Language is forever evolving, and the popularity of TikTok, Instagram and other social media trends means that new phrases are constantly being added to our vocabulary, especially when it comes to Gen Z.
With that being said, language experts at writing app ProWriting Aid have revealed some of the most popular Gen Z slang phrases that you need to know if you want to keep up with the latest vocabulary.
The team have also compared Google Search data to reveals how many times each of these phrases are being searched every month in the US.
With over 70,000 search results in the US, “cheugy” takes the top spot as the most unfamiliar Gen Z phrase, followed by “no cap” with over 62,000 searches. “Low key” has over 21,000 monthly searches in the US, whilst “snatched” has over 17,000.
Let’s take a look and see how many of these phrases you know.
Phrase | Meaning | Total US searches per month |
Cheugy | Unsuccessfully trying to be trendy | 70,600 |
No cap | To be serious about something | 62,600 |
Low key | Being quietly excited about something | 21,200 |
Snatched | Excellent, especially when it comes to appearance | 17,200 |
Vibing | To be enjoying the atmosphere | 10,850 |
Slaps | For something to be excellent | 5,600 |
High key | Being openly excited about something | 3,000 |
OK boomer | To dismiss the opinion of the older generation | 2,000 |
Skrrt | An expression of excitement | 910 |
Understood the assignment | Doing something successfully | 810 |
Main character | Being the centre of attention | 600 |
Hits different | Something that impacts or inspires on another level | 20 |
Cheugy
Cheugy is a term first coined back in 2013, used to describe someone who is unsuccessfully trying to be trendy, or even trying too hard. Whilst search results for the term remain high, the #cheugy can be viewed millions of times on TikTok.
No Cap
Whilst “cap” as a term first used as early as the 1900s to meaning to exaggerate or lie about something, “no cap” means to be serious, mostly influenced by hip-hop culture.
Hits Different
If you are big on social media trends, you might have heard of this one. For something to “hit different” simply means for it to impact or inspire on another level.
Main Character
Again, this one is growing in popularity. The definition for “main character” is also quite simple, it means to be the centre of something.
Snatched
RuPaul’s Drag Race can be credited for bringing this term into mainstream media. Snatched is defined as something being perfect or excellent, specifically when it comes to appearance.
Skkrt
Skkrt is a term that mimics that of a car accelerating and is used in conversation to show approval or excitement about something. Celebrity figures such as American rapper Cardi B can often be seen using the expression in interviews.
Understood the assignment
To “understand the assignment” of something means to do something successfully. For example, if a popular singer gave a flawless live performance, they might have “understood the assignment”.
OK Boomer
The phrase first came into mainstream popularity in 2019. It is used within Gen Z and millennials when dismissing the opinion of the baby boomer generation.
Slaps
This phrase can be used to show that something is excellent. This term is often used when discussing music, with a song that “slaps” being regarded as great.
Low/High Key
While low key is used to be quietly excited about something, high key is used to be openly excited about it.
Vibing
To be vibing with something means to be enjoying something. This term can also be used to describe a person; to be “vibing” with someone means you enjoy their presence.
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