Guides

A guide for parents & teachers

Gen Alpha slang, decoded.

If your child has called something skibidi, asked if you have any rizz, or accused a sibling of the fanum tax — you're not losing your mind. Here's what the most common Gen Alpha and "brain-rot" terms mean, with examples, plus a free slang translator you can paste anything into.

Why does this slang change so fast?

Gen Alpha grew up on short-form video. A phrase can go from one streamer's bit to a class-wide catchphrase in under a week, then burn out just as quickly. Adults usually meet the words months after they peaked — which is why some of these already feel "cringe" to the kids using them.

None of this means kids are talking nonsense. Most Gen Alpha slang is recycled internet shorthand or AAVE that traveled through TikTok. Once you know the source, the words stop sounding random.

The mini glossary

The dozen terms you're most likely to hear at the dinner table.

• Skibidi

  YouTube, 2023–

  A nonsense intensifier — usually means 'cool', 'weird', or 'bad' depending on tone.

  Comes from the YouTube series 'Skibidi Toilet'. Kids use it as filler or as a vague adjective. Context decides whether it's positive ('that's skibidi') or negative ('skibidi Ohio behavior').

  Example: “That goal was skibidi.” — means it was wild / impressive.

• Rizz

  Twitch, 2021–

  Charisma, especially romantic charm.

  Short for 'charisma'. Popularised by streamer Kai Cenat. Someone with 'rizz' is smooth or flirty; 'no rizz' is the opposite. Can be a verb: 'rizz her up' = chat her up.

  Example: “He's got W rizz” = he's charming.

• Sigma

  A lone-wolf, self-assured guy. Often ironic.

  From the 'sigma male' meme — a man who supposedly doesn't follow the social hierarchy. With kids it's usually a joke, not a worldview. 'Sigma' as a compliment means 'cool, independent'.

  Example: “That's so sigma of you.” = mildly impressed / poking fun.

• Gyatt

  Exclamation about an attractive body, usually a curvy one.

  Originally Twitch slang, a stylised 'goddamn'. Often crass; worth flagging if you hear it in school contexts.

  Example: “Gyatt!” shouted at a TV. Treat as you would any catcall.

• Fanum tax

  Stealing a friend's food, jokingly.

  From streamer Fanum, who 'taxes' (steals bites of) other streamers' meals on camera. Kids use it for any friendly food-grab.

  Example: “He fanum-taxed my fries.”

• Ohio

  Cursed, weird, broken — has nothing to do with the state.

  Internet shorthand for 'low-quality, strange, unsettling'. Born from absurd Ohio memes. Anything chaotic can be 'so Ohio'.

  Example: “This weather is Ohio.” = weirdly bad.

• Mid

  Mediocre. A put-down.

  If a movie, meal, or outfit is 'mid', it's distinctly average. Stronger than 'okay', softer than 'bad'.

  Example: “That song is mid.”

• Bussin'

  Excellent, usually about food.

  AAVE-origin, mainstreamed via TikTok. Reserved mainly for delicious food. 'Bussin' bussin'' = extra-good.

  Example: “These tacos are bussin'.”

• Cap / No cap

  Lie / not lying.

  'Cap' = a lie or exaggeration. 'No cap' = 'I'm being serious'. Often paired with the 🧢 emoji.

  Example: “I ran a 6-minute mile, no cap.”

• Slay

  Did something amazingly well.

  A compliment, often performative. Can be aimed at an outfit, a test result, or a TikTok. 'Slayed' / 'slaying' work the same way.

  Example: “You slayed that presentation.”

• Delulu

  Delusional — usually in a self-aware, hopeful way.

  Short for 'delusional', borrowed from K-pop fandoms. Saying you're 'delulu' admits you're being unrealistic about a crush, an outcome, or a dream.

  Example: “I'm delulu, but I think she texts me back today.”

• NPC

  Someone acting without independent thought.

  From video-game 'non-player characters'. A jab: 'NPC behavior' = scripted, predictable, conformist. Use carefully — it can be a real insult at school.

  Example: “He just repeats whatever TikTok says — total NPC.”

How to translate slang you don't know

1. Open the Slangsmith translator and paste the phrase your kid said.
2. Pick Plain English (or any older generation) as the target — you'll get a readable translation plus a short context explainer for unfamiliar references.
3. Flip it the other way to write back to them in fluent Gen Alpha if you're feeling brave.

When to be curious vs. concerned

• Curious: made-up words, referencing streamers, weird grammar. Usually harmless.
• Worth a chat: body-focused terms (gyatt), insults framed as jokes (NPC, mid), or anything aimed at a specific classmate.
• Look it up first: if a phrase feels off but you don't know it, translate it before you react — context changes everything.