10 Gen Z Slang Words You Need to Know
Confused by Gen Z slang? From rizz and delulu to aura farming and crash out, here are 10 popular slang words and what they actually mean.
SPEAK BRIGHT BLOG · LEARNING TIPS · 5 MIN READ
10 Gen Z Slang Words You Need to Know
Cooked? Rizz? Aura farming?
If you’ve heard these words on TikTok, Instagram or in a group chat and thought, “Wait… what does that even mean?”, I’m telling you, you’re not alone.
English changes all the time, and social media has made it change even faster. New words appear, old words get completely new meanings and somehow “you ate” has nothing to do with food.
So, whether you’re learning English or simply trying to keep up with the internet, here are 10 Gen Z slang words worth knowing.
1. Cooked
You’re in trouble, exhausted or basically doomed
Meaning: You’re in trouble, exhausted or basically doomed.
“I have an exam tomorrow and I haven’t studied. I’m cooked.”
In standard English: I’m in trouble.
2. Rizz
Charm, especially when flirting
Meaning: Charm, especially when flirting.
“He got her number in five minutes. Bro has rizz.”
Someone with no rizz? Their flirting skills may need a little work.
3. Aura Farming
Trying to look effortlessly cool
Meaning: When someone does something deliberately to look cool, confident or mysterious.
“Bro isn’t even helping. He’s just standing there aura farming.”
Basically: trying very hard to look like you’re not trying at all.
4. Delulu
A playful way to say “delusional”
Meaning: Delulu comes from delusional, but it’s usually used playfully.
Your celebrity crush liked your comment?
“He definitely noticed me. We’re basically getting married.”
Bestie… you’re delulu.
5. Locked In
Completely focused on something
Meaning: Being completely focused on something.
“Exam tomorrow. Phone off. I’m locked in.”
No scrolling. No drama. We have work to do.
6. Ate
You did something really well
If someone tells you “you ate”, don’t start explaining what you had for lunch.
It’s a compliment.
It means you did something really well.
“That presentation? You ate.”
And if you ate and left no crumbs? Even better.
7. Yapping
Talking a lot, especially without getting to the point
Someone has been talking for ten minutes… and you still have no idea what the story is about.
They’re yapping.
You can even say it about yourself:
“Okay, sorry. I’m yapping.”
8. Crash Out
To lose your temper or have a big emotional reaction
Meaning: To lose your temper or have a big emotional reaction.
“My food delivery got cancelled AGAIN. I’m about to crash out.”
Hopefully, you don’t actually crash out.
9. Rage Bait
Content designed to make people angry
Ever seen a post so ridiculous that you immediately wanted to comment?
Careful. It might be rage bait.
Rage bait is content deliberately made to make people angry so they’ll react, comment or share it.
“Don’t reply. It’s obviously rage bait.”
Sometimes the best response is no response.
10. 6–7 / 67
The internet meme that doesn’t really have one clear meaning
And finally…
6–7.
What does it mean?
Well…
That’s part of the problem.
Unlike most of the words on this list, 6–7 doesn’t have one clear definition. It became popular as an internet meme and is often used randomly, jokingly or simply because other people understand the reference.
In other words, sometimes the joke is that it doesn’t really mean anything.
Confused?
Congratulations. You may actually understand it.
Do You Actually Need to Use Gen Z Slang?
Not really. But understanding slang is more important than forcing yourself to use it.
“I’m cooked” might sound perfectly natural in your group chat.
Maybe don’t put it in an email to your lecturer.
“You ate!” works with your friends.
“Your presentation was excellent” is probably safer with your manager.
Good English isn’t only about grammar and vocabulary. It’s also about understanding how people really communicate and knowing which English fits the situation.
At Speak Bright Language Center, we believe English should go beyond the classroom. Because sometimes understanding English means knowing that when someone says “you ate”, they’re actually giving you a compliment.
And to all the Millennials reading this because you had to Google what rizz means…
We got you. 😉
Watch our Gen Z Slang Short on YouTube →
Lina Ismail
English Teacher, Speak Bright
