ironic)
Example: She's the CEO of showing up late.
Deadass
Meaning: Seriously
Example: Deadass, I didn't know that was due today.
Delulu
Meaning: Delusional thinking
Example: Thinking he'll text back after ghosting? You're delulu.
Drip
Meaning: Fashionable style
Example: Your outfit today? Straight drip.
Dank
Meaning: Really good or high-quality (especially memes)
Example: This meme is straight dank.
DMs
Meaning: Direct Messages
Example: Slide into my DMs if you want the details.
Extra
Meaning: Over-the-top behaviour
Example: Why are you being so extra about this?
Era
Meaning: A phase of life or personality
Example: I'm in my productive era right now.
Flex
Meaning: To show off
Example: Posting your new car like that is such a flex.
Fire
Meaning: Amazing / cool
Example: This beat is straight fire.
Finsta
Meaning: Fake or private Instagram account
Example: I only post real stuff on my finsta.
FOMO
Meaning: Fear of missing out
Example: Everyone's at the party—I have major FOMO.
Fam
Meaning: Close friends (like family)
Example: Shoutout to my fam for always having my back.
Gaslight
Meaning: Manipulate someone into doubting reality
Example: He tried to gaslight me about forgetting my birthday.
Ghost
Meaning: Suddenly stop communicating
Example: He ghosted me after three dates.
Glow up
Meaning: Major improvement
Example: Your glow up since high school is insane.
GOAT
Meaning: Greatest Of All Time
Example: She's the GOAT at this game.
Get rekt
Meaning: Get destroyed or owned
Example: He talked all that trash and got rekt in the game.
High-key
Meaning: Very obvious or strongly
Example: I high-key want that new phone.
Hits different
Meaning: Feels more intense or special
Example: Listening to this song at night hits different.
Hype
Meaning: Excitement
Example: The hype for this movie is real.
Ick
Meaning: Sudden feeling of dislike
Example: He chewed with his mouth open— instant ick.
IYKYK
Meaning: If you know, you know
Example: That feeling after a long week... IYKYK.
IRL
Meaning: In real life
Example: We finally met IRL after chatting online.
Jumpscare
Meaning: Sudden shock or scare
Example: That notification sound was a total jumpscare.
Juicy
Meaning: Interesting or dramatic
Example: Spill the juicy details!
K
Meaning: Cold or uninterested reply
Example: I poured my heart out and he just said 'K'.
Karen
Meaning: Entitled or rude person
Example: She demanded to speak to the manager—total Karen.
L
Meaning: Loss or failure
Example: Forgot my lines on stage... big L.
Lit
Meaning: Fun or exciting
Example: The party last night was lit.
Low-key
Meaning: Slightly or secretly
Example: I low-key love that show.
Main character
Meaning: Acting like life revolves around you
Example: Walking with headphones in, feeling main character energy.
Mid
Meaning: Average or disappointing
Example: The movie was kinda mid.
Mood
Meaning: Relatable feeling
Example: Rainy days and coffee—big mood.
No cap
Meaning: No lie / for real
Example: This is the best pizza, no cap.
NPC
Meaning: Someone who blindly follows trends
Example: He just repeats whatever's popular—like an NPC.
On God
Meaning: I swear / truly
Example: On God, I saw it happen.
OOMF
Meaning: One of my followers
Example: OOMF just posted the funniest thing.
Out of pocket
Meaning: Inappropriate or wild
Example: That comment was way out of pocket.
Okay, boomer
Meaning: Dismissing an outdated opinion
Example: You don't get TikTok? Okay, boomer.
Periodt
Meaning: End of discussion
Example: I'm not going, periodt.
Pick-me
Meaning: Someone desperate for attention
Example: She's such a pick-me, always putting others down.
POV
Meaning: Point of view
Example: POV: You're finally on vacation.
Pull up
Meaning: Come over
Example: Pull up to the spot later.
QT
Meaning: Cute
Example: That puppy is a total QT.
Quiet flex
Meaning: Subtle showing off
Example: Wearing designer casually—quiet flex.
Queen
Meaning: Compliment for someone dominating or being iconic
Example: You handled that drama like a queen.
Ratio
Meaning: When replies outnumber likes
Example: That tweet got ratioed hard.
Rent-free
Meaning: Living in someone’s head
Example: He's still mad? I live rent-free in his head.
Rizz
Meaning: Charisma or flirting skill
Example: He's got mad rizz with everyone.
Say less
Meaning: I understand
Example: Need help moving? Say less.
Shook
Meaning: Shocked
Example: I was shook when I saw the price.
Simp
Meaning: Overly devoted person
Example: He's such a simp for buying her everything.
Slay
Meaning: Do something excellently
Example: You slayed that presentation.
Sus
Meaning: Suspicious
Example: His excuse sounds sus.
Stan
Meaning: Obsessive fan / strongly support
Example: I stan her new album so hard.
Tea
Meaning: Gossip or truth
Example: Spill the tea—what happened?
Touch grass
Meaning: Go experience real life
Example: Stop arguing online and touch grass.
Triggered
Meaning: Emotionally upset
Example: That topic always gets him triggered.
Unalive
Meaning: Soft term for die
Example: My phone battery is about to unalive.
Understood the assignment
Meaning: Did it perfectly
Example: Her outfit? She understood the assignment.
Valid
Meaning: Reasonable / acceptable
Example: Your feelings are valid.
Vibe
Meaning: Mood or atmosphere
Example: This café has good vibes.
W
Meaning: Win or success
Example: Finally passed the test—big W.
Weird flex
Meaning: Strange thing to brag about
Example: Bragging about never sleeping? Weird flex.
X-factor
Meaning: Special quality
Example: She has that X-factor on stage.
XOXO
Meaning: Affection or gossip
Example: Love you, xoxo.
Yikes
Meaning: Awkward or uncomfortable
Example: He tried to flirt... yikes.
YOLO
Meaning: You only live once
Example: Booking the trip—YOLO!
Yeet
Meaning: To throw something forcefully / expression of excitement
Example: He yeeted his phone across the room when he lost.
Zesty
Meaning: Dramatic or expressive
Example: His reaction was so zesty.
Zoomer
Meaning: Gen Z person
Example: Us Zoomers grew up with TikTok.
Zaddy
Meaning: Attractive, stylish older man
Example: That actor in the suit? Total zaddy.