18 Gen Z Phrases Parents Need to Know to Stay Connected with Their Kids in 2025
People born during the mid-to-late 90s and early 2010s enjoyed digital innovation and retained certain aspects of millennial culture. But while Gen Z can enjoy the best of both worlds, it’s evolving a new culture: slang. These phrases are changing the way they talk and connect with each other. If you’ve ever felt confused by what your kids are saying, this list of popular Gen Z slang will help you understand their world a little better.
Rizz

‘Rizz’ describes someone’s ability to charm or attract others. “His rizz game is strong” means he’s very charming. It is considered a huge compliment and is used by Gen Z on social media. You can think of it as a new cool way to say you’ve what it takes to make a romantic connection.
Bussin

‘Bussin’ is used to describe something really good. “This pizza is bussin” indicates that the pizza is exceptionally tasty. Although it is typically used to describe food that tastes unexpectedly delicious, its use has evolved and can also be applied to almost anything excellent.
Cap

‘Cap’ means lie/fabrication. Saying cap after hearing or seeing something or saying someone is capping means what you hear is a lie. Interestingly, saying no cap means something is accurate and is used to support truthful statements. It may sound confusing to some.
Fire/fye

According to Gen Z, something that is unexpectedly good or exciting or invokes desire and attraction is ‘fire or fye.’ Saying a person is a fire indicates they’re attractive or are fun to be around. Saying something is fire means it is great. It’s a popular way to express enthusiasm.
Banger

Just like fire/fye, ‘banger’ is used to indicate the greatness or exceptional characteristics of something. It is typically used for songs and videos; a banger song means the music is worth listening to and deserves appreciation. This term is often used to highlight high-quality content.
Bop

The slang ‘bop’ means a song that’s so good you cannot just stop listening to it. It is often used in songs with a great beat or vibe, making you want to dance or nod your head along the tunes. Gen Z these days often use this slang in their conversations to admire the songs.
Sending me

Saying something is ‘sending you’ means it’s so absurd or funny that it basically throws you in disbelief. For example, you can tell a joke was sending you to indicate it was hilarious. You can even use it to express frustration. This phrase captures extreme reactions well.
Tea

‘Tea’ is slang for gossip or scandalous information. Asking someone for tea means prying for details or gossip. You can even use adjectives to indicate the intensity; for example, scandaling tea means gossip that’s too hot to ignore. It’s a fun way to discuss intriguing stories.
It’s the ___ for me

‘It’s the __ for me’ is a popular social media slang used to highlight a feature or a characteristic of someone or something that stands out. This slang is versatile and can be used positively to compliment someone or in a negative manner to make fun.
Understood the assignment

You can say someone ‘understood the assignment’ if their actions or reaction to something were outstanding. The slang basically means someone understood what their situation demanded of them and delivered perfect results accordingly. It’s a way to acknowledge someone’s excellent performance.
Based

Someone who is unique and focuses on himself is ‘based.’ Saying someone is based means they stay in their lane. It can also mean they don’t care what others think about them and will do what they want. This term celebrates individuality and self-confidence.
Facts

You can say ‘facts’ to agree with something true. For example, saying facts after being told about someone else’s weird behavior means you agree with whatever was told about that person. It’s a straightforward way to show agreement to something or someone.
Lit

‘Lit’ means exciting or high-energy. People often use it to describe an enjoyable event or a party. It is also used to describe someone’s looks or dress in sentences like ‘you are looking absolutely lit.’ It’s considered a great way to admire someone.
Stan

The slang ‘stan’ is used to refer to somebody who is a fan/stalker of a celebrity or a public figure. Saying you stan someone means you’re obsessed with them, but not in a creepy way; it just means you admire their personality or work. It indicates strong admiration and support.
Vibe Check

‘Vibe check’ is a quick way to learn how everyone’s feeling in the room, making sure the mood is right for everyone involved. You might hear someone call for a vibe check before a party really kicks off or even in a meeting to ensure everyone is engaged and ready.
Salty

“Salty” is a slang term for someone who is resentful, bitter, or irritated. Saying someone is salty means they are being overly sensitive or defensive, especially when they are responding to criticism or perceived insults. This term is used a lot to describe negative reactions.
Savage

“Savage” means being fiercely confident or brutally honest. It means telling it like it is, with no filter, and doing so with a bold, unapologetic flair. People use “savage” to praise someone who confidently owns a moment, especially when they drop a sharp comeback or make a fearless statement that leaves everyone stunned.
IYKYK (If You Know, You Know)

This slang is generally used for an inside joke or shared experience, and it lets everyone else know there’s more to the story without going into details. People generally don’t use this slang with everyone; they only do it with folks who will understand their jokes and get the point.
More For You

While our parents may learn a thing or two from us, we wish they would teach us some lessons. Our parents did their best, but times have changed, and so have parenting methods. Here are some things our parents probably didn’t teach that can help today.
This article was first published at Rbitaliablog.