"There are times when it can feel like other generations are living in a totally different world. We may never know what it was like “back in the day” of the baby boomers. There are even some noticeable differences between millennials and “grand-millennials.” Parents know this dilemma more than anyone. Just when we think we’re finally “hip” to the lives of our kids, an inevitable curveball is thrown. Like everything else, creators on TikTok are talking about it. Recently, creator @julesmonica posted a video with her little sister—a member of Generation Alpha. What captured the attention of over a million viewers was the new Gen Alpha slang her 11-year-old sister and her peers are using.
Gen Alpha includes those born between 2010 and 2024/2025. Like their predecessor, Gen Z, Alphas are known for being incredibly tech savvy—having grown up with technology all of their lives. Sources say they’re marked by independence, visual learning, and hyper-connectivity. Watching @julesmonica‘s video highlights just how creative the generation is, and now we’re digging with the “411” (cringe) of Gen Alpha slang.
The Viral Video
In the captivating video, @julesmonica (born in 1996) sits down with her younger sister, who was born in 2012. The topic? Translating Gen Z slang to Gen A slang. As they get into it, Jules rattles off some typical phrases used by Gen Z and a few common words while her little sister translates them to Gen Alpha language. Some make more sense than others. “Yes,” for example, is “bet” in Gen A vernacular. There are others, however, that even the sister can’t explain, such as “stealing” translating to “fanum tax.”
As you can imagine, reading through the comment section is as entertaining as the video itself. Many point out how absurd they think the phrases are, while others are shocked to find out Gen Alpha even exists. There are a few other notable themes, though. For one, several commenters that are from older generations (such as millennials) actually believe some of these phrases started well before Gen A-ers existed. @TopC30 commented, “Okay… but I swear I heard some of these when I was growing up… like they have to be recycled. (I’m 1995).” @savthecreativehg added, “Mad lit is so 2012…funny how it came back.”
Slang comes and goes with every generation. Sometimes, it even comes back around. If you need a further explanation of what the heck the kids are saying these days, allow us to provide it.
Translating Gen Alpha Slang
Don’t worry if you’ve barely gotten down the true meaning of “slay” and all of the other Gen Z terminology. Here we’re breaking it down once and for all. Because simply knowing what these terms mean in Gen Z isn’t enough for most of us, allow us to be your Gen Alpha slang translator. We’ll start by showing Gen Z to Gen A, followed by a little explanation of each in layman’s (millennial+) terms. Plus, a few extra wild terms you may hear out of young mouths going forward.
Ate = Sigma
Starting off with one that even commenters agree doesn’t make sense is Sigma. Sources suggest this endearing term refers to someone above an “alpha” (usually a male). This type of person is said to be self-reliant, independent, and desirable. If someone born after 2010 uses “Sigma” to describe you, you’re doing something right.
Yes = Bet
A more self-explanatory inclusion, “bet” translates to a word we all know well. On top of that, it’s often used as a term of acknowledgment. If you tell your 11-year-old that you’re going to the store, and they respond with “bet,” you know they’re at least acknowledging your existence.
Serving = Mewing
Let’s start by explaining that “serving” is a term used for a woman looking attractive. In a nutshell, they’re saying she’s “serving up a look.” According to another video by creator @julesmonica, in some cases, “mewing” means the same. Additionally, “mewing” is an actual technique that claims to help reshape the jawline by flattening your tongue against the roof of your mouth (although the American Association of Orthodontists says there’s no evidence to support this). Creator @julesmonica also explains that the term can refer to a hand gesture kids use when they want the person who’s talking to them to be quiet.
Stealing = Fanum Tax
While the TikTok creator showed that the translation of “fanum tax” is “stealing,” that doesn’t explain where the term comes from. In one segment of her series explaining Gen A terminology, @julesmonica breaks it down. Apparently, there is a YouTube creator called @Fanum. This streamer is known for having guests on his show and stealing food off of their plates while they’re eating. The concept stemmed from there. Now, if a Gen Alpha sees food on someone else’s plate, and they take some—say 10 percent of it—that is considered “fanum tax.”
Game = Rizz
Many of us have heard of someone having “game”—which is, essentially, confidence and charm, especially when interacting with someone they’re interested in romantically. And by now, many of us have heard of Rizz, as it was even named the Oxford Word of the Year 2023. It’s essentially the same thing—a shortened form of “charisma” that originated in Black culture.
Phat = Gyatt
“Phat” was a term many commenters agreed had been around long before the rise of Gen Z. If you’re not familiar, the term refers to someone, usually a woman, who is pretty, attractive, or “tempting.” “Gyatt” essentially means the same with origins in African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). But the reference to big butts was a creation from the Twitch community. Twitch, if you’re unfamiliar, is a video-streaming platform focusing on video game live streaming.
Weird = Sus
We are all familiar with what “weird” means, but where does “sus” come from? Essentially, it’s short for “suspicious” and is used when they think something is questionable.
Uncool = Negative Aura
We looked to another TikTok creator for an explanation of this one. @mr_lindsay_sped explains that the term “negative aura” means pretty much what we think it means—someone is giving off bad energy. However, when kids these days use the term, he explains, they’re typically referring to how cool someone is (or isn’t). As if that wasn’t enough pressure, you can add or lose “aura points” by doing things that are cool or uncool.
Stylish = Mad Lit
We all know that being at the middle school and high school age of life typically revolves around how cool or uncool you are. That’s where “mad lit” comes in as well. If someone describes you with this term, you’re doing something cool or stylish.
Cringe
Be alert about this one! You do not want to be considered “cringe” by younger generations. If you hear this, it likely means what you’re doing or your general presence is embarrassing. But don’t worry—it happens to the best of us.
Mid
Not nearly as bad as cringe, but still not great, is being considered “mid.” In this case, whatever they’re referring to is mediocre.
No Cap
“On God!” When younger generations use this phrase, it means they’re saying they mean what they say. They’re being “so serious right now, fr fr.” (“Fr” = for real, btw.)
Brett Nicole Hayden, Assistant Editor
As the Assistant Editor, Brett works with the editors of The Everymom on the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, and pitching and contributing her own articles. Her favorite topics to write about are culture, relationships, and living. She’s also The Everymom’s resident baby names and family movies expert!