Another school year is upon us, and we’re doing everything in our power to help prepare you and your family for whatever academic journey your kids are taking on next. A few months ago, our sibling publication, Colorado Parent, published an article explaining the coolest new slang terms of 2024. You can read that here, however, it seems like we already need to make a new list. Thank you, Generation Alpha!
As a Gen Z-er/borderline Millennial, I thought I knew it all. Slay. Clutch. Delulu. Bussin’— all words I (unfortunately) incorporate into my daily vocabulary. But it wasn’t until I recently saw a TikTok with the word, “skibidi,” that I realized I was truly lost. So, after some extensive research on TikTok and a rather odd conversation with my 14-year-old brother (who swears he’s in Gen Z), I’ve broken down the newest slang terms your kiddos might be using this year. Thank me later.
+ # / – # Aura: Emitting positive energy/emitting negative energy
Synonyms: Good/bad vibes
Ex: “-1000 (negative 1000) aura for calling me out in front of the teacher like that.”
Ate: Did exceptionally well
Ex: “Did you hear that new Sabrina Carpenter song?” “Yes, I loved it! She ate and left no crumbs.”
Biting the Curb: To laugh at someone being roasted
Synonym: Burn; savage
Brain Rot: Terms that do not make sense; random words thrown around in TikTok videos
Ex: Everything on this list.
Fanum Tax: Refers to the act of stealing something (often food) from someone
Ex: “Hey! I didn’t say you could have a french fry!” “Fanum tax, bro.”
Looks Maxxing: To try and look better
Synonym: glow up
Mewing: Originally an exercise to help strengthen your jawline; now a motion used to let someone know you’re not listening/not interested in what they are saying; being quiet
How to Mew: hold a finger to the lips, as if telling someone to “shh,” then trace the jawline from ear to chin
Ohio: Brain rot term for something weird/secluded
Opp: Anyone you dislike; someone in competition with you
Ex: “Mr. Smith gave me a ‘C’ on my paper! He’s officially an opp.”
Rizzler: Someone with rizz or charisma
Ex: “Every girl in our class has a crush on him. He’s a serious rizzler.”
Sigma: Being best of the best/most popular; cool
Synonym: Alpha
Skibidi: No specific meaning, just a brain rot term used start a conversation filled with other brain rot terms; can also be used as an adjective
Ex: “Skibidi my fellow sigma rizzler! Your shopping spree really has your looks maxxing. So not Ohio toilet.”
*Editor’s Note: That was an incredibly painful sentence to write.