Updated July 2026
Every generation has their own language or slang that identifies them one from the other. I’m a Gen X’er and my ’80s vernacular is still very much a part of my vocabulary. So much so that my kids actually use some of it themselves; but, it was the ’80s and, well, everyone loves the ’80s. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane, shall we?
“No duh”: This was my favorite and it means “no kidding.” If I’m honest, I’m still known to say this frequently.
“Barf me out”: I never used this term. Not once. It means “gross” or “disgusting.” It’s actually worse than just saying gross or disgusting.
“Have a cow”: Another favorite of mine, loosely translates to don’t get so angry or upset.
“Phat”: I didn’t use this one much because it just didn’t feel right. You know, fat vs. phat? Just not for me, but phat means “excellent.”
Now that I’m a mom, most of my education on current slang comes through my continually on trend younger children. This also means that quite often, I have absolutely no idea what is being said in my own home. It also means that on occasion I say things that make my kids cringe. Once, a few years ago when my oldest son was away at college, I heard a term that I was unfamiliar with on the television so, I sent him the following text, ” Hi, honey! What’s a MILF?” About 30 seconds later, my phone rang and I heard “Who said that to you?!” Slightly startled by his tone, I explained that no one had said it to me, rather I heard it on t.v. He exhaled and said, ” Oh, my gosh mom. Okay.” Then he quickly told me what it meant {it’s an acronym for “mom I’d like to…have sex with”}, then instructed me to change the channel and move along. The embarrassment of it all.
So, the other morning my interest was piqued when I heard loud voices upstairs and one of them said, “Did you just yeet my stuff over the railing?!” Yeet? What is a yeet? I went to the entry of my house, but I did not find a yeet or, at least what I thought might be a yeet. However, I did find a wet towel and swimsuit lying on the floor. Upon further inquiry into the actual definition of yeet, I was told that the meaning is to throw something far with reckless abandon. I also learned that it is a word that you either love or you hate and, apparently, at least one of my kids loves it while the others hate it. I’ve been instructed never to use it because it’s “cringy” {I think that means embarrassing}.
The New Language of Generation Z {and Gen Alpha}
Here’s the trouble with writing this down: the list changes about every three weeks. My kids span both generations, so I get Gen Z and the younger, weirder Gen Alpha stuff all under one roof. Do you feel like you need a decoder just to make it through the daily download from your tween or teen? I’m here for you sis, I have the current answers. Emphasis on current.
rizz: Short for charisma. It’s your kid’s ability to charm a crush, a coach, or you when they suddenly want the car keys. “He didn’t even get her number, bro has zero rizz.”
skibidi: Here’s the thing, it doesn’t really mean anything. It came from a truly bizarre YouTube series, and now the younger kids sprinkle it in to mean good, bad, or absolutely nothing, depending on the hour. {a word that means whatever they decide it means}
Ohio: Somehow an entire state became an adjective for weird, bad, or cringe. “That haircut is so Ohio.” I have stopped asking why. {weird, embarrassing, off}
six-seven {or 6-7}: Do not go looking for logic here. I did, and I came back with nothing. The kids just say “six seven,” sometimes with a little hand wave, and then dissolve into laughter. Ask what time dinner is, say “six, maybe seven,” and watch your ten year old fall off the couch. {a punchline with no joke attached}
sigma: This one’s a compliment. A sigma is the confident lone wolf who does his own thing and doesn’t need the crowd’s approval. I turned the WiFi off at nine and held my sigma energy. {independent, self-assured, the opposite of a follower}
delulu: Short for delusional, but said with love. It’s what they call a hope that is charmingly unrealistic. “I’m going to marry that singer someday.” “Sweetie, you’re delulu.” {optimistically out of touch}
the ick: That instant, full-body turn-off when someone you were crushing on does one tiny cringey thing. One bad text and the ick arrives, uninvited and permanent. {a sudden loss of all attraction}
cooked: If your kid is “cooked,” they are done for, in trouble, or completely fried. Fair warning, this one used to mean the opposite. “Three tests tomorrow and I haven’t studied. I’m so cooked.” {toast, finished}
aura: Think invisible cool points that rise and fall all day long. Trip in the hallway, lose 500 aura. Land a good joke, earn it back. Near as I can tell, I lose aura simply by walking past their friends. {a running coolness score}
mid: The ultimate lukewarm insult. Not good, not bad, just aggressively average. That dinner you slaved over for an hour? “It’s mid.” Chin up, mama. {mediocre, underwhelming}
glazing: Praising or hyping someone way past what they actually earned. “Okay, you can stop glazing, he missed the shot.” {gushing, laying it on thick}
crashing out: Losing your cool in a big, dramatic way over something small. When the teen slams a door because her phone charger wandered off again, that is a full crash out. {a meltdown}
Now, a word of warning, sis. For every term I’ve spelled out here, there are a couple I’m choosing to leave in the game room where I found them. If you hear “gyatt” hollered during a video game, just know it is not a comment on anyone’s fine character, and we’ll move right along. Keep those context clues handy, because you’ll need them.
Of course, this is just a small sampling of new slang, but they are the phrases I hear the most. Honestly, I spend most of my time sorting through context clues just trying to figure out where the conversation is going between me and my girls. If this is your life, too, take heart because you’re not alone. I’m constantly confused and here is the kicker: now that I’ve given you some guidance, those kids of ours will no longer use any of these words and we’ll be back asking Google or Alexa to translate for us.
I was LAUGHING OUT LOUD reading this! I have a teen and a tween and I’m learning new words all the time. Like “that slaps harder than my parents” …. is funny? And a good thing?! Lol! (Which then throws me into a mom speech about how domestic violence should never be a joke…oh my kids love those speeches.) Great post!
Right?! Like, why? Why do they think these words make sense and why are they torturing us with them? Lol. Glad I made you laugh!