Move aside, Gen Zs! There’s a new generation entering town!

Say hello to Gen Alpha – kids born from 2010 onwards – who are taking slang to the next level, blending gaming culture, TikTok trends, and internet humour into phrases that can sound like a secret code. Want to keep up with what your kids are saying? Here are eight must-know Gen Alpha slang to add to your internet dictionary!

Skibidi

Possibly the most quoted Gen Alpha term, skibidi surprisingly doesn’t have a defined meaning. Depending on the context, it is a wacky adjective to mean cool, bad or dumb.

'Yesterday, I tripped and dropped my phone. Had to replace the screen protector too.'

'That’s so skibidi.'

Aura

Aura describes someone's exceptional talent, charisma, or other inspirational qualities - think main character energy! While the word isn't new, Gen Alpha uses it to express admiration for someone's talent, style, or overall vibe.

‘Messi has so much aura, I want to be cool like him!’

Ratio’d

Someone is ratio’d when a reply on their social media post gets more likes and shares than the original post. In everyday conversation, getting ratio’d means someone made an unpopular opinion and they are heavily outweighed.

‘I told my colleagues that you need to have coriander with mala. So many people disagreed with me!’

‘Sounds like you got ratio’d.’

Brain rot

Brain rot is what Gen Alpha calls that fuzzy, zoned-out feeling after consuming too much internet content. It's that state when your mind feels like mush from endless scrolling.

‘I’ve been scrolling too long on TikTok, now I’m brain rotting.’

Lore

'Lore' has evolved from meaning traditional knowledge to Gen Alpha's way of referring to someone's personal history or backstory. Think of it as the interesting chapters of your life story that others might not know about.

‘I didn't know that Harry Potter was a part of your lore!’

‘I loved the books when I was younger!’

Bet

'Bet' is a term of agreement used by Gen Alpha. It’s a quick way of saying 'yes,' 'sure,' or 'absolutely!' It's basically their version of 'you're on!' or 'count me in.

‘Wanna watch the new Captain America movie this weekend?’

‘Bet, let’s go!’

Fanum tax

'Fanum tax' comes from popular streamer Fanum's habit of sneaking bites from his friends' food. Gen Alpha has turned this into a playful way of claiming a share of someone else's snacks or meals.

‘You have to pay the Fanum tax! I’m taking some of your snacks!’

Sigma

'Sigma' describes someone who's confidently independent and doesn't follow the crowd. Gen Alpha uses it (often jokingly) to praise someone who does things their own way without needing others' help or approval.

‘I heard Patrick did the difficult math homework all by himself. He didn’t even ask anyone for help.’

‘Wow, he’s so sigma’

It might feel strange to sprinkle these new slangs into your conversations, but take it slow and be open to learning. The key here is showing an interest in the new way Gen Alpha kids’ express themselves, it helps them feel understood and strengthens your connection. Who knows? You might even surprise them by dropping the right slang at the right moment. Just remember to keep it natural - there's a fine line between being relatable and making your kids cringe!"