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Ever feel like every time you finally get a hang of one Gen Z slang, 10 new ones pop out of nowhere? Like, you just figured what ‘delulu’ means and now everyone’s talking about ‘rizz’ and calling things ‘mid’. NGL, it’s hard to keep up, but isn’t that the fun part? After all, these slangs are a whole new way of expressing ourselves.

Whether it’s how we hype our friends up, or drag someone, or just describe how tired we are of adulting, there’s a word for literally e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g! TBH, saying “I got the ick!” describes so much already or using “main character energy” just feels more validating than anything else. However, it is sometimes too much of a task to keep up with the Gen Z dictionary, isn’t it?

Well, we’ve curated more than 75 Gen Z slangs with their meanings. So, all set to dive into the world of slangs?

75+ Gen Z Slangs That’ll Make You Fluent In The Language Of The Internet Romantic Gen Z slangs for when you’re flirting, crushing, or getting the ick

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1. Rizz

If someone has ‘rizz’, they know how to flirtand get people interested without trying too hard. Like, Bunny from Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani had a lot of ‘rizz’!

2. Situationship

That confusing in-between phase where you're more than friends but not officially dating. No labels—just vibes, mixed signals, and a lot of existential dread!

3. Delulu

Short for delusional. When you’re deep in your own fantasy about someone who barely knows you exist. We've all been there, haven’t we?

4. Main Character Energy

It means that you are the star of the story—super special, important, and an absolute diva.

5. Soft Launch

A low-key way of showing you're seeing someone without revealing who. A hand, a plate, or a blurry background hint.

6. Hard Launch

The full reveal of your relationship. Faces shown, tags added, and captions that say “We’re official now.”

7. Caught Feelings

When a casual thing starts turning into real emotions and now you’re thinking about them way too often. That right there is ‘catching feelings’!

8. Green Flag

Signs someone is emotionally mature, respectful, and genuinely good for you. They’re giving long-term potential. You know, like Irrfan Khan’s character, Rana from Piku— a total green flag!

9. Red Flag

Signs that scream “Don’t ignore this”. Could be emotional unavailability, bad communication, or just shady behaviour. Like Ranbir Kapoor’s character from Animal!

10. Ick

That one random thing that makes someone instantly unattractive to you. Once it hits, there’s no going back.

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11. Lowkey Crushing

Secretly liking someone but keeping it cool. No dramatic confessions, just low-key interest and soft stalking.

12. Thirst Trap

A photo or video posted with the clear goal of grabbing someone’s attention. Usually hot, usually very intentional.

13. Love Bombing

When someone comes on way too strong at the start—too many compliments, too soon. Can be overwhelming or manipulative—you never know!

14. Ghosting

When someone you're talking to disappears without explanation. No replies, no closure. Just gone.

15. Benching

Keeping someone around just in case, but never fully committing. You're not the main option—just waiting on the sidelines.

16. Slow Burn

When the romantic vibes build over time—starts off chill, then suddenly there are feelings you didn’t see coming. Something similar to Jane Austen’s novels.

17. Ship

Short for relationships. When you root for two people to be together—could be real, fictional, or just your imagination.

18. Crust

The opposite of a crush. Someone you used to like but now find completely cringe. What were we thinking?

19. OTP

Stands for “One True Pairing.” The couple you’re fully obsessed with. You believe they’re meant to be.

20. Cuffed

When someone is officially taken and in a relationship. They’re off the market and committed.

Friendship slangs Gen Z uses to hype their besties & call out fake ones

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21. Bestie

We all know this one! Bestie is your go-to person, your hype squad, your emotional support human—all in one.

22. Ride or Die

That one friend who’ll stick by you no matter what. Drama, chaos, heartbreak—they're always down.

23. No Cap

It’s used to tell your friend you're being 100% honest. Like “I swear,” but make it Gen Z.

24. It’s Giving

A way to describe someone’s vibe. If your friend’s outfit is a 10/10, it’s giving slay, queen, energy, everything.

25. Slay

When your friend looks amazing, says something iconic, or just kills it in life. Slay is the ultimate compliment.

26. Hot Girl Walk

That bestiewalk where you both put on shades, spill tea, and pretend the world is your runway. Perfect, indeed.

27. FR (For Real)

Used when you’re agreeing hard with your friend. Like when they say something relatable and you're like “FR, dude.”

28. Girl Dinner

That chaotic dinner plate with random snacks you and your bestie throw together and still feel gourmet about.

29. Sksksk

That’s the sound of chaotic laughter. Usually typed out when you and your friend are screaming via text about something dumb.

30. She’s so real for that!

When your friend does or says something hilariously unhinged but super relatable. We love a real one.

31. Big Friend Energy

The vibe of someone who’s a true friend—supportive, fun, always down to help or hypeyou up.

