Students and teachers explain common slang words for their generations

From “ralph” to “rizz,” generations of slang is defined and comapred

Maddie Martin and Ian Chern

February 15, 2024

GENERATION Z SLANG

(By Liz Summa)

“[Fire means] really good, better than good like you would say ‘thats fire’”

“If you say lowkey, I’ll use it like ‘this is lowkey good.’ when you first see it, it’s not the best thing in the world but after a little while it starts to grow on you.”

“Slaps or hits is usually about food. For example ‘that pizza slaps’”

(By Liz Summa)

“My favorite word is ‘purr’ because I feel like it’s funny and I use it a lot and it’s just means like ‘yay.’”

“Another one of my favorite words is probably ‘sus’ because I also find it really funny. It just means ‘suspicious.’”

“I think people learn about them over social media and I feel like they were born by people just cutting words in half”

PAST GENERATIONS’S SLANG

(By Liz Summa)

“Fox was what guys would call girls and then hunk was what we would call some cute guy, like ‘He’s a hunk, look at that hunk.”

“People would say ‘Man, you’re trippin’ like you’re acting foolish [or] you’re acting ridiculous.”

“Ralph was if somebody’s about to get sick. ‘Hey, don’t don’t ralph in my car,’ don’t throw up in my car. “

“Some of our slang came from movies, at least some of your [slang] too, because we didn’t have social media.”

(By Olivia Peters)

“Rizz, in my day, we would call it game. I don’t know if kids still say game. Because you say game in that context, like ‘Oh, he’s got some serious game.’ Now they say rizz. I find that word amusing.”

“I still said things like cool. I remember there were people that said things like cool beans.”

“I know lots of slang terms. I try to stay current and know what the youths are saying. I go to the Gen Z Wikipedia dictionary, just to check out what’s new and different.”

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About the Contributors

Maddie Martin, Mill Valley News editor-in-chief and JagWire editor-in-chief

This is senior Maddie Martin’s third year on the JagWire staff, she is excited to continue her work on the website as Mill Valley News editor-in-chief as well as taking on the role of JagWire editor-in-chief. Outside of journalism, she is a part of the girls golf team, involved in Jaguar Leadership Corps, NHS, NEHS, French NHS, an ELT for Relay for Life and is also the proud founder of the Coloring Club. When not in C101 working on journalism Maddie can probably be found practicing golf, reading a new romance book or listening to the newest Lumineers album.

Ian Chern, Mill Valley News editor-in-chief

This is senior Ian Chern’s third year on the JagWire staff. This year he is taking the role of the Mill Valley News editor-in-chief while also being a writer and photographer for the JagWire. When he is not working on journalism, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, hanging out outside, working, volunteering and helping out at local food banks. Along with being involved in journalism, Ian is involved in the NHS, Spanish NHS, Relay for Life and Science Olympiad.

Quin Peters, JagWire editor-in-chief

This is senior Quin Peters’ third year on the JagWire staff, and she is excited to take on the role of JagWire editor-in-chief. Outside of journalism, Quin is the social media manager of the Youth for Refugees club, and is involved in NHS, NEHS, French NHS, NAHS, Scholar’s Bowl and Coloring Club. When she isn’t at school, she can be found drawing, listening to pop music or reading.

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