Chat, it's time to lock in fr and learn some new words. Or at least feel old.
In an era of "brainrot," it seems that the slang of Gen Alpha changes every day. If you've spent any amount of time around children, you've probably heard at least some of these.
Gone are the days of skibidi rizzlers, which is frankly so 2024. Youth slang, driven at a lightning pace by constantly evolving social media trends, is constantly changing. Our 2024 list is downright antiquarian at this point.
We've informally sampled the youths and we've applied our own internet proficiency to cook up a new list of slang terms you've heard, to help crack the code of what your kid is actually saying. Unfortunately, many Gen Alpha slang words have profane or demeaning meanings,
so they won't be included on this list. The Merriam-Webster slang dictionary might be able to help you find the meanings of some of those ones.
A word to the wise reader, however: using these words correctly probably won't make you cool to your kids, but it may get them to stop using them.
Enter at your sanity's peril:
Gen Alpha brainrot terms explained
6-7 - Likely originating from Skrilla’s rap song “Doot Doot (6 7),” this doesn't really mean anything and is a nonsensical expression used for comedic effect. Even the Pope has gotten in on the trend.
Aura/ aura farming - Aura is having a "cool factor" or being stylish. Aura farming is deliberately doing things to appear cool or stylish. "Emma is trying to aura farm but I know her clothes came from Temu."
Bait/Ragebait - Deliberately provoking someone or online communities with offensive or controversial content, often as a way of gaining attention or money. "Is he really trying to ragebait me in the group chat right now? Bait used to be believable."
Cap/No cap: To "cap" means to "lie, to boast, or to front," according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (although this meaning hasn't officially made it yet). "No cap" means you are being truthful or honest. "Joe said he didn't take my food, but I think that's cap."
Chad - A stereotypical "alpha male," often pictured as a "frat bro." The development and use of the word is connected with online community known as incels, involuntarily celibate men associated with misogynistic beliefs, according to Merriam-Webster. "Gary is a chad. He's always on dates or at the gym."
Chat - A reference to a disembodied or presumed livestream chat while addressing a group of people. "Chat, are we cooked?"
Chopped - Ugly or unattractive. "I am feeling super chopped today. My hair is a mess and clothing is horrible."
Chud - A term for loser or fool, originally standing for Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dweller from the 1984 sci-fi horror movie C.H.U.D. In online spaces, it is often used as an insult for someone on the extreme far-right of the political spectrum, according to Meriam-Webster. "He's acting like such a chud right now."
Cooked - In a state of failure, or doomed. "I didn't study for my test today. Am I cooked?"
Crash out - To become suddenly, uncontrollably angry or distressed. A crash out can also be a noun. "I am going to crash out so hard on Chad after he hit on my girlfriend."
Drip - Drip means cool, stylish or fashionable clothing. If someone is "dripped out," it means they are dressed stylishly. "I just went to the mall and bought some new drip."
Fr/Frfr - For real. Often strung together for emphasis. "I'm actually going to crash out frfr."
Ick/The Ick - Ick, usually the ick, refers to a sudden feeling of disgust or repulsion that causes a permanent reversal in feeling toward a romantic partner. "The way he chews his gum is giving me the ick right now."
Larping - Originally referring to "Live Action Role Play," someone who is larping is fake, performative or a pretending to be something they're not, often referring to participation in online subcultures. "Will you stop larping like you're a goth?"
Lock in - To focus or concentrate. "I'm so locked in for this test rn."
Looksmaxxing - Efforts, often extreme, taken by young people (most commonly men) to become more attractive. The concept was largely popularized by the streamer and internet personality Clavicular. "Bro is taking looksmaxxing way too seriously, he spends like $300 a month on products."
Mog - To "mog" someone is to be significantly more attractive than them, and thereby lower their attractiveness in comparison. "He mogged everyone else at the party with his drip."
Peak - The best, most excellent or extreme. "That movie was so peak."
Slop - Digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence. Can also refer to other low quality, high-volume things. "Many are saying this news article is slop"
Sigma: A "sigma" (based on the Greek alphabet) is a male who has overcome the hierarchy of "alpha" and "beta" males, often characterized by silent success, or someone is a social outcast by choice and "plays by their own rules."
S-tier - A reference to "tier lists," which rank things. S-tier is the highest ranking and is therefore the best. "That new album is S-tier."
Unc/Auntie - An old person, or someone who is old relative to a young person. "Whatever you say, unc."
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Chat, it's time to lock in and learn some Gen Alpha slang
