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Daily Question: Gen Z Slang

Welcome to our next daily reader question, where you get to tell other cool parents what’s cool! Today, we’re asking about Gen Z slang. Our kids have created so much colorful vocabulary, and they get a hard time for a lot of it. So let’s turn it around a bit.…

BY

Cool Mom Team

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Gen Z lang: Which words do you actually love? (And do you actually understand!)

Welcome to our next daily reader question, where you get to tell other cool parents what’s cool! Today, we’re asking about Gen Z slang. Our kids have created so much colorful vocabulary, and they get a hard time for a lot of it. So let’s turn it around a bit.

We want to know: Which Gen Z words and expressions do you actually love? (And hopefully, understand!) Choose up to 5 of your favorites.

Don’t worry, your answer is completely anonymous and we have no way of knowing who’s who. (Or uh, which of your kids are saying what.)

Come back for more daily questions, from silly to serious. Your voice matters and we want to hear from you!

Results

Favorites:
1. Low-key
2. Basic
3. Sus
4. Hits different
5. Salty
6. It’s Giving

Best of Gen Z Slang: Reader results from our question of the day

Check back for a glossary of Gen Z slang, compiled by actual teens!

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6 responses to “Daily Question: Gen Z Slang”

  1. 4 Ways to Yummy

    I wish they had added a definition, so many I don’t know….but it has me curious.

    Reply
    1. Liz Gumbinner

      Amazing idea. We’re on it!

      Reply
  2. Lisa

    It’d be nice to have a slang list with meanings and sample phrases so we can understand them.

    Reply
    1. Liz Gumbinner

      Love that idea — on it!

      Reply
  3. Elizabeth

    Ok, don’t hate me for being nit-picky! Several of these aren’t actually Gen Z created. Slay, for example, comes from gay, black culture going back to at least the mid 90s (that’s when I first heard it). They use it, but it’s not “theirs,” you know? Like Millennials using “dope” which also goes back to at least the early 90s. Or Gen X using “cool” which goes back… forever? I’m not saying they shouldn’t use it! I think of it like how I use my dad’s camping gear. I use it all the time, and that’s totally fine, but it’s not actually mine 🙂

    Reply
    1. Liz Gumbinner

      I think that’s an important comment, thanks for providing that context. Black culture (and 80s Black club kids, and more recently Black gamers/twitch streamers/tiktokers) contributes so much to our collective American culture — phrases, music, and beyond — that should be credited. I’m fascinated by etymology and slang too. I want to add that this was a diverse group of Gen Z kids of all races and backgrounds who contributed to the list of the phrases they use, and I appreciate the words they chose — as well as the ones they left out for good reason.

      Reply

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