Have you ever been in a situation where you don’t understand what your friends are saying, or your parents asked you to repeat a sentence? Well, this dictionary will translate today’s slang so you can speak like a Gen Z!
Story by Halisha Nandwani
1. Word: Adulting
Definition: To behave in an adult manner, to engage in activities associated with adulthood (eg. working, managing finances).
In a sentence: Dear diary, adulting as an influencer has been unexpected.
2. Word: Flexing
Definition: To show off, boast, brag or behave very proudly about something you have done or you own, usually in a way that annoys people.
In a sentence: For dinner today, I drove my Porsche and wore my Balenciaga bag and Dior heels to flex on everyone.
3. Word: Basic
Definition: To describe someone or something as mainstream and unoriginal as they only follow the crowd and prefer what is popular and trending.
In a sentence: I got one of the rarest items that the store sold so I wouldn’t be called basic.
4. Word: Vibe check
Definition: To ensure you’re in line with the current mood of the room or area.
In a sentence: Thankfully, I wasn’t called that and instead, my friends told me that I passed the vibe check.
5. Word: Sheesh
Definition: Used for bragging or to signify cringing, annoyance or excitement.
In a sentence: Proud of myself, I said to everyone, sheesh.
6. Word: Yassify
Definition: To apply several beauty filters to a picture of a person until the subject becomes almost unrecognisably better looking.
In a sentence: After dinner, I wanted to post a selfie on Instagram, so I yassified myself to add four layers of makeup and remove all my flaws.
7. Word: No cap
Definition: When a person is telling the truth no matter how unbelievable it may be.
In a sentence: Someone commented on my post telling me I looked fake, so I replied “No, that’s really me, no cap bro,” but I know it was cap.
8. Word: No chill
Definition: The act of overreacting and possibly offending people, and the inability to act in a cool, calm and composed manner.
In a sentence: Then, more hate comments started piling up, and I realised my followers have no chill.
9. Word: Tea
Definition: Gossip, a juicy scoop or other personal information that one has to share.
In a sentence: A celebrity also left a negative comment on my post, and media publications swiftly released news on this story because they could spill so much tea.
10. Word: Cancelled
Definition: A modern form of ostracism (usually of a celebrity or a well-known figure) where someone is thrown out of social or professional circles after committing a mistake. Fans usually boycott the person’s work.
In a sentence: I was exhausted from dinner, so I decided to sleep it off. When I woke up today, I lost hundreds of followers and realised I was cancelled for not being myself.
Now, read all the sentences above in order. If you understand the life of an influencer who was ostracised, then you’re ready to speak like a Gen Z! Remember to stay true to yourself no matter what you see online!