A Guide to Gen-Z Talk
Slang is defined as the ever-changing set of colloquial words. These could be particular to an age group, region, background, or as such. Language is ever-changing. As time progresses, more terms come and go. As per etymologists, slang is individual and complex to trace back to its origins. Slang is usually associated with a particular group and plays a role in constructing our identities. Several factors attribute to their coming about. However, the most interesting phenomenon is generational slang.
One of the biggest divides across generations is the difference in attitude, trends, and most peculiar of all: generational slang. Each generation is individualized when it comes to their set slang. While there might be some vernaculars that spill over from generation to generation, most of them are unique to their generation. Many believe that slang words get perpetuated around because of the social factor in generations. Let’s delve into a few common Gen Z words and in what context today’s youth mostly use them!
Cap
Cap/No cap is the equivalent of “that’s a lie” and “no lie” respectively. People also use the term “capping”. It’s generally a way of calling someone’s bluff by simply saying, “Cap!”. Or perhaps you could use “No cap” to assert your truth or your statement.
2. L, GG, EZ, W (gamer slang)
Most of these can be attributed to gamer slang and they originate from the online community. All of these are abbreviations for common words, but recently they’ve been integrated into everyday vernacular talk as well. L and W stand for “loss” and “win”. In the routinely talk, they can be used as
“I couldn’t wake up early so I took an L this morning.”
“I didn’t fall asleep during class and that was a major W.”
GG and EZ stand for “good game” and “easy” respectively. These also alternate into conventional talk and express emotions like agreement or pride based on the context.
3. On god
This one’s quite simple to understand! It solely means, “I swear to god”. This vocable refers to standing by your statement or vouch for the validity of something.
To sum everything up, slang or the “lingo of the youth” is often quaint and distinct from other generations. With the main origin of each term being vastly different, it’s hard to understand how these terms come to easily be incorporated in everyday conversation. All we can do is understand what it means (even if it confuses us greatly) and try to keep up with the youth!