IJBOL? Sus? Here Are Some Gen Z & Gen Alpha Terms You Probably Didn't Know

Feeling left out of the loop when your younger friends or your social media mutuals start tossing around words like "IJBOL” or “simp?” Don't worry, you're not alone. Gen Z and Gen Alpha have brought with them a whole new wave of slang that’s creative (and sometimes confusing) for anyone not plugged into the latest social media trends. And if you can’t fight them, why not join them?

While these slangs seem like made-up words, many of the terms Gen Zs and Alphas use, according to an article by Dictionary.com, are actually derived from the Black culture, particularly from African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Some are also picked up from the LGBTQIA+ and drag queen communities.

Don't worry, though, because diving into these terms isn’t as daunting as it seems. And to help you understand them more, and, well, not get FOMO (fear of missing out), we’ve gathered some Gen Z and Gen Alpha terminologies that you probably didn’t know,

Bring out your notepads, uncles and aunties, and check out our quick lexical guide on Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang.

IJBOL

Millennials have LOL-ed and LMAO-ed, but the recent generations have taken it up a notch with their “IJBOL.” While initially thought of by netizens as a Korean word, the acronym actually stands for “I Just Burst Out Laughing,” which denotes laughter and delight.

Delulu

Commonly attributed to the K-Pop community, “delulu” is a shortened form of the word “delusional.” Oftentimes, it is used to describe “obsessive” superfans or someone who has extremely unrealistic fantasies. It might have a negative connotation, but many are also using the term to poke fun at their own delusional thoughts, saying, “Delulu is the solulu (solution)!”

Example: "You're going to marry Timothée Chalamet someday? You're so delulu!"

Rizz

Named as the “Oxford Word of the Year” in 2023, the term “rizz” is one of the most widely used terms on social media, beating the words “Swifties” and “situationship.” It is a shortened form of the word “charisma,” which refers to having attractive qualities that draw people in. It became more known when “Spider-Man” actor Tom Holland used it in an interview with Buzzfeed in June last year

Embed: "That outfit has so much rizz!"

Slaps

Contrary to its literal meaning, "slaps" has a positive connotation, commonly used to describe something that is amazing or wonderful. In the early 2000s, it was associated heavily with music, often characterized by heavy bass that metaphorically "slaps” the ears of listeners. Today, it is also being used for other things, such as when describing food.

Example: "This pizza is so good, it slaps!"

Side eye

Just like it says, “side eye” literally refers to a sidelong look towards someone, often associated with a judgmental look. Similarly, on social media, it is used to express annoyance or disappointment towards something or someone. Some also use the term with an apt meme for some laughs, such as the popular “side-eyeing Chloe” meme.

The term has been around for quite some time, even being used in articles published in the 2010s, but it has become widely used on social media by Gen Zs today. If you’re on the receiving end of the “side eye,” make sure to tread lightly!

Example: "Did you see her giving you the side eye when you were voted Prom Queen?"

Sus

Gen Zs has found more ways to shorten typical words. And when “Among Us,” the online multiplayer social deduction game rose to popularity in 2018, they creatively transformed the word “suspicious” into the shortened term, “sus,” when pointing out players that they suspect are the “impostors.” Now, it is being widely used on the Internet in memes, conversations, and social media posts, among others.

Example: "Did you go to the movies without me? You're acting sus."

Skibidi

“Skibidi” is quite confusing. Unlike other words, it doesn’t have a particular meaning and can be used as a noun or an adjective. It is typically associated with the term “brain rot,” so you can expect it to be used as a start to an absurd or ridiculous conversation. Some also attach it to the slang "rizz," to imply that someone has an uncool vibe.

According to Internet meme database Know Your Meme, the term made its way into TikTok when Turkish TikToker Yasin Cengiz posted a series of videos of him dancing to Biser King’s "Dom Dom Yes Yes,” where a part of the lyrics sounds very much like “skibidi.” It became more widespread after the YouTube channel DaFuq!?Boom’s series of videos titled “Skibidi Toilet,” which features a fictional war between human-headed toilets and humanoid characters, went viral in 2023.

Example: "He's kind of weird and has that skibidi rizz."

Aura

Wonder what “losing aura points” means? You’ve probably heard of the word “aura” before and know it has a spiritual connotation to it or just pertains to something that has a certain vibe, but as usual, Gen Zs and Gen Alphas have different takes on things. Today, in the Internet world, “aura” can be used to compliment someone for their “rizz” or presence.

It can even be quantified, too: plus “aura points” means getting additional attractiveness level, while negative "aura points" tell the opposite.

Example: "You tripped in front of your crush? That's minus aura points."

Sigma

“Sigma” is commonly referred to as the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet, but Gen Alphas has a different interpretation of it. Basically, “sigma” refers to someone who is like an “alpha” male — successful and on top, but humbler. It is commonly attached to the term “rizz” to imply admiration towards someone.

Example: "He's totally a sigma. He's got that rizz."

Ratioed

There's no need to be good at math to understand this one. “Ratioed” became widely used on X (formerly Twitter) to refer to a user whose posts have more replies than likes and retweets, especially if the replies are mostly criticism. This indicates that other users on the platform disagree with the post or the user’s views.

Simp

According to Later.com, this term is believed to have originated in the African American community as a shortened form of the word “simpleton.” The “simp” today still means the same, except it is given a romantic context. It is used to describe someone who is a “fool for love,” someone who puts excessive effort to impress the person they like, or someone who just likes another person too much

Example: "She's still simping over him even though they've broken up!"

Bussin’

The term “bussin’,” which means great or amazing, originates from AAVE and has been widely used in hip-hop and rap culture. According to Merriam-Webster, the term is probably a variant of the word “busting” as in “busting a move.” It gained popularity on TikTok around the year 2020, used by Gen Zs and Gen Alphas to describe something extremely good.

Example: "You baked this cake? This is bussin'!"

Touch grass

Chronically online people can sometimes be quite out of touch with reality, so a new phrase has been made to call them out and insult them at the same time. Enter “touch grass,” which basically tells the receiving person to go outside, take a breath of fresh air, and get off the Internet. Yep, it can be quite insulting (and a wee bit sarcastic), but it helps!

Example: "You've been on the Internet for days. You need to touch some grass!"