Families For Life | Let’s Talk Family – Gen Z Edition

If you work with Generation Z colleagues—defined as those born between the mid 90s and mid 2010s—or have these young folks in the family, you might find some of their quirks amusing or downright bewildering.

This could be anything from their copious use of social media to their progressive mindsets. More than these, what confounds most people is the Gen Z lingo—their colourful vocabulary come with a wide array of slangs that can be confusing for the uninitiated. However, don’t let this alienate you from the young ones at home.

Unnatural as it may feel at first, even boomers can pick up some of these slangs and drop them in conversations with teenagers and young adults. Don’t worry about using them wrongly though—these instances make for a good laugh all round.

Not sure where to start? Here is a list of common Gen Z slangs to help you along.

Slay

What it means: To slay is to do an awesome job.

How to use it: “You’ve cleaned your room AND finished your homework? Wow, you’re really slaying it today!”

Stan

What it means: To be a great fan of something or someone.

How to use it: “Korean boybands weren’t a thing in my time. Who I really used to stan when I was a teenager was (insert your favourite artiste from your youth).”

Understood the assignment

What it means: To nail the job.

How to use it: When your teen or tween gives an outstanding performance on a creative project, you can say, “You did so well on stage today. You really understood the assignment!”

No cap

What it means: Not lying, being honest.

How to use it: “No cap, you are so going to enjoy the family outing we’ve planned for this weekend.”

Hits different

What it means: Better than usual or stands out from the others.

How to use it: “What you’ve done for your art assignment is beautiful. It just hits different.”

Rizz

What it means: Someone who “has rizz” is good at flirting or attracting a romantic partner.

How to use it: “Why was I attracted to your father? I suppose he had rizz, as a young man.”

NGL

What it means: It’s the acronym for “not gonna lie”.

How to use it: “NGL, I don’t feel up for cycling in this heat. Shall we go catch a movie instead?”

Cheugy

What it means: Pronounced “choo-ghee”, the word describes things that are cringe-worthy or people who try too hard to be cool and relevant.

How to use it: “This is what I’m wearing to your cousin’s wedding. Is it too cheugy?”