Ah, the Gen Z universe and all the wacky words they’re throwing around these days definitely have caught everyone’s attention. Gen Z has got its own sayings, and it’s ever-evolving. Now, some people may not be ancient, but these youngsters have a whole language of their own, and sometimes it’s like trying to decode an alien message!
One Redditor asked, “What’s the most Gen Z thing to say?” Many users commented on this thread and we have selected the top 20 things for you!
1. Loving Things for Someone
“I love that for you” is basically the verbal equivalent of giving someone a high-five or a fist bump, but not in a fun way.
A discerning Reddit user commented, ““I love that for you”. I don’t know why this phrase kind of annoys me. I feel like it almost sounds passive-aggressive?”
Someone else replied, “Yes, and condescending. It sounds like a busy mum saying something to fob her child off. It’s also from Schitt’s Creek from the daughter Alexis and is definitely used passive-aggressively in a funny way though in the show. I use it with my friends, and we’re all 30, lol”
2. Bussin’
Someone said, “Bussin, or ✨anything typed like this✨”
Another person pitched in to say, “Meaning: Something is very, very good. Like “this food is bussin”. It’s based on the word busting. Like gonna is going to, y’know?”
And here’s the beauty of it- it’s so casual and easygoing. It’s not a complicated phrase that requires a dictionary to decode. It’s like Gen Z’s way of keeping it real and straightforward. No need for a thesaurus; say what you feel.
3. Cap
When they say something is cap, it means it’s a lie, or it’s not true. Like, if you tell them you saw a unicorn at the park, they might respond with, “That’s cap, dude.” It’s their way of calling out BS.
A Reddit user wrote, “I’m Gen Z, and I can confirm, ✨no cap✨”
Another added, “It’s interesting how an emote from Twitch called “kappa” has gone so far as to be used by people who never used Twitch & it’s even changed its spelling to “cap.” Does anyone have a site I can track it’s usage on? I’m interested in it’s etymology.”
4. Math Apps
Gen Z is all about efficiency and making the most of the tech at their fingertips. Why spend hours banging your head against the math book when you can get a helping hand from your smartphone?
This person shared, “Just use Photomath.”
Another commented, “When the kids don’t even need to learn how to properly type an equation into Wolfram Alpha to cheat on their homework anymore, something just ain’t right.”
Someone else replied, “When the kids can’t even program equations into the memory of their graphing calculator so that even when the teacher resets it, they remain so they can cheat by still having to know how to use the equation but not having to memorize it.”
5. Censoring Words
Gen Z understands that life can be messy, and sometimes, things don’t go as planned. So, they use censoring to show that they’re just like the rest of us- flawed and fabulous at the same time.
Someone said, “Words like “sewer slide,” “unalive,” “dolla beans,” “Ed Sheeran.” They’re all words that people created because lots of sites (especially TikTok) censor content with certain words. Kinda punk, kinda dystopian.”
Another person agreed with it and said, “It’s quite fascinating to see language change because of censorship in the digital world. Sounds really dystopian and cyberpunk to me. It’s also nice to see how creative humans can be to evade censorship as a collective.”
6. Stopping Mid-sentence
Stopping mid-sentence is all about showing how complex our thoughts are. We’re living in this fast-paced digital world where ideas are constantly evolving, and we want to capture that.
A Reddit user wrote, “My favorite is the French Gen Z version: Je- or I prefer the German version, Ich-“
Another commented, “It’s when you’re at a loss for words. Like you are about to start a sentence but won’t even bother because you are so flabbergasted. That’s what it means.”
7. Ok Boomer
Someone said, ““Ok boomer” to a millennial. The term “Baby Boomer” has lost its meaning. Kids just think it means an older person.”
Another added, “I think it’s just the modern-day equivalent to when we said “ok grandma/grandpa” in the 90’s to people obviously not old enough to be grandparents but still said something old-sounding.”
“OK, boomer” is their go-to response when someone older says something outdated or out of touch. It’s like their way of dismissing old-school thinking. It can be a bit sassy, but hey, it’s all in good fun.
8. The Dead Emoji
A discerning Reddit user commented, “💀This emoji when something is funny.”
