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Generation Alpha Slang: An Introduction
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We all have something new to learn from Generation Alpha, or those born after 2010.
Among those of us born before 2000, we might wonder what that could be, because normally it would be we passing along our experience-based wisdom and knowledge to the younger generation.
But like all others before them, Generation A is adding original speech to the American vernacular, including expressions that may endure just as past slang has done.
Gen Alpha Slang: Maintaining the March of Words
Beyond our many innovations, the progress of human creativity, identity, and time can be marked and seen by our evolution of words. Not content to maintain one static vocabulary, we consistently change and add to our lexicon as each new generation comes of age.
Consider colloquialisms that were once popular among young Americans in the 1920s:
| Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
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Word |
Meaning |
| applesauce |
nonsense |
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hotsy-totsy |
perfect |
| bank's closed |
no hugging or kissing |
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mazuma |
money |
| cake-eater |
spoiled rich person |
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tomato |
attractive woman |
| duck soup |
easy |
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zozzled |
drunk |
Such parlance would have indicated our familiarity with current culture 100 years ago. The same speech today could prompt chuckles, strange looks, or raised eyebrows.
If we fast-forward a few decades, we can see how younger people continued inventing colloquialisms to establish an identifying group voice in American English. You'll notice some of this more-recent slang carries even into today.
| 1960s |
| Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
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Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
| far out |
amazing, awesome |
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pad |
place, residence |
| groovy |
pleasing, interesting |
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sponge |
to live off someone else |
| jet |
to leave quickly |
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square |
old-fashioned, not "with it" |
| 1980s |
| Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
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Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
| big time |
"yes!" |
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ditz |
scatterbrained |
| bogus |
bad, undesirable |
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for sure |
certainly, definitely |
| choice |
high-quality, appealing |
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rad(ical) |
very impressive |
| 2000s |
| Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
|
Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
| bling |
shiny items on clothing |
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peeps |
people |
| chillax |
to chill and relax at once |
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sketchy |
suspect, not trustworthy |
| noob |
novice, beginner |
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wassup |
"how are you?" |
Gen Alpha Slang: Signs of the Times
Each generation's slang is influenced by distinctive traits of its era. Born and raised entirely in the digital age, Generation Alpha has been shaped by factors such as gaming, virtual reality, social media, and internet culture, as well as expressions and outlooks they've inherited from their Gen Z predecessors (born 1997–2010).
They spend significant time on platforms such as Roblox, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. They have further spurred the rise of "influencer" as a viable and even lucrative occupation. They have been growing up with unprecedented AI and chatbot technology.
With their phones as constant companions, they correspond greatly through text and its clipped or abbreviated forms of expression. Because of technology's global access, Generation Alpha also has vast exposure to cultures and people all over the planet.
The following list is but a sample of the words and phrases that have emerged from Generation Alpha as it lives, observes, and interprets the world within its chapter of the twenty-first century.
| Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
| aura/negative aura |
up or down status of charm or attraction |
| bet |
agreement: "for sure," "I'm in" |
| bop |
catchy, such as a song |
| bruh |
bro, brother, dude |
| cap |
a lie, falsehood |
| cheugy |
outdated, unfashionable |
| cringe |
not flattering, embarrassing |
| delulu |
delusional |
| fanum tax |
stealing food from a friend |
| fire |
really cool or impressive |
| flex |
to boast or show off |
| ghosting |
ceasing of communication |
| lit |
amazing, impressive |
| mewing |
to work on strengthening the jawline; also "looking good" |
| mog |
to be notably more attractive |
| Ohio |
odd, strange, weird |
| rizz |
magnetism, charisma |
| salty |
bitter, resentful, irritated |
| savage |
daring, bold |
| sigma |
popular, dominant, self-sufficient person |
| simp |
milquetoast, pushover |
| skibidi |
good, bad, cool |
| suss |
suspicious |
| yeet |
excited, energized; to throw something with force |
| zaddy |
an attractive man with swagger |
Examples
The concert? We'll score the tickets tonight—bet!
Bruh, can you at least save me a few Milk Duds?
Sasha told Heather my fluorescent-pink leggings look cheugy.
Brady is flexing his designer backpack again.
Damon was texting with Brianna all week, but she's ghosting him now.
Jameson must think he's a GQ model, because if he keeps mewing like that he'll lock his jaw.
Your favorite influencer said that jacket has rizz, but it's a little Ohio for me.
Everyone agrees that Keenan is the sigma male of the debate team.
Don't be such a simp! At least wait for Simone to call you back before you give her that bracelet.
Your band's new song is bop! |
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Pop Quiz
Let's have fun by testing your intuition for present-day slang. What does each Gen Alpha word mean?
1. Gyatt
a. Get out of here
b. Say what?
c. That person's attractive!
2. Bussin'
a. Really good
b. On the way
c. Don't have a car
3. Zang
a. Spicy
b. Dang
c. Stylish
4. Tea
a. Agreement with a condition
b. Any cold refresher
c. Gossip
5. Dog water
a. Neither really good nor really bad
b. Spray from someone drying off
c. Bad-tasting beverage
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Wordplay
Pop Quiz Answers
1. c. That person's attractive!
2. a. Really good
3. b. Dang
4. c. Gossip
5. a. Neither really good nor really bad
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