Parents Guide: Understand Gen Z/Alpha Lingo!🫶(2025 Edition)

Today we're gonna talk about something that's probably making you scratch your heads

The way we talk! 💭

Listen, I get it. Every time your kid says something like "no cap, that's lowkey fire" or responds with "💀", you're probably like "what in the world?"

But don't worry, I gotchu!

As someone who speaks both Parent and Gen Z fluently, I'm here to break it down.

Why Should You Care Though? 🤔

Real talk - we Gen Z and Alpha kids basically live in two worlds: the real one and the digital one.

Our language? It's like this perfect mix of both.

When you make an effort to understand our lingo, it shows us you care about our world. Plus, it's way easier to talk to us when you actually know what we're saying (shocking, I know 😅).

Source: giphy

The Ultimate Parent-Friendly Translation Guide

Slay 👑

Okay so when your kid comes home hyped about "slaying" their math test, they're not talking about dragon-slaying (though that would be cool). It's our way of saying they absolutely crushed it! Like, they did amazing.

Example: Last week when mom texted "You slay at making breakfast!" after I made French toast, and ngl (that means "not gonna lie"), it made my whole day!

No Cap 🧢

This is literally just our way of saying "I'm being 100% serious right now." Like, no jokes, no exaggeration.

Pro tip: If your kid is trying to convince you they actually did their homework, and they add "no cap" - they're probably telling the truth. (Or they're really good at lying, but let's stay positive here 😅)

Bet 🤝

This one's super simple. When we say "bet," we're basically saying "okay" or "sure." It's like our version of a thumbs up.

Story time: My dad finally figured this one out and now he uses it perfectly. When I ask if we can get pizza for dinner, he's like "bet" and honestly? It's kinda cool.

W and L (Win and Loss) 🏆

Life is basically a video game to us, so we use W for wins and L for losses.

Got an A? W. Dropped your phone? Major L.

Rizz ✨

Okay parents, this one's about charm and game (flirting skills). If someone has "rizz," they're smooth with their crush.

Maybe don't use this one unless you want your teen to die of embarrassment.

Source: giphy

The Emoji Dictionary You Never Knew You Needed

Listen, we don't just use emojis as cute little pictures. They're literally part of our sentences:

• 💀 = I'm dead (from laughing)
• 🔥 = That's awesome/cool
• 😩 = Either really good or really bad, depends on context lol
• 💅 = Unbothered, confident energy
• 🫶 = Pure love and wholesomeness

How to Use This Power Wisely

Real quick - before you go wild with your new knowledge:

1. Please don't try to use everything at once. It's giving "how do you do, fellow kids" energy
2. Start small - maybe throw in a "slay" when we do something good
3. If you're not sure, just ask us! We actually love teaching you stuff (even if we act annoyed)
4. Keep it casual and natural. Using our slang is like using spices - a little goes a long way

The Real Talk

Here's the thing, parents - we know you're trying. And even though we might roll our eyes sometimes (okay, a lot of times), we actually think it's pretty cool when you make an effort to understand our world.

It makes it easier to talk to you about the stuff that matters.

Just remember: You don't have to become a TikTok star or use "period ahh period uhh" in every sentence. Just showing interest in our culture? That's a massive W.

Stay real, stay curious, and maybe we'll teach you how to do a TikTok dance next time (jk... unless? 👀).

Catch you on the flip, Amos

P.S. If you're reading this and thinking "this is lowkey helpful," feel free to drop a "🔥" in the comments.

If you're still confused, that's cool too - drop your questions below and we can figure it out together!

Image: Seedly Opinion Writer Amos

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