Someone else replied, “It means I’m dying of laughter. my older sister sent that to me after I sent her a joke, and I thought she was mad at me. She has Gen Z kids, so maybe she picked it up from them. We’re both in our 30’s.”
So, why do we use it, you ask? It’s all about keeping things lighthearted. Gen Z knows that life can be a rollercoaster, and sometimes, all you can do is laugh through the chaos.
9. Saying What Caught Your Attention
This person shared, ““It’s the _____ for me” Or “_____ but y’all aren’t ready for THAT conversation,” or “Some of y’all have never ____, and it shows!””
Another person agreed to it and said, “OMG, I HATE THE “It’s the _______ for me” on every video comment section… Like, bruh, no one is going around the room asking everyone what part made them laugh! stfu! worst gen z comment is “can we just talk about ________________” or “Are we not gonna talk about ___________”
You know that blank space in the middle? That’s where the magic happens. You can insert pretty much anything you want there, and it instantly becomes your way of expressing exactly what’s on your mind.
10. The Clapping Emoji
So, what’s the deal with “The Clapping Emoji,” you ask? Well, it’s a digital round of applause, a way of showing appreciation or sarcasm, or just straight-up cheering for something.
A Reddit user wrote, “LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK. But there should be clapping-hand emojis between each word.”
Another commented, “We 👏 do 👏 too 👏. I hate the hand-clapping emojis between every word. 😡”
11. When Someone Did Something Right
Well, this is a way of flexing our confidence and letting the world know that we’re absolutely killing it at whatever we’re doing.
Someone said, ““Understood the assignment””
Another added, “A lot of these phrases are derived from TikTok trends. “Understood the assignment” is from a song by Tay Money and is used ubiquitously on TT to demonstrate when someone does something correctly or well. If you DL TT, a lot of things will crystallize!! Edit, because I guess I’m online more than others: DL = download TT = TikTok”
Someone else replied, “I was looking for this exact comment, I am so so tired of “I UndERstOod tHe asSigNmENt” it’s on every other video and meme on Instagram and makes no sense haha”
12. Boomers
Gen Z lives and breathes memes, and they’ve got a knack for turning everyday stuff into internet jokes. Calling Gen X Boomers started as a meme, and it just stuck.
This person shared, “Calling anyone Gen X a boomer. Last summer, I was a camp counselor, and my 12yo campers called me a boomer for not knowing what a Pop-It is……..I am 21 :|”
Another person agreed to it and said, “Yeah, I notice more and more that people say Boomer to mean “person older than me”. I saw someone say it recently about someone who was about 30. A boomer born in the 90s.”
13. No Will To Live
A Reddit user wrote, “”Lmao imagine wanting to live” or anything along those lines.”
Another added, “Roses are red 🌹 life has no meaning 🥳 the voices in my head 🥰 are constantly screaming 😎. Every generation thinks they’re the first to be cynical and depressed lel.”
Have you ever heard Gen Z say something like this?
14. Lord Gives, Lord Takes
Gen Z is known for giving everyday words a crazy twist. “Yeet” and “yoink” are two prime examples. A discerning Reddit user commented, “The Lord yeeteth and the Lord yoinketh away.”
Another user explained, “There’s a common saying “the lord giveth and the lord taketh away” that means that good things are only temporary and bad luck can just as easily occur. “Yeet” means to throw something really hard, and “yoink” means to pull something really hard. So it’s just a silly take on the original saying.”
15. TikTok Language
For those living under a rock, TikTok is this app where you can create and watch short videos of people doing all kinds of stuff- from hilarious dance challenges to DIY life hacks. Someone said, “Anything that originated from tik tok”
Someone else replied, “Oh god, it’s like they created a language from TikTok and Vines. I understand why people who don’t frequent the app may find TikTok irritating, but if you take a closer look you’ll notice it’s actually quite fascinating. The social and cultural impact is honestly impressive. Maybe this is just my marketing brain at work but I really wish people would look at it this way.”
16. Last Century Jokes
Now, let’s break this down. Gen Z, born after 1997, are the young guns of the 21st century. To them, the ’90s and early 2000s are like ancient history. They’ve got smartphones, social media, and memes we could only dream of back in the day.
This person shared, “Lol, what do you know, you were born, like …last century …? I had to laugh at that one in a supermarket..”
