Gen Alpha’s Slang Is Leaving Parents Speechless—And Googling for Answers

If you don’t know what “rizz,” “skibidi,” or “gigachad” mean, you’re not alone—many parents are struggling to keep up with Gen Alpha’s ever-changing slang.

Middle school teacher Philip Lindsay says his students cycle through dozens of slang terms weekly. Some popular ones include:

• “Sigma” – Independent or confident.

• “Gyat” – An expression of surprise at someone attractive.

• “Skibidi” – A viral term that can mean good or bad.

• “Gigachad” – A hyper-masculine, idealized alpha male.

Many of these terms stem from gaming, internet culture, and social media.

Boston mom Cecilia Hermawan, 41, had to Google “mewing” after hearing her child mention it, only to learn it refers to a jawline-enhancing technique.

Matt Murray, a 51-year-old dad from San Francisco, uses Reddit to decipher his son’s slang. While he’s mastered words like “sus” (suspicious), others, like “skibidi,” remain a mystery.

“It’s like a foreign language,” he admitted. “I can understand it better than I can speak it.”

Even when parents do learn a phrase, it often becomes outdated just as quickly.

Startup founder Carleen Haylett tried using “bruh” around her 13-year-old son—only to be told that was “so September 2024.” Now, he’s onto an entirely new set of slang.

At this point, many parents are choosing to tune it out altogether. Haylett puts in noise-canceling AirPods when her son games with friends, blocking out the lingo entirely.

For some, though, the evolving slang is a blunt reminder of aging.

Retired attorney Sharon Blanchet, 78, recently asked her 17-year-old granddaughter what “homie hopping” meant—only to learn it describes dating an ex’s friend.

“Boy, do I feel old,” she said.

One thing’s for sure: By the time parents figure out today’s slang, Gen Alpha will have already moved on.

Source: New York Post