Do you know your Rizz from your GOAT, your Stan from your Simp? If you've got teens, or even tweens, it's highly likely you've heard some of these words - even if they're just picking them up on the school playground. There's nothing that makes a parent feel quite so old as having to ask your kids to translate, so if you want to be 'down with the kids' or even just want to have a clue what they're talking about, it might be time to brush up on your Gen Alpha slang.
Gen Alpha - kids born between 2010 and 2024 - have grown up in a digital world. From TikTok to Roblox, there's a whole dictionary-worth of words that probably make no sense to parents but find their way into most conversations of teens and tweens. As a Millennial mum of two kids who fall firmly into this Gen Alpha bracket, I've lost track of the times I've been caught off guard by a random 'skibidi' or a 'rizz', and a straw poll of the Mother&Baby team shows I'm not alone; our kids have developed a language that's deserving of its own Duolingo course.
Of course, it's not just about being able to join in with their nonsensical chat. Understanding your child's world, and their language, means you stand a better chance of spotting any red flags when they're chatting online or even IRL. So read on to discover your ultimate guide to Gen Alpha slang. No cap.
Gen Alpha slang words for parents
1. Rizz
• Meaning: Refers to someone’s charm or ability to flirt or attract others. An abbreviation of 'charisma'.
• Example: "He’s got mad rizz, he could charm anyone."
2. Bussin
• Meaning: Used to describe something really good, often referring to food.
• Example: "This pizza is bussin, no cap!"
3. No Cap
• Meaning: Used to emphasise truthfulness; “no lie.”
• Example: "That was the best game ever, no cap."
4. Slay
• Meaning: To perform exceptionally well or look amazing.
• Example: "You totally slayed that TikTok dance routine."
5. Drip
• Meaning: Refers to stylish clothes or accessories, like “swagger” or being fashionable.
• Example: "Check out his outfit; his drip is unreal!"
6. Bet
• Meaning: Used to confirm or agree, similar to “OK” or “sure.”
• Example: "Want to play later?" "Bet."
7. Cap
• Meaning: A lie or false statement.
• Example: "There’s no way you scored 100 points, that’s cap."
8. Mood
• Meaning: Used when something is relatable or reflects how someone feels.
• Example: "That meme is such a mood."
9. Bruh
• Meaning: An exclamation used to express frustration, disbelief, or surprise.
• Example: "Bruh, did you really just spill your drink again?"
10. Big Yikes
• Meaning: Used to express embarrassment or awkwardness.
• Example: "She tried to sing and forgot the lyrics—big yikes."
11. GOAT
• Meaning: Stands for Greatest Of All Time, meaning someone who is the best at something.
• Example: "LeBron James is the GOAT of basketball."
12. Simp
• Meaning: A 'simp' is someone who is overly attentive or submissive in a romantic context, often to an excessive degree.
• Example: "He’s always doing her homework; total simp move."
13. Extra
• Meaning: Someone who is 'extra' is overly dramatic or does too much.
• Example: "She threw a fit over nothing—she’s so extra."
14. Yeet
• Meaning: To throw something forcefully or express excitement.
• Example: "He yeeted the ball across the yard."
15. Shook
• Meaning: Being shocked or surprised.
• Example: "I was shook when I saw the new trailer for that movie."
16. Stan
• Meaning: A passionate or obsessive fan.
• Example: "I stan Taylor Swift so hard!"
17. Salty
• Meaning: To be upset or bitter about something.
• Example: "He’s salty because he lost the game."
18. Cheugy
• Meaning: Something that is out of date or trying too hard to be trendy, often used in relation to Millennials.
• Example: "That slogan t-shirt is so cheugy."
19. Slaps
• Meaning: Something that is really good, especially music.
• Example: "That new song slaps!"
20. Sksksk
• Meaning: A filler expression often used in excitement or laughter.
• Example: "Sksksk, I can’t believe that just happened!"
21. Flex
• Meaning: To show off, usually material possessions or achievements.
• Example: "He’s flexing his new shoes on Instagram again."
22. POV
• Meaning: Point of View, often used in TikTok videos to frame the perspective of a situation.
• Example: "POV: You’re opening presents on Christmas morning."
23. Ghosting
• Meaning: Suddenly cutting off communication with someone without explanation.
• Example: "She ghosted me after our third date."
24. Vibe Check
• Meaning: An assessment of someone's energy or mood, often used humorously.
• Example: "He failed the vibe check when he walked in without saying hi."
25. Thirst Trap
• Meaning: A provocative photo or video posted online to get attention.
• Example: "She posted a thirst trap selfie on Instagram."
26. W / L
• Meaning: Short for wins or losses in life or online debates.
• Example: "You got that promotion? That’s a W!"
27. Ratio
• Meaning: Occurs when a reply or comment gets more likes than the original post, often to show disagreement.
• Example: "That tweet got ratioed so hard, nobody agreed with it."
28. Skibidi
• Meaning: Refers to a viral TikTok trend with a catchy, nonsensical dance/song; often associated with humour or absurdity.