Another added, “Reminds me of a couple of years ago when I was setting up a hammock for my niece. I asked her if she wanted the one her dad bought when he was in Brazil (20 years prior) or the one I bought when I was in Ecuador (3 years prior). With a tone of slight disgust, she said, “I’ll take the one that’s not from the 1900s.””
17. Being Into Generations
First off, let’s get this straight: when we say “generations,” we’re talking about those labels like Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z itself.
A Reddit user wrote, “Being obsessed with generations. “Without the internet, how did you study if someone already checked the book you need out of the library?”-“What happens if you’re meeting someone and after you leave, they can’t make it, but there was no phone to call you on?”
Someone else replied, “They are, though. I’m a Gen Xer, and the kids at work ask me so many questions about the 90s I feel like I’m in a documentary.”
18. Stretching Out Words
Stretching words is Gen Z’s superpower. They take a simple word and turn it into a full-blown vocal exercise. Those weird falsetto tones? That’s all about drama. Gen Z likes to add extra oomph to their words to make a point.
Someone said, “sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh. Can we collectively put a ban on slang having weird falsetto tones? I still cringe every time.”
Another person agreed to it and said, “nooo sheesh is so annoying and cringey. A twitcher streamer I watch says it all the time like it’s the funniest word he knows.”
19. The Creepy Emojis
This person shared, “Lol 👁️👄👁️ might be one of the most gen-Z things you can say.”
Another added, “I’m 28, and I use these emojis so much because they look creepy. I just insert them literally anywhere, as long as I feel like it. It can be: “I wanna eat spaghetti for dinner,” “You will not believe what Martha just told me at work 👁👄👁” “Bruh I just saw a cat 👁👄👁” “Hey, I’m really sorry about your mom’s passing. 👁👄👁”
So, if you ever come across this emoji in a conversation with a Gen Z-er, don’t be freaked out. It’s just their way of keeping things interesting.
20. Saving Up
A discerning Reddit user commented, “No need to save money ’cause the world will be ruined in 20 years anyway.”
Someone else replied, “I was planning on dying 30 years from now (not suicidal, just average family life expectancy), but if we all go in 20, I’d like to go before I find out I have something like cancer or cirrhosis. Anything that’s not drowning or burning to death would be nice.”
Gen Z has this thing for dark humor. They use it as a coping mechanism for the challenges they face. Saying the world’s doomed in 20 years might sound pessimistic, but it’s often laced with a touch of irony and sarcasm. They’re saying it to draw attention to the issue and get people talking.
12 American Customs That Make No Sense To Foreigners
When people from other countries visit the United States, they often notice some things that seem really strange. These are things that Americans do in their everyday lives, but they might not make much sense to visitors.
12 American Customs That Make No Sense to Foreigners
12 Things You Should Stop Doing When You Turn 18
As young adults reach the age of 18, a new chapter in life begins. It’s a time filled with opportunities and responsibilities. These changes can help pave the way for a more successful and fulfilling journey into the world of grown-up responsibilities.
12 Things You Should Stop Doing When You Turn 18
12 Mythological Creatures That Might Actually Exist
via DepositPhotos.com.
Mythology has always been a fascinating realm where imagination and reality intertwine. While many mythological creatures have been dismissed as pure fiction, there are a few that might find a place in the realm of possibility.
12 Mythological Creatures That Might Actually Exist
12 Healthy Foods Most People Refuse To Eat
When it comes to maintaining a healthy diet, we often hear about the importance of consuming a variety of nutritious foods. However, some of these foods often end up being overlooked or outright refused by many individuals. Despite their incredible health benefits, certain foods face a lack of popularity due to taste, texture, or unfamiliarity.
12 Healthy Foods Most People Refuse To Eat
20 Jobs That Used To Be Prestigious But Aren’t Anymore
londondeposit via DepositPhotos.com.
Some jobs used to be all fancy-schmancy, but now? Meh, not so much. We are talking about those gigs that used to make you raise your eyebrows in admiration, but now, you’re more likely to raise your remote and change the channel.
20 Jobs That Used To Be Prestigious but Aren’t Anymore
This article was produced and syndicated by A Dime Saved.
