Master the slang of the newest digital natives to create campaigns that slay, resonate authentically, and avoid being hella Ohio!
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: “That campaign totally ate and gave off some serious GOAT vibes, but we lowkey could’ve used more rizz in our messaging.” If you’re scratching your head, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Gen Alpha, the newest generation of digital natives, has their own evolving lexicon that can feel like a different language.
Who is Gen Alpha?
Gen Alpha, born between 2010 and 2024, is the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age. They’ve been immersed in technology from a young age, with smartphones, social media, and AI as constant companions. This generation is known for their quick adoption of new platforms and their unique communication style, which is heavily influenced by internet culture. As true digital natives, they are shaping trends and language in new ways, making them a key audience for marketers looking to engage with emerging cultural shifts. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive list of slang terms along with definitions and examples so you can seamlessly weave them into your social media content strategy and resonate authentically with your younger audience.
When creating content for Gen Alpha, it’s essential to understand their preferences. They gravitate towards short, engaging videos, especially from influencers who share tutorials, challenges, and behind-the-scenes looks. Interactivity is key—this generation enjoys immersive experiences like interactive videos and polls. Visual appeal matters, too—content must capture their attention quickly. Most importantly, Gen Alpha values authenticity and is drawn to influencers and brands that feel genuine. They also prioritize social responsibility and respond well to platform-specific features like AR filters, stories, and live videos.
But before you jump into using these terms, here’s a quick warning: using slang incorrectly or without creative content that matches its vibe could come off as hella Ohio (cringe-worthy). It’s always a good idea to run your messaging by someone from Gen Alpha—a kid or two—just to make sure you’re hitting the mark. Authenticity is key, and when done right, incorporating this language can elevate your campaigns to feel more relevant and engaging. Done wrong, though, it could backfire quickly.
Let’s hop in!
Ate – To do something exceptionally well or impressively.
Sentence: Her dance routine totally ate; everyone was amazed.
Bet – Expression of agreement or excitement.
Sentence: “You’re coming to the party tonight?” “Bet!”
Cap/No Cap – Cap means lying, No cap means truth.
Sentence: He said he could run a mile in five minutes, but that’s cap.
Slay – To do something amazingly or look great.
Sentence: You slayed that presentation today!
Drip – Stylish or fashionable appearance.
Sentence: His new sneakers are pure drip.
Sus – Suspicious or shady behavior.
Sentence: That guy over there acting sus around the bags.
Fam – Close friends or group of people.
Sentence: We’re hanging out with the fam this weekend.
Flex – Showing off something impressive.
Sentence: Buying a new car is such a flex.
Ghosting – Cutting off communication without warning.
Sentence: I haven’t heard from her in weeks; she’s totally ghosting me.
Goat – Greatest of All Time; someone who excels.
Sentence: Serena Williams is the GOAT of tennis.
Vibe Check – Evaluating someone’s mood or energy.
Sentence: The vibe check at the party was off; everyone seemed awkward.
Lit – Exciting or fun.
Sentence: Last night’s concert was lit!
Salty – Bitter or upset about something.
Sentence: He’s still salty about losing the game.
Cheugy – Outdated or trying too hard.
Sentence: That outfit from 2010 is so cheugy now.
Glow Up – Significant improvement in appearance or style.
Sentence: After her glow-up, everyone noticed how different she looked.
Bussin’ – Really good, especially referring to food.
Sentence: These tacos are bussin’!
Gyat – Reaction to something shocking or attractive.
Sentence: Gyat, she looks amazing in that dress!
Mewing – Repositioning the tongue to change jawline appearance.
Sentence: He’s always mewing in photos to make his jawline look sharper.
Fanum Tax – Taking or stealing food from someone.
Sentence: You left your fries unattended; Fanum Tax applies now!
Rizz – Short for charisma; someone who’s charming.
Sentence: He’s got mad rizz and can charm anyone in the room.
Delulu – Short for delusional, when someone’s reality doesn’t match.
Sentence: She’s totally delulu if she thinks she’s winning the competition without practice.
Skibidi – Reference to a meme, used as a filler or inside joke.
Sentence: We all started saying “skibidi” after watching that viral video.
Sigma – Cool, popular person, often a leader type.
Sentence: He’s a sigma in his group, always leading the charge.
Bop – A catchy or popular song.
Sentence: This new song is a bop; I’ve had it on repeat all day.
Fire – Something amazing, enjoyable, or impressive.
Sentence: That new Marvel movie was fire!
Big Yikes – Reacting to something embarrassing or shocking.
Sentence: Seeing his awkward dance moves was a big yikes.
Ohio – Describes something bad or cringe-worthy.
Sentence: His excuse for being late was pure Ohio; no one believed it.
Yeet – Expression of excitement or used when throwing something.
Sentence: Watch me yeet this ball across the field!
Periodt – Used to confirm or emphasize a statement.
Sentence: I’m the best player on the team, periodt.
Ick – A feeling of disgust or repulsion.
Sentence: He gave me the ick when he started talking with his mouth full.
Mid – Something average or unimpressive.
Sentence: The movie was mid; nothing special about it.
Big W/Big L – A significant win or loss.
Sentence: I passed the exam—Big W for me today!
Clout – Influence or power, often from social media.
Sentence: She’s always doing things for clout on social media.
Extra – Someone overly dramatic or exaggerated.
Sentence: He’s being so extra with his dramatic reaction to the joke.
Fax – Another way of saying “facts” or something true.
Sentence: That’s fax—what you said is 100% true.
Finna – Short for “fixing to,” meaning about to do something.
Sentence: I’m finna go grab some lunch.
Gucci – Something good or cool.
Sentence: Everything’s Gucci now that the project is done.
Lowkey – Doing something quietly or subtly.
Sentence: I lowkey love this new song, even though it’s not my usual style.
Peep – To notice or observe something.
Sentence: Did you peep her new haircut? It looks awesome.
Shook – Surprised or shocked by something.
Sentence: I was shook when I saw how much they’ve changed.
As the first generation to grow up with smartphones from a young age, Gen-Alpha is shaping a whole new communication style. By tapping into their slang, marketers can better relate to this emerging audience. Just remember, this group is hyper-aware of what’s authentic, so using their language effectively requires you to stay current, adaptable, and, above all, genuine in your content approach.
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