Born about 1997 to 2012
Who is Gen Z?
Gen Z is usually defined as people born from about 1997 to 2012 (the Pew Research Center definition).
Gen Z grew up with smartphones and social media, and much of their slang spread through Twitter, Vine, Instagram, and later TikTok.
Where Gen Z slang comes from
- Online communities and video platforms, especially TikTok and YouTube.
- Music, including hip-hop and the language of Black American communities, which has shaped a large share of mainstream slang.
- Gaming and streaming culture.
- Texting shorthand and acronyms.
Gen Z vs Gen Alpha
Gen Alpha is usually defined as people born from about 2010 to 2024 (the range used by McCrindle, the research firm that coined the name). Definitions vary by a year or two. Many words start with Gen Z and are picked up by Gen Alpha, so plenty of terms are used by both. Read about Gen Alpha.
Gen Z slang in the index
The index lists 416 terms mainly used by Gen Z and 447 used by both Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Here are some Gen Z terms marked trending in Slang Decoder. Browse the full A–Z index for the rest.
- 😭Generation: Gen ZSafety rating: Safe
- YeetGeneration: Gen ZSafety rating: Safe
- Bombastic Side EyeGeneration: Gen ZSafety rating: Safe
- -CoreGeneration: Gen ZSafety rating: Safe
- Not ItGeneration: Gen ZSafety rating: Safe
- EraGeneration: Gen ZSafety rating: Safe
- MidGeneration: Gen ZSafety rating: Safe
- BratGeneration: Gen ZSafety rating: Safe
- Character ArcGeneration: Gen ZSafety rating: Safe
- Clocked ItGeneration: Gen ZSafety rating: Safe
- SituationshipGeneration: Gen ZSafety rating: Safe
- DeluluGeneration: Gen ZSafety rating: Safe