32. Stan

When you’re obsessed with your friend and support everything they do. Like a fan, but in a BFF way.

33. Main

Your main friend, your day one, the one you never cancel on unless you're literally dying.

34. Squad

The core friend group. The ones you go out with, group chat with, and have a hundred inside jokes with.

35. Caught in 4K

When you expose your friend doing something embarrassing or dramatic, and now there’s proof.

36. Sending Me

When something your friend says or does is so funny that you’re metaphorically flying. No explanation needed, you’re just gone.

37. Periodt

Used to emphasise that your friend just said something absolutely true, bold, or iconic. Period, but with flair.

38. We Ate

When you and your friend just slay something together—like an outfit combo, a project, or even gossip. Y’all ate.

39. Loudest in the group chat

That friend who sends the funniest, most chaotic messages and memes. Basically, the group chat’s entertainment head.

40. Certified bestie moment

A moment that’s peak friendship—emotional support, unspoken understanding, or just being chaotic in sync.

Internet slangs you’ll only understand if you’re chronically online

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41. Ratio

It’s when a post has more criticism or negative comments as compared to likes.

42. NPC

Short for Non-Playable Character. Used to describe people who act weirdly robotic, basic, or predictable.

43. POV

Stands for “Point of View.” Used in memes and reels to put you in a specific scenario.

44. Slaps

When something—a meme, song, or a video is so good, you just gotta say it slaps.

45. Touch Grass

A savage way to tell someone to log off and go outside because they’re way too deep in the internet void.

46. Chronically Online

Someone who's so deep into memes, discourse, and Instagram rabbit holes that they forget how normal humans interact.

47. Mid

Used to call something overrated or just…meh. Could be a show, a snack, or even someone's entire personality.

48. Based

When someone says something bold, unfiltered, or rooted in truth.

49. Moots

Short for mutuals. Online friends who follow each other back and have a shared internet language. It’s a deeply sacred bond!

50. Gatekeeping

When someone acts like they own a niche trend and refuses to let others in. Chill, it’s not that deep.

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51. Doomscrolling

The dark art of scrolling endlessly through depressing or chaotic content, knowing it’s bad for your brain but doing it anyway.

52. Canon Event

A moment in your life that had to happen for your personal plotline to make sense. Painful? Yes. Necessary? Also yes.

53. Screaming, crying, throwing up

Dramatic internet reaction to literally anything mildly emotional or chaotic. Not literal. But it feels literal.

54. Unalive

A codeword used to talk about death or dying on platforms where the actual term might get flagged. Interneteuphemism culture is wild.

55. Tea

Spill it. Share it. Sip it. Tea is gossip, drama, or inside info that the group chat needs to hear.

56. Malewife / Girlboss

Gender-flipping stereotypes in an ironic, meme-y way. Malewife cooks and cleans. Girlboss conquers capitalism (or tries to).

57. Internet core memory

A post, meme, or viral moment so iconic that it’s seared into your brain forever.

58. Being so real for that

When someone posts something unhinged but way too relatable. They said the quiet part out loud.

59. This lives in my head rent free

That one meme, sound, or comment that plays in your brain 24/7 for no reason. Permanent resident, no eviction notice.

Confidence & comeback slangs Gen Z uses to slay, serve & stay unbothered

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60. Bet

It’s used to agree, confirm. Can mean “okay,” “sure,” or “say less.” Super versatile.

61. Slay

It means you’re killing it. You dominated. Look, mood, energy — all 10/10.

62. Serving / Serve

You’re giving a whole vibe — outfit, attitude, everything.

63. Mother

Top-tier legend status. You didn’t just show up — you invented the look.

64. It Girl / It Boy / It Them

The effortlessly cool one. Always trending without trying.

65. Glow Up

You levelled up. New look, new vibe, new confidence.

66. Baddie

Hot, unbothered, and fully self-aware. Walks in like the room owes them rent.

67. Snatched

Flawless. Tight. Sculpted. Whether it’s the waist or the outfit — it’s snatched.

68. Unclockable

Too good to critique. Even the haters are quiet.

69. Clean

Fresh, sharp, and smooth. Especially when you keep it simple and still eat.

70. No Notes

Perfect. Like, actually perfect. Can’t even nitpick.

71. In My ___ Era

Owning your current phase. Healing era, revenge era, soft era — whatever, it’s yours.

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72. Ok and?

Like, that was supposed to offend me? Try harder.

73. Cry about it

It legit means to stay offended. Like “you can cry about it”.

74. Left no crumbs

Not only did you eat, you wiped the plate clean. Nothing left for anyone else. Basically, you slayed!

75. Built different

You’re just not like the rest. Stronger, smarter, better — however you wanna spin it.

76. Pressed

It means to offend. Just this.

The slangs might be too many to keep in mind, but they’re kinda fun, aren’t they?

Social and lead image credits: Freepik

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