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Gen Z slang words and phrases
Last updated on Monday, 26/10/2026
Ever read a message and had no idea what it meant? Gen Z has its own vocabulary, shaped by social media, memes and internet culture, and it’s spreading fast across languages and borders. Here’s a quick guide to the slang terms you’re most likely to come across, and what they actually mean.
In 2025, 98% of young people in the EU used the internet daily, compared with 90% of all individuals, according to Eurostat. Young people have always had their own way of speaking, often using slang that older generations find incomprehensible. Because Gen Z are digital natives who spend hours online every day, are often fluent in English, and consume content from around the world, their vocabulary evolves rapidly, and what was lit last week is now totally cheugy.
Young people are more likely to use foreign words as they speak a second language. According to the New Eurobarometer from the European Commission, 79% of those aged 15 to 24 years old can have a normal conversation in another language. When it comes to which language, English comes first. A total of 47% of Europeans speak English as a second language.
If we take a closer look at Europe, English expressions are used in the youth's daily life. A research from the Turin University shows Italian, French and Spanish youth language includes English borrowings. They can be mostly found in areas like music, social life and social media. The origin of these words is either American or British English, but one can influence more than the other in certain contexts. For example, American English has a greater impact on skateboarding, as research from the University of Vienna points out.
Let’s check the slang words that marked these years and their meanings!
Who hasn’t heard “6-7”, or even seen the hand movement that goes with it? It can be used in many situations and doesn’t have a specific meaning. Sometimes, people use it while counting, as a joke, or even randomly, simply because it became very trendy.
If someone “ate”, it means they “slayed”. They did something amazingly well and in an impressive way. It can also be used for clothes: you can say “she ate” when someone’s outfit looks amazing. See “ate and left no crumbs” for even higher praise.
This term is used when someone behaves like an old man who is trying to be funny (but whose jokes are not actually that funny). It describes someone who seems old-fashioned or out of touch with current trends.
It can be used as a noun, verb, or adjective. In all cases, it refers to talking a lot, usually about unimportant things. You can even have a “yap session”, meaning a long chat with a friend.
Something that is “gas” is very cool or exciting. It can also be used to agree with a plan. For example, if someone asks, “Let’s go to the cinema?”, you could answer “Gas!” to show you’re interested. You can also use it when someone tells you something exciting.
If something is neither a red flag nor a green flag, it’s a beige flag. It describes something neutral that is not necessarily good or bad, but simply a characteristic or habit.
Think about the shoes you wore when you were 15. Would you wear them now? If not, they might be considered “cheugy”. It describes something that is outdated, no longer fashionable, or even a little embarrassing. Trying too hard to bring it back can make it feel even more cringe.
It means “Greatest Of All Time”, and no, it’s not related to the animal! It was first used for famous people in different fields, but today it can also describe people around you who are considered the best at something.
This phrase has been used for years in reference to a full-scale, public release of a business, project or product. Its use has now been expanded to the dating world and is used when a relationship becomes public, meaning everyone knows about it and it is no longer casual.
Are you super excited or amazed by something that happened? Then “pog” is the word you’re searching for. You can use it as an adjective or interjection; it comes from the famous Twitch emoticon, PogChamp, which shows the streamer’s shocked face.
“Insta”, we all know what it is, but “finsta”? It refers to a private account where you share pictures only with your closest friends. Showing what is really going on with your life, not like the selected pictures published in the main one.
Whenever you want to say “end of discussion”, you can use “periodt”. It shows that you strongly believe in your statement and there is nothing more to add.
When you want to agree totally or confirm that something is right, you can use this expression since it replaces 100%. This is how it works: “Do you want to go on a trip?” and your answer is “Hundo P”, because who wouldn’t like to join?
This word originally describes the sound of a car suddenly speeding away, but nowadays it can also be used in phrases. It can work as a verb to describe leaving quickly or moving fast, for example: “I skrrt there.” Not even Lightning McQueen could follow you!
This letter comes from the word “Winner”. Instead of writing the whole word, Gen Z uses “W” to celebrate a win or something positive. You can also use the opposite, “L”, which stands for “Loser”.
The list could go on and on, as there are tons of slang words out there. But here we’ve collected some of the ones you should know if you want to understand Gen Z conversations. And it’s not only in English — many of these words have also made their way into other languages!
Written by Eurodesk