Just like fashion, slang goes in and out of style.
Think about it: When was the last time you heard anyone say "YOLO," "da bomb," or "tubular" unironically?
Social media has made it even harder to keep up with the trends, as anyone and everyone can share and adopt others' use of language.
John Baugh, a linguist at Washington University in St. Louis, told Business Insider in 2023, "Even though slang has always existed, the emergence of social media has created a situation where the potential for slang virality has increased."
While this can be an exciting opportunity for people to connect and bond over language, one major issue is appropriation. Many of the slang words attributed to Gen Z — defined by the Pew Research Center as anyone born between 1997 and 2012 — were actually created by members of marginalized communities, most notably Black and LGBTQ+ communities, who often aren't credited for their contributions.
The language is shared online in circles of people who understand its nuance, and it's later appropriated by those who don't know where it came from or fully understand how to use it. And it's easy for those who created it to see when it's being used incorrectly.
Brands or publications trying to attract attention from Gen Z, therefore, need to take care when using slang — at best, they could make a cringey mistake, and at worst, they could offend.
Gen Z values authenticity more than older generations did. Chad Kessler, who was then global brand president at American Eagle, told Business Insider in 2019, "Gen Z wants to support and participate in brands that they believe in and that reflect them."
"They are loyal to brands that they feel understand them and reflect their values," he added.
As slang continues to evolve daily in person and on the internet, all these words and phrases are subject to their respective end, where they're axed from public use and deemed "uncool."
But at least for now, here are 13 slang terms Gen Z is using in 2024 and what they mean.