You’ve probably heard a teenager say something sounds "skibidi" or call someone a "sigma" and felt your brain physically glaze over. It’s okay. Language is moving at a terrifying speed right now. Honestly, the gap between Millennial slang and Gen Alpha slang words feels more like a canyon than a generation gap. We aren't just talking about a few new nouns; we are looking at a total overhaul of how people communicate online, driven almost entirely by TikTok algorithms and niche YouTube subcultures that have leaked into the real world.
If you feel out of the loop, you aren’t alone. Even older Gen Zers are starting to feel like "uncs" (uncles) in the face of this new vocabulary.
Basically, the words kids use today aren't just "slang" in the traditional sense. They are markers of digital tribalism. If you know what "rizzing up a gyatt" means, you’re in. If you don't, you're a "normie" or, worse, "cooked." But here’s the thing: most of these words actually have roots in older dialects, specifically African American Vernacular English (AAVE), which have been chewed up and spat out by the internet until they mean something entirely different.
Why Gen Alpha Slang Words Are Actually Different
Most generations have their own lingo. Boomers had "groovy," Gen X had "radical," and Millennials gave us "doggo" and "adulting." But Gen Alpha slang words are distinct because they are incredibly visual and memetic. They don't just come from movies or music; they come from 15-second clips that play on a loop.
Take Skibidi, for example.
It literally comes from a series of YouTube Shorts about heads popping out of toilets. It doesn't have a fixed definition. Depending on the context, it can mean "bad," "evil," or just be used as a random adjective to fill space. It’s "semantic bleaching" in real-time—where a word loses its specific meaning because it's used so much.
Then you have Rizz.
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This one actually made it into the Oxford University Press as the 2023 Word of the Year. Short for "charisma," it’s one of the few words in this new wave that has a clear, functional utility. You use it to describe someone’s ability to attract a romantic partner. If you have "unspoken rizz," you don’t even have to talk; your vibe does the work for you. It’s arguably the most successful slang export of the last five years because even corporate marketing departments have started using it—which, of course, immediately made it "cringe" to the kids who invented it.
The Rise of the Sigma and the Ohio Meme
There is a weird obsession with certain archetypes right now. The Sigma is a big one. Originally used in "manosphere" circles to describe a "lone wolf" alpha male, Gen Alpha has turned it into a bit of a joke. Now, being a "Sigma" usually refers to someone who is cool, stoic, or does something impressive. If a kid cleans his room without being asked, his friends might call him a "Sigma." It's often paired with a specific facial expression—the "Mewing" face—where you tuck your tongue to your palate to sharpen your jawline.
And then there’s Ohio.
If you aren't from the Midwest, you might be confused why a US state is a punchline. In the world of Gen Alpha slang words, Ohio represents a place where everything is weird, chaotic, or cursed. "Only in Ohio" is a caption you’ll see on videos of monsters, glitches, or just generally bizarre behavior. It’s a shorthand for "this is abnormal." Poor Ohio. It didn't do anything to deserve this, but that’s the power of the algorithm.
Is This Ruining English?
Critics like to complain that these words are a sign of falling literacy rates. They point to "Brain Rot"—a term the kids ironically use themselves—to describe the state of consuming too much low-quality digital content. However, linguists like Gretchen McCulloch, author of Because Internet, argue that this is just linguistic evolution.
Kids are incredibly creative with how they manipulate language to fit the constraints of the platforms they use.
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For instance, Fanum Tax.
This phrase comes from a popular streamer named Kai Cenat and his friend Fanum. Whenever Fanum would enter Kai's room while he was eating, he’d take a portion of the food. Now, "Fanum Tax" is just what you say when you steal a fry from your friend. It’s specific. It’s communal. It’s a way of signaling that you belong to the same corner of the internet.
Breaking Down the Most Common Phrases
Let's look at some others that keep popping up in school hallways and Discord servers:
- Delulu: Short for delusional. Usually used in a lighthearted way about having unrealistic hopes, especially in dating. "I'm being delulu thinking he'll text back."
- Gyatt: An exclamation used when seeing someone with a large posterior. It’s a shortened version of "God damn."
- Mewing: A technique involving tongue placement to define the jawline. In slang, "I'm mewing" means "I can't talk right now because I'm busy being handsome/improving my looks."
- Aura: This refers to someone's overall presence or "cool factor." If you trip in public, you "lose aura." If you do something effortlessly cool, you "gain aura." It’s basically a points-based system for social standing.
- Cooked: If you are "cooked," you are done for. You failed the test? Cooked. Your crush saw you do something embarrassing? Absolutely cooked.
The Role of "Brain Rot" and Content Farms
You can't talk about these words without talking about the "content farms." These are YouTube channels that pump out thousands of videos featuring colorful characters (like those from Digital Circus or Roblox) using as many keywords as possible to trigger the algorithm.
This is where the term Brain Rot becomes literal.
When children consume hours of videos that are just a mashup of "Skibidi," "Sigma," and "Ohio," they start to speak in those terms exclusively. It’s a feedback loop. The more they use the words, the more the creators use them, and the cycle continues. It’s the first time in history where slang isn’t just coming from the "cool kids" at school; it’s being programmed by an AI-driven recommendation engine.
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How to Actually Talk to Someone Using This Slang
Honestly? Don't.
Nothing kills a vibe faster than an adult trying to use Gen Alpha slang words in a serious conversation. It’s the "How do you do, fellow kids?" meme personified. The best way to use this knowledge is as a translation layer. When you hear a kid say they have "negative aura," you don't need to correct their grammar. You just need to understand they feel embarrassed.
However, there is a nuance to "slang lifecycle" that is worth noting. Most of these words will be dead by 2027. If you look at the history of internet slang, words have a shelf life of about 18 to 24 months before they become "cheugy" (a Millennial term that is also now dead).
Practical Steps for Parents and Educators
If you’re trying to keep up with the kids in your life, here is how you stay informed without losing your mind.
- Monitor the Source: Most of these words originate on Twitch or YouTube, not TikTok. TikTok is usually where they go to die or become mainstream. If you want to see the "new" stuff, look at what the top streamers (like Kai Cenat or CaseOh) are saying.
- Context Over Definition: Don't ask what a word means. Ask when it’s used. Most Gen Alpha slang is contextual. "Skibidi" can be good or bad depending on the tone of voice.
- Check Urban Dictionary (With Caution): It’s still the gold standard, but it’s heavily moderated by users who might be joking. Look for definitions with the highest upvotes from the last three months.
- Listen for AAVE Roots: Many of these words are stolen from Black culture. Understanding the original context can help you explain to younger people why some words might be inappropriate for them to use, even if they see them in a meme.
- Acknowledge the Irony: A lot of kids use this slang ironically. They know it's "brain rot." They are making fun of the fact that they are saying it. If you take it too seriously, you’re missing the joke.
Language is a living thing. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s often confusing. But at its core, these new words are just a way for a new generation to claim a space that belongs to them—even if that space is a weird, toilet-filled corner of the internet.
Understanding the "why" behind the words is more important than memorizing a dictionary. It’s about connection. If you can acknowledge a kid’s "aura" without cringing, you’ve already won half the battle. Just don't try to be "sigma" yourself unless you're prepared for the eye rolls.