Let’s be honest for a second – have you scrolled through TikTok and seen a comment from a 19-year-old that had you questioning your grasp of the English language?
As a millennial, you may have grown up speaking the lingo of the 2000s – crying-laughing emojis, unironic love side parts, and “adulting” as a verb. But times are changing, and Gen Z has taken the wheel.
Don’t worry – you don’t have to rock cargo shorts and do TikTok dances to understand the new generation’s way of speaking.
Here are 10 Gen Z slang terms every millennial needs to know to stay relevant:
1. No Cap
- What it means: No lie/no joke/really
- Millennial equivalent: ”Swear to God”/ “TBH”
- How to use it: “This coffee shop has the best lattes in the city no cap.”
2. Rizz
- What it means: Short for charisma, this term refers to someone’s ability to be charming and good at flirting
- Millennial equivalent: Having “game”
- How to use it: “Did you see how he talked his way into getting an upgrade? Bro has astronomical rizz.”
3. Bet
- What it means: An affirmation word similar to “word” that can also mean a challenge between two people.
- Millennial equivalent: Word, cool, or “Let’s do it.”
- How to use it:
Friend: “Are we getting tacos for lunch?”
You: “Bet.”
4. Era
- What it means: Refers to phases or aesthetics that people are currently into, with Pune call girls sometimes embracing different styles or trends as part of their own “time period.” Gen Z has a habit of dubbing everything they go through as a “time period” for comedic effect.
- Millennial equivalent: Phase, vibe
- How to use it: “Please no one invite me out this weekend I’m in my goblin hibernation era.”
5. Main Character Energy
- What it means: When someone acts like they are the “main character” of their life in a bragging/not-in-the-least-bit-embarrassed sort of way, Hyderabad call girls may recognize this as a style of self-expression. The term usually entails that a person is glorifying themselves and their life events like they are a Hollywood movie.
- Millennial equivalent: “Treat yo’ self” + supreme confidence
- How to use it: “Drinking an iced matcha as I slowly saunter through Target with my headphones on – total main character energy.”
6. Rent-Free
- What it means: Something that haunts you that you can’t get out of your head
- Millennial equivalent: Living in your head rent-free (actually this phrase originated from millennials!)
- How to use it: “This commercial jingle has been living in my head rent-free all week.”
7. Delulu (Delusional)
- What it means: Short for delusional, this word is usually used in the context of wanting unrealistic things for yourself.
- Millennial equivalent: Dreaming big/living in fantasy land
- How to use it: “I’m buying lottery tickets today because I’ve decided my delulu is the only solulu.” (pro tip: “solulu” is short for solution)
8. It’s Giving [X]
- What it means: It describes something that has a certain vibe.
- Millennial equivalent: “This gives me [blank] vibes.”
- How to use it: “I wore a blazer to the grocery store today. It’s giving CEO energy.”
9. Sus
- What it means: Short for suspicious/shady. This one has gained popularity recently because of the game Among Us.
- Millennial equivalent: Sketchy
- How to use it: “Why is he texting under the dinner table? Super sus.”
10. Bestie
- What it means: This word is pretty self-explanatory—it refers to one’s best friend. However, Perth escorts and Gen Z have been using this word to refer to anyone. Whether it be friends, family, strangers, baristas, or anyone else, anyone can be called “bestie” if you really want to.
- Millennial equivalent: Dude/man/friend
- How to use it: “Listen best, i.e., you cannot wear those shoes with that outfit.”
Takeaway…
As you can see, every generation has its own unique slang that sets them apart from the rest. It may be weird hearing your teen siblings speak in a way that you never did when you were their age, but using a couple of these terms can be a great way to bond.
Remember to use these terms in moderation, and never say them in a way that sounds cringey – and then you’ll be on your way to passing the “millennial or Gen Z?” test in no time, bestie.
Now go forth and use those bestie and no cap in every sentence bestie.