• Example: "That dance is so Skibidi, I can’t stop laughing!"
29. Mid
• Meaning: Something that’s average, mediocre, or not impressive.
• Example: "The new movie was mid, nothing special."
30. Skibidi Rizz
• Meaning: Combines the goofy vibe of Skibidi with “Rizz” (charm), meaning goofy but somehow effective in attracting people.
• Example: "He’s got that Skibidi Rizz—so weird but it works."
31. Sigma
• Meaning: Refers to a “Sigma Male,” someone who’s independent and doesn’t conform to societal norms, often used humorously.
• Example: "He’s a total Sigma, always doing his own thing."
32. Sus
• Meaning: Short for “suspicious,” often used to describe someone acting shady or suspicious.
• Example: "He’s being sus, like he’s hiding something."
33. Ohio
• Meaning: Used humorously to describe something weird or chaotic, stemming from memes about strange things happening in Ohio.
• Example: "That crazy video looks like something straight out of Ohio."
34. Noob
• Meaning: A slang term for someone who’s new or inexperienced, especially in gaming.
• Example: "Don’t be such a noob, you need more practice."
35. Lit
• Meaning: Describes something that’s exciting or awesome.
• Example: "The party was lit!"
36. Low Key
• Meaning: To do or feel something subtly or secretly.
• Example: "I low key want to stay in tonight instead of going out."
37. Ick
• Meaning: A sudden feeling of disgust or repulsion towards someone, often used in dating.
• Example: "I got the ick when he chewed with his mouth open."
38. Cringe
• Meaning: Something embarrassing or awkward that makes you uncomfortable.
• Example: "That old video of me dancing is so cringe."
39. Opp
• Meaning: Short for "opponent" or "opposition." It’s often used to describe someone who is against you or considered an enemy, especially in gaming, rap culture, or street slang.
• Example: "Watch out for him, he’s an opp—always trying to start something."
40. Savage
• Meaning: Someone who’s bold or ruthless, often in a humorous way.
• Example: "She clapped back at her haters, she’s savage."
41. Twin
• Meaning: Used to refer to someone you feel a strong connection or share a similar vibe with.
• Example: "We always think the same thing, you’re my twin!"
42. It’s Giving
• Meaning: A way to describe the vibe or energy of something, often followed by a specific reference.
• Example: "That outfit? It’s giving 90s supermodel."
43. Pookie
• Meaning: A term of endearment for someone cute or precious.
• Example: "You’re my Pookie."
44. Hits Different
• Meaning: Describes something that feels or affects you in a unique or more intense way.
• Example: "This song hits different when you’re driving at night."
45. Not Gonna Lie (NGL)
• Meaning: Used to preface an honest or blunt statement.
• Example: "NGL, I didn’t like that show at all."
46. OG
• Meaning: Original or the first of something; can also mean someone who’s been around for a long time.
• Example: "He’s the OG of that game—he's been playing since day one."
47. Tea
• Meaning: Gossip or juicy information.
• Example: "Spill the tea, what happened at the party?"
48. Sheesh
• Meaning: An expression of disbelief or excitement, often dragged out for emphasis.
• Example: "Sheesh, that was an amazing shot!"
49. Mad Lit
• Meaning: Extremely exciting or fun.
• Example: "That concert was mad lit, we had the best time."
50. Glaze
• Meaning: To compliment or flatter someone excessively, often used sarcastically.
• Example: "Stop glazing him, we know he’s good at football."
51. Mog
• Meaning: Short for “Mogul,” describes someone who is better or dominates others in a particular area.
• Example: "She totally mogged everyone with her performance."
52. Main Character Energy
• Meaning: Refers to someone who exudes confidence and behaves as if they are the central, most important person in a situation, similar to the protagonist in a movie or story.
• Example: "She walked into the room with such Main Character Energy, like the whole place was hers."
53. Mewing
• Meaning: A jawline exercise using your tongue and mouth to improve facial posture. Can also involve putting the index finger on the lips then swiping across the jaw line.
• Example: "Bros got a mewing streak."
54. Fanum tax
• Meaning: The theft of food between friends.
• Example: “You already hit me with the Fanum tax, You can’t have any more.”
55. Broski
• Meaning: Another meaning for bro or friend.
• Example: "Hey broski, what's going?"
56. Gyatt
• Meaning: A person with a large bum, usually a female.
• Example: "Level ten thousand GYATT"
57. Ate
• Meaning: To show praise or admiration for something, mostly outfits.
• Example: "Broski, that outfit ate"
58. Ayo
• Meaning: To call out something inappropriate or weird.
• Example: "Ayo man, keep it a PG"
Rebecca Lancaster is a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby, drawing on ten years of parenting her two children to help others navigating their own parenting journey. As a freelance writer, she spent ten years working with leading lifestyle brands, from travel companies to food and drink start-ups, and writing everything from hotel reviews to guides to the best British cheeses. She’s particularly interested in travel and introducing her children to the excitement of visiting new places, trying different foods (less successfully) and experiencing different cultures.