From Boomers to Gen Beta: 30+ Slang Terms Every Generation Uses (and What They Actually Mean)

Slang is basically the secret code each generation uses to confuse the others - and sometimes themselves. From Boomers rocking phrases that sound like ancient spells, to Gen-Z inventing words faster than you can say “What’s the tea?”, every era has its own flavor of funky talk. Whether you want to avoid sounding like a total dad or finally understand what your niece means when she says, “no cap,” we’ve got you covered. Buckle up as we break down some slang terms from Boomer to Gen Alpha - and trust me, you’ll want to take notes before you accidentally call your boss a ‘lit’ legend ✨

1. Boomer Slang (1946-1964)

Boomers grew up with jukeboxes, classic rock, and the original era of cool. Their slang? Groovy, man.

• Boss – Excellent or great

• Chrome dome – A bald head

• Far out – Cool or impressive

• Threads – Clothes

• Hanging loose – Relaxing, taking it easy

• Sock it to me – “Go for it!” or encouragement

• Split – To leave

• Wet rag – A killjoy or boring person

2. Gen X Slang (1965-1980)

Gen X gave us MTV, grunge, and peak sarcasm. Their slang walks the line between ironic and chill.

• Chill Pill – “Calm down!”

• Cool Beans – Awesome

• Bogus – Uncool, unfair

• Gnarly – Intense or amazing

• Dude – Universal term for a person

• Yuppie – A young, urban professional

• Gag Me with a Spoon – That’s gross/disgusting

• That Rocks! – That’s awesome

3. Millennial Slang (1981-1996)

Millennials came of age during the rise of the internet, social media, and Netflix—and it shows in their lingo.

• Binge-watch – Watch multiple episodes in one go

• Totes – Totally

• Ghosting – Suddenly cutting off contact

• Adulting – Doing grown-up responsibilities

• FOMO – Fear of Missing Out

• JOMO – Joy of Missing Out (yes, it's a thing)

4. Gen-Z Slang (1997-2012)

Gen Z grew up online, and it reflects in their fast-evolving slang. Half their vocabulary is TikTok-born. Here's your survival guide:

• Ate – Did something exceptionally well

• Cap / No Cap – Lie / No lie (seriously)

• Delulu – Delusional (in a fun way)

• Flex – Showing off

• Glow up – Impressive transformation

• Green Flag / Red Flag – Good or bad signs in people

• Ick – Sudden turn-off or repulsion

• Living rent-free – Something stuck in your head

• Lowkey / Highkey – Slightly / very openly

• Main character energy – Acting like you're the star of life

• Rizz – Charisma (especially in dating) 

• Slay – Performed excellently

• Sus – Suspicious

• Tea – Gossip

5. Gen Alpha Slang (2013-2025)

They're still young, but they’ve already created their own wild digital language—often born from memes, YouTube, and TikTok.

• Skibidi – Absurd catchphrase from viral content; can mean anything

• Gyatt – Expression of admiration or surprise (especially for appearance)

• Sigma – Confident, dominant, independent person (often used unironically)

• Brain Rot – Consuming too much useless or weird online content

• 67 - "So-so", often said with a hand gesture where the palms are held up and move up and down alternately. Just a quick note: it's pronounced "6-7" (six-seven), not "67" (sixty-seven).

I mean, no one wants to end up like this, right?

💡Language is constantly evolving—and nothing showcases that better than slang. What was once “boss” is now “slay,” and who knows what Gen Beta will cook up next?

Whether you’re trying to stay relevant, impress your kids, or not sound like a total fossil, knowing these generational slang terms is a major flex. No cap.

Written by Sahana Smruthi K. S., a 7th grader at Budding Minds International School, Chennai

This article was written for and published in The BMIS Buzz, a student-run publication curated by the students of Budding Minds International School, Chennai, as part of the Young Writers Program.