Every generation has its own weird lingo and quirks, but Gen Z might take the crown for the most bizarre, internet-fueled slang of all time. Thanks to TikTok, Twitter, and whatever else they’re glued to, it’s nearly impossible to scroll through social media without tripping over words like “cap,” “ate,” and “cooked.” Their vocabulary is a chaotic mix of absurdity and brilliance. If you’ve ever found yourself wincing at some of these words or wondering why everything is suddenly “mid,” you’re not alone. We can barely catch up but here’s a list of some of the worst offenders we could get our hands on, some of these words have overstayed their welcome, and the ones that might make you want to “touch grass” immediately. 

1. Mid

Used to describe something or a person’s look (especially women) as average or unremarkable. The irony? Overuse has made the word itself incredibly mid. The second someone calls something or someone mid, you can bet they’re just regurgitating TikTok takes instead of forming an actual opinion.

2. Cooked

A synonym for “doomed” or “messed up.” As in, “This economy is cooked,” or “My GPA is cooked.” It makes everything sound vaguely apocalyptic, which, considering the state of the world, might actually be fair.

3. Pick-Me

An insult for someone who tries way too hard to be different, usually to impress the opposite sex. Example: “She says she’s ‘not like other girls’—such a pick-me.” But let’s be real, calling someone a pick-me is often just another way to prove you’re cooler than them. The irony is exhausting.

4. Delulu

Short for “delusional.” A cutesy way to describe wishful thinking, whether it’s believing your situationship will commit or that your 12-step skincare routine is making a difference. News flash: it probably isn’t.

5. Sigma

A so-called “lone wolf” who doesn’t need validation. Think of it as the edgier cousin of “alpha male.” Mostly used by dudes who have watched too many Alpha male videos and think avoiding eye contact is a personality trait.

6. Aura

Refers to someone’s overall vibe or energy. You can “enhance your aura” and even earn “aura points,” but let’s be honest—this just sounds like astrology for people who refuse to learn their birth chart.

7. Brainrot

Describes the feeling of having consumed so much internet garbage that your brain turns to mush. Ironically, the people who use this term the most are the ones most afflicted by it.

8. Roman Empire

A concept, event, or idea that someone thinks about constantly. It started when women realized their boyfriends were weirdly obsessed with the actual Roman Empire. Now, anything can be your “Roman Empire”—whether it’s Y2K fashion or that one embarrassing thing you did in third grade.

9. Yap

Used to tell someone they talk too much. Example: “Bro, shut your yap.” If a word could carry the energy of an eye-roll, it would be this one.

10. Cap

To “cap” is to lie, and “no cap” means you’re telling the truth. Simple, effective, but overused to the point of exhaustion. We get it, you’re an honest person. No need to announce it like a human lie detector.

11. Fit

Short for “outfit.” Used mainly to compliment someone’s clothing. “That fit is fire” sounds cool—until you realize we’ve all just collectively decided to butcher the English language for efficiency’s sake.

12. Jit

A slang term for a younger or inexperienced person, usually said with mild disdain. Example: “Get out of here, jit.” If someone calls you this, they’re probably a Floridian or just really condescending.

13. iPad Kid

An insult aimed at Gen Alpha children who are glued to screens 24/7. Used by older Gen Zers who apparently forgot that they, too, were raised by the internet.

14. Glaze

To excessively hype someone or something to the point of cringe. Example: “Bro, stop glazing your favorite rapper.” This one’s fresh but already feels like it has an expiration date.

15. Simp

Describes someone who is overly devoted or affectionate toward a love interest who doesn’t reciprocate. Originally meant to shame guys for being too nice, but now it’s used for literally anything—buying flowers? Simp. Holding a door open? Simp. Having basic human decency? You guessed it, simp.

16. Touch Grass

A way to tell someone they need to step away from their screen and interact with the real world. The irony? The people who say this the most probably haven’t touched grass in months.

17. Slay

To do something exceptionally well. Originally a queer term reclaimed from drag culture, now used for everything from flawless outfits to successfully parallel parking.

18. Ate

A variation of “slay,” used to indicate that someone did something incredibly well. Example: “She ate that performance.” Used so much it’s starting to feel like verbal filler—like when your mom said “cool beans” in 2010.

19. Glaze

Overhyping someone or something to the point of cringe. If you’re constantly praising your favorite influencer like they walk on water, you’re glazing.

20. Highkey / Lowkey

Opposites that somehow both mean “pay attention to this.” “Highkey” is for when you want to shout something from the rooftops (I highkey love this show), while “lowkey” is for pretending you’re being subtle (I lowkey think pineapple belongs on pizza). No one using “lowkey” is actually being discreet, though—it’s just a way to say something without fully committing.

21. Dank

In the 1980s, dank emerged as slang for something “excellent.” But it somehow evolved into internet slang for absurdly funny memes. If someone says that’s dank, it could mean anything from this steak is amazing to this cursed SpongeBob meme changed my life. Context is everything.