10 English Gen z slang words are the focus of today’s post and if you want to hear Annie and Clare talk about Gen Z slang, listen to the English Impulse podcast Bro, that’s cringe here. Slang is colloquial language that is usually heard on the street and not in a baordroom, so keep this in mind. Also know that this is a very short list and that there is much more slang out there to be learned.
GEN Z SLANG
1. Basic
- Adjective
- Used to describe someone who is conventional or has simple tastes.
- I really like him, but sometimes I think he’s too basic and I like trying new things.
- I know I’m really basic, but I love a cheese pizza and order it every time.
- There’s nothing wrong with being basic. Sometimes I think these are the happiest people. They know what they want and almost always can get it.
2. Canceled
- Spelled with one ‘L’ in American English
- Spelled with two ‘L’s’ in British English
- Adjective
- I don’t think a musician should be canceled for supporting a politician or not.
- Some people say that Cancel Culture is restricting our freedom of speech.
- Verb
- Timothee Chalamet made a comment about the theater and immediately got canceled by a lot of fans.
- If we cancel every brand that has done something ethically wrong, we won’t have any brands left!
3. Delulu
- Adjective
- Short for delusional (to believe things that are not true)
- Used to say someone is acting in an irrational or unrealistic way, especially about romantic and online relationships
- Just because you follow George Clooney online does not make you friends. What are you delulu?
- Maybe I’m delulu but I think that guy over there has been checking me out all night.
- You are delulu, he’s proabbly looking at the clock, not you.
4. Ghosted
- Verb
- Used to describe a situation where someone stops talking to you or texting you without any explanation
- Ghosting has become a huge problem for employers who want to contact potential job candidates as they do not call them back or answer their messages.
- Experts say that ghosting is a sign of people’s unwillingness to face conflict.
- I don’t know what’s going on with Carrie. She’s been ghosting me for a month now. I hope she’s ok.
5. GOAT
- Noun
- An accronym for Greatest Of All Time
- Used to describe someone who is the best in their field
- The movie Birdman was the GOAT. Nothing compares to it.
- You bought me coffee! You’re the GOAT!
- Most people would say that the Beatles were the GOAT, but I’m not sure I would agree with that.
6. Ick
- Noun
- Used to describe something that you find gross or gives you generally negative feelings.
- I hate being in a movie theatre and hearing people eating their popcorn. It gives me the ick.
- He was so nice, friendly and good-looking, but the way he talked just gave me the ick and I couldn’t handle it.
- I went to the authentic Chinese restaurant and ordered the duck feet. Just the sight out it gave me the ick and I couldn’t eat them.
7. Rizz
- Short for Charisma
- Noun
- Used to describe someone who is very charismatic or has the ability to charm people, usually in a romantic way.
- He just has a certain rizz about him that makes everyone fall in love with him.
- Obama had rizz. Most people loved hearing him speak.
- I wish I had some rizz, but I try to talk to her and just can’t speak.
8. Sus
- Short for suspicious
- Adjective
- Used to talk about a person or situation that seems dishonest or inappropriate
- He says he’s from here, but he’s sus because he doesn’t seem to know anyone.
- It’s sus that the company isn’t saying anything to the employees about all the bad press they are getting.
- My daughter said she was at the park but that’s totally sus since I know for a fact her friends were in the center.
- Hear sus being used in the podcast by clicking here.
9. Woke
- Adjective
- Used to describe people who are aware and politically active about racial and social justice issues
- Black Lives Matter really pushed the idea of people being woke by educating them about historical moments that have been overlooked or taken out of history lessons.
- Even though there has been some backlash over the last years, we are still a far more woke society than we were 10 years ago.
- Used in a mocking or diminishing way to describe someone who they consider to be too sensitive to social justice issues.
- People are so woke today you can’t even make a joke anymore.
- We don’t need some woke agenda from our politicians.
- If he is so woke, then why is he working here? If he doesn’t like the policies, he can leave.
10. Slaycation
- Noun
- Used to talk about a vacation that is not for resting because you spend all your time doing things to take pictures for social media.
- She seems to be traveling all the time, but I can’t imagine spending so much money on a slaycation and not getting to know the place more.
- You think it’s just a slaycation, but you don’t really know. Maybe she also spent time in the museums and at the local markets.
- I’d rather stay home and relax than go on a slaycation.
ENGLISH VOCABULARY
Now that you have seen 10 English Gen z slang words, take a look at our other Vocab Rehab posts:
Vocab Rehab: Game Changer
Vocab Rehab: Overtime
