With the evolution of the internet has come lots of Gen Z slang that you may want to keep your notepad handy for.
From social media statuses to text phrases, if you were born before 1997, you’ve (more than likely) spent most of your time Googling what your teenager told you a few nights ago or “hipping” yourself to a new word you learned from a group of screaming twenty-something-year-olds at a concert.
Whether they formed or popularized the terms, this generation has become famous for redefining vocabularies and assembling an interesting, modern-day language. Because of them, we now have other ways of saying someone looks good or needs to stop lying. Specifically, this verbiage has been embedded into Black culture and influential to many others.
Let’s highlight a few that are on our favorites list.
Urban Gen Z Slang You Can’t Help But Want to Use… Over & Over
1. Ate
Ate has taken on another meaning from what we were taught in school, and we can’t get enough of it! Today’s variation usually indicates someone has done something exceptionally well. For instance, if someone is wearing an outfit that complements their body, one may say, “Oh, you ate that up!” Or, let’s pretend that an A-list celebrity has just released a new album. The listener could cite, “They ate with that one!” It’s a way to state that you admire the individual’s action. It’s theorized that the term originated among the LGBTQIA+ community. “Serve/serving” also has a similar context. Additionally, you may hear one catchily use the number 8 in place of the actual word because they sound alike when pronounced. Example: “What’s 4 + 4? 8.”
2. Delulu
Delulu is a shortened version of “delusional.” According to Dictionary.com, the definition of delusional is “having false or unrealistic beliefs or opinions.” Delulu was (reportedly) first seen throughout the internet’s K-pop fandom around 2013/2014 but hit the ground running once it made it to TikTok. It was initially supporters’ way of describing their fantasized romances with various artists in the genre. However, it has since gone far beyond celebrities, as everyday people have adopted it in real-life situations. You’ll mostly see it regarding a person ignoring relationship red flags, such as “You’re being delulu over that man/woman.” Or, if someone is saying/doing something deemed outlandish, an example would be: “Charging $1500 for a wig is delulu.”
3. Frfr
Frfr is an acronym for “for real, for real.” The phrase is mainly used to emphasize how sincere a statement is. It became popular among the Gen Z crowd, as the era of text messaging and social networking dominated the 2010s. Today, people of all ages have pocketed the expression when communicating via phone or online. Examples of how to use it are: “You make me so happy frfr,” “I’m not even joking frfr,” or “That’s crazy frfr.”
4. Ngl
Ngl is another abbreviation that is widely known in the cyber world. It derives from “not gonna lie” and is often utilized when texting or posting to social media. The convenience of the shortened three words has contributed to it becoming a worldwide phenomenon in digital spaces. Ngl can be used in multiple manners, which include a display of honesty, criticism, or dissatisfaction. “Ngl, this food tastes better than I thought,” “The movie was trash, ngl,” and “Ngl, Taylor Swift’s last album disappointed me” are good examples.
5. Cap
Cap is an alternate way of accusing someone of lying. Per Dictionary.com, it is believed to be rooted in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and dates back to the 1900s. Other meanings relate it to “exaggerating” and even “bragging.” If someone is truthful, they’ll say, “No cap.” The term has been used in everything from music to media. Examples: “You’re not ugly. That’s cap,” “You out here capping,” “I made thousands in one day, no cap.”
What are some other Gen Z slang words that you use? Share below!