24 Gen Z Terms That Utterly Puzzle Baby Boomers
Language is always evolving, and now perhaps faster than ever. Some of the words and phrases used by younger generations leave older folks absolutely perplexed.
In a recent study from the language learning site Anna Spanish, researchers analyzed Google search data to uncover the most sought-after TikTok terms. The findings reveal just how perplexing some of Gen Z’s word choices are. These 24 words are among the most confusing of them all.
1: Pookie
Pookie refers to someone you love or consider your best friend, and it’s the source of a lot of confusion for those unfamiliar with it. According to Anna Spanish researchers, “pookie” has a search volume of 465,480, almost double any of the other terms on this list.
2: GYAT
It’s no wonder GYAT is a confusing term, given that it’s an acronym that looks nothing like the word it means: Godd*mn. It’s common to see Gen Z-ers using GYAT when describing something they find impressive.
3: Simp
A simp refers to males who give a lot to the females in their lives but don’t get much in return. Older generations might have referred to a simp as being in the “friend zone.”
4: Rizz
Short for charisma, rizz refers to someone who’s seductive. It can also refer to someone’s “game,” as in their ability to flirt. The search volume for rizz was over 200,000, according to the Anna Spanish study.
5: Coquette
Coquette describes an entire aesthetic. If someone is coquette, they’re fun-loving, bubbly, and in touch with their girlish nature.
6: Preppy
Like coquette, preppy describes an entire style. Preppy people might wear American Eagle, Roller Rabbit, or Sassy Shortcake.
7: Yeet
Yeet refers to aggressively throwing something you find to be worthless or inferior. It’s often used in jest, as in, “Can you yeet me that water bottle?”
8: NPC
The term NPC (non-playable character) comes from video games. When Gen Z uses it, they’re saying the person they’re describing is like a background character, in that they are insignificant to the story or their life.
9: Moots
Moots is short for mutual. It refers to following someone on social media and having them follow you back. There was a search volume of nearly 62,000 for the word “moots” in Anna Spanish’s study.
10: No Cap
No cap conveys authenticity. It’s a bit like saying, “No lie.” For example, you might say, “No cap, the band was amazing last night.”
11: Ick
Ick refers to an instant turnoff. It’s the feeling you get when you see a prospective romantic partner do something so off-putting that you no longer consider them attractive.
12: GRWM
GRWM is short for “Get ready with me.” It’s a common vlog or TikTok format that shows people getting ready for their day or for a specific event. According to Anna Spanish, this term had a search volume of just under 50,000.
13: Delulu
If delulu reminds you of delusional, you’re on the right track. Delulu refers to someone who’s so obsessed with a celebrity that they actually think they could end up with them.
14: Cheugy
Cheugy is the opposite of trendy. It’s probably safe to say that anyone who is blown away by the words on this list is on the cheugy side of the spectrum.
15: Bussin
If something is really good, it’s bussin. For example, you might say your grandmother’s chocolate chip cookies have no business being so bussin.
16: Opps
Opps is short for opposition. When Gen Z uses it, they’re referring to anyone who competes with them or is against them in any way.
17: Sus
Sus comes from suspicious. When your coworker calls in sick on their birthday, you might say the situation is a little sus.
18: PFP
PFP is short for “profile pic.” Given that about 78% of American Gen Z-ers use TikTok, not to mention a plethora of other social media apps, the abbreviation makes sense.
19: OOMF
Yet another social media-related term, OOMF, stands for “One of my followers.” Gen Z and Gen A use this term to refer to someone who follows them on social media without revealing the person’s name.
20: Beige Flag
A beige flag is like a red flag’s not-so-scary cousin. It refers to something that’s not good or bad but is odd, like putting ketchup on your mac and cheese.
21: Sheesh
Sheesh is the Gen Z substitute for “daayumn.” For example, you might say, “Sheesh, this traffic is crazy.”
22: OK Boomer
When Gen Z wants to mock the attitude of the older generations, they say “OK, boomer.” It might be used when someone denies climate change or pushes back on technological innovation.
23: Heather
You know the girl that everyone likes? That’s Heather, according to Gen Z. It can also refer to someone who appears perfect. According to the Anna Spanish study, Heather has a search volume of just over 8,000.
24: Mid
Mid refers to something average or low quality. It’s often a way to dismiss someone else’s opinion as poorly thought out, but it can also be about an experience, as in “That burger was mid, I should have gone with a sandwich.”
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