Gen Z language parents need to know

Having a 10 year old (whose more of a teen already), I regularly hear words and see messages that I don’t understand. Perhaps it was the same when I was a teen, but I thought this handy guide to words and phrases that are being used online might help us all navigate some of the conversations. I like the list of acronyms and have definitely seen ‘PAW’ used before!

 Language experts at Busuu.com have revealed the meanings behind 40 ‘Gen Z’ words, phrases and acronyms to help older generations decipher the language of their youngsters.

Slang terms come in and out of fashion and every generation has its own set of terms that are relevant to a certain time or era, but Gen Z and millennials’ dialect has been influenced by the internet and social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok more than ever before.

And although most of these words, phrases and acronyms are born online, most have found their way into day-to-day conversations amongst young people – and some are even referenced in music and pop culture.

To help parents decode what exactly their kids are talking about, Busuu have offered a guide to 40 of the most popular internet slang terms of 2021.

Lead Language Expert, Federico Espinosa, at Busuu comments: “Languages like English are always changing, with younger generations coining new words and phrases every year. Sometimes, these even end up in the dictionary!

“Older generations might not follow popular culture and social media as much as their younger relatives, which can make it difficult for them to keep up with the new language.

“On the flip side, the younger generations of today would struggle to understand the lingo of the 1970s in a similar way – even if they’re familiar with the music, films and television programmes of that decade.”

Words and phrases

1. Bussin’: Something that’s really good.
2. CEO of … : Someone who is the best at something.
3. Clutch: It’s good and comes in handy.
4. Extra: Being over the top or dramatic.
5. Fire: Used to describe something very good.
6. Fit: Another word for outfit.
7. Finna: The contracted form of “fixing to” and is commonly used in the south of the United States, it means getting ready to do something.
8. Flex: To brag about something that is good.
9. Gassed: Being overwhelmed and excited.
10. Glow up: An incredible transformation.
11. Highkey: Someone wants to do something and they want the attention.
12. Hits different: Feels special or is great / better.
13. Karen: A middle-aged woman who considers herself better than others. This is a pejorative slang term, and can often be about someone who does something racist.
14. Lit: Really good.
15. Lowkey: Someone secretly wants to do something and they don’t want to be obvious about it.
16. No cap: Means “no lie”. Another way of saying “seriously”.
17. Period / ‘periodt’: Emphasising the end of a statement.
18. Sheesh: To either be impressed or to express disbelief or exasperation.
19. Shook: A way to express that you are emotionally shaken or affected by something.
20. Simp: Someone who does way too much for a person they like.
21. Shade: To publicly denounce or disrespect someone.
22. Slay: To describe that someone is doing a great job or that they are really cool.
23. Sus: Abbreviated from “suspicious” – it means you do not believe something.
24. Tea: Another word for gossip. If someone “spills the tea” that means they are spreading gossip. If someone “sips the tea” that means they are listening to gossip.
25. (Passing the) Vibe check: To vibe check someone is to assess them based on how they seem. Passing the vibe check usually means that you’re a cool, chill person, or just the type of person that the person doing the vibe checking is into.
26. Yeet: To throw something at high velocity. Yeet is also used as an exclamation of victory or excitement, similar to “yay!”

Acronyms

27. AF: As f*ck. The most extreme degree of feeling, either positive or negative.
28. DM: Direct message.
29. FR: For real.
30. IMO: In my opinion.
31. IRL: In real life.
32. IYKYK: If you know, you know.
33. KPC: Keeping parents clueless.
34. PAH: Parent at home.
35. PAW: Parents are watching.
36. PITR: Parents in the room.
37. POMS: Parents over my shoulder.
38. RN: Right now.
39. SMT: Suck my teeth.
40. SMH: Shake my head.