Read in Russian

Most likely, you’ve encountered the words “skibidi,” “normies,” and “rizz” somewhere in a cryptic Instagram reel you’ve watched, or your Gen Alpha nephew who keeps spewing these words out like incantations. These strange words seem like nonsense, but to Generation Z and Alpha, and those constantly connected to the modern internet, they’re part of everyday vocabulary.

Of course, some words like “gyatt” and “skibidi” make little sense and are not meant to be used seriously. Still, it’s worth being conscious of these ever-changing expressions in the foreseeable future. Especially now that Gen Z is entering the workforce and reshaping the language we use.

English, perhaps more than any other, has always been restless. Since it became the lingua franca of the world, the language of “the empire on which the sun never set” (also known as the British Empire), it has reinvented itself again and again.

If we were to step into a Victorian parlor and strike up a conversation, we might understand English on a surface level but not the deeper nuances behind it. The grammar would feel familiar, yet the vocabulary, rhythm, idioms, and even the tone of politeness would sound foreign. Go back three centuries further, and English would be almost another species.

Now imagine the opposite: a Victorian child time-travels into the future and asks a modern child about their games and pastimes. The modern child would reference his favorite TikToks, a bunch of internet slang, and some online games. But the Victorian child is clueless; he can understand the modern child’s basic grammar but can’t relate to his hobbies or interests.

English evolves with every generation, especially the younger ones. Staying aware of that change keeps us from feeling like that lost Victorian child, surrounded by words we no longer understand. 

When Slang Crosses Borders

Just as English keeps evolving, Russian slang has followed a similar path online. If you scroll through Russian social media, you’ll notice that much of today’s youth slang directly borrows from English. Words like «кринж» (cringe), «нормис» (normies), and «вайб» (vibe) have become so common that they almost feel native.

Many of these English slang words aren’t limited to the internet anymore; in the U.S., you’ll hear them in schools, offices, or even at the dinner table. Let’s look at some of the most common Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang you’re likely to hear in real life; the expressions that have become part of everyday spoken English. 

Gen Z & Alpha Slang: Quick Glossary (2025)

• mid — Something average, mediocre, or unimpressive.

The new pizzeria is mid; I could make the same pizza myself.

• lowkey — Done quietly, secretly, or with mild intensity.

Lowkey, though, I still love watching cartoons from my childhood.

• cook / cooked — Cooked (adj): exhausted/ruined; cook (v): perform impressively.

Paul is so cooked; he didn’t study for the exam. Jeanine cooked so well for our project; she definitely got us an A+.

• goofy ahh — Playful/ironic for silly or ridiculous (meme culture).

My goofy ahh cat is always really hyper around guests.

• cap / no cap — Cap = lie or exaggeration; no cap = “for real.”

David’s capping. His parents paid for his new BMW, not him.

• yap — To talk too much, annoyingly or unnecessarily.

Hey guys, stop yapping; I’m trying to write my thesis.

• ick — Sudden disgust toward someone (often dating).

The guy I met at the bar gave me the ick. He’s always picking his nose.

• brain rot — Mental fatigue or numbness caused by shallow/repetitive content.

There’s so much brain rot on TikTok now; it’s invading my FYP.

• bed rot — Spending excessive time in bed scrolling (laziness/burnout).

I bed-rotted all morning; I couldn’t get off my phone.

• mog — To outshine/dominate someone (appearance/performance).

Chris mogged the trainer at the gym.

• rizz — Charisma or flirting ability.

Brendan is rizzing up all the girls at the bar; he’s been looking for a girlfriend for ages.

• NPC / normie — Unoriginal/predictable person; normie is softer.

The boss is such an NPC; I think he doesn’t do anything outside of work.

• bruh — Disbelief, disappointment, or mild annoyance.

Bruh, are you being serious right now?

• be for real — Tell someone to be honest or realistic.

Be so for real right now, Sarah. You shouldn’t break up with Jake just because he was late by 10 minutes.

• looks maxxing / (something) maxxing — To maximize/optimize something (often tongue-in-cheek).

Studymaxxing, gymmaxxing, rizzmaxxing. I’m sleepmaxxing this weekend; my finals cooked me.

• ragebait — Content/comments designed to provoke anger for engagement.

Don’t ragebait me; you’re starting unnecessary drama.

• slop (AI slop) — Low-quality or soulless mass content (often AI-generated).

There’s so much AI slop on the internet now; sometimes I can’t tell what’s real anymore.

• chopped — Bad, rejected, or poorly done.

His outfit is so chopped; he looks like a clown.

• lock in — Focus intensely or commit fully to a task.

We need to lock in tonight; our presentation is due tomorrow.

• someone “ate” — They did extremely well or looked amazing.

Laura ate! Her new dress is so nice for tonight. 

Irony, Democracy, and Speed

You’ve probably encountered some of these words in Russian as well, since many expressions from “the language of the internet” have been borrowed globally. However, the weight and deeper meaning of these words don’t always carry over the same way. This is what makes English internet slang so unique.

It’s important to recognize its irony. People often use slang not just to express emotion, but to mock that emotion at the same time. Gen Z and Alpha might call something “cringe,” but do it ironically. They know it’s cringe, yet they embrace it anyway. Humor, sincerity, and mockery coexist in the same sentence.

It’s also democratic. Slang is no longer created by a small group of kids in one neighborhood, but by millions of users all over the world. A meme, a TikTok sound, or even a random YouTube comment can spark a new word overnight. You can hear these phrases in various spaces, on university campuses, a modern workspace, and even on the streets. 

Finally, slang today is short-lived. Most likely, in just two years, some of these words will already be outdated and considered “cringe.” It’s a natural part of language evolution. Only, the internet and its trends have sped it up dramatically. 

Embracing the Change

If you ever feel lost scrolling through TikTok or listening to younger people talk, remember: you’re not out of touch; you’re just living through another linguistic evolution. English keeps changing, and that’s what makes it exciting. Better to learn a little “rizz” now than end up like that Victorian child wondering what on earth a person “yapping” means. 

An Example

• Gen Aλφα  English

The girls yap 🙃🗯️ and the boys mog 😎🔥

• English

Девчонки всё ещё болтают о пустяках 🙃🗯️, а парни уже действуют. 😎🔥.

---

Подписывайтесь на наш дайджест в Facebook, Instagram, Telegram – в нем мы рассказываем об истории и о сегодняшнем дне Америки, и в первую очередь о том, что происходит в Бостоне и Массачусетсе.