Cooked
I will not defeat this. I will not survive this (bad grade, paper, exam, etc.).
Example
“We have a quiz today? I’m cooked.”
Drip
Clothing, shoes, accessories
Example
Student: “Love the drip today.”
Teacher: “Thank you. I got it on sale at Target.”
Extra
Going over the top
Example
Student: *sees Valentine’s Day headband on my head* “Mrs. Naumoff, why you gotta be so extra today?”
Bet
OK! For sure. All right. (Usually said in response to a question or statement.)
Example
Student 1: “Meet me in the cafeteria for lunch.”
Student 2: “Bet.”
Delulu
An abbreviated version of “delusional”
Example
“Call me delulu but I actually think that if I met Taylor Swift, we would be friends.”
Demure
Reserved, modest, shy; “Does this shirt make me look very mindful, very demure? I thought the bows helped.”
Slay
You are doing an excellent job.
Example
Teacher: “What do you need in your body paragraphs to support your reasons?”
Student: “Evidence?”
Teacher: “Slay.”
Tea
Fresh gossip
Example
Student 1: “Can I spill the tea for you?”
Student 2: “Not unless it’s piping hot tea.”
Student 1: “This is the freshest tea.”
Student 2: “Spill.”
Sweat
A person who tries hard at something
Example
“Oh, you won Quizlet Live? Try changing your name in the game to ‘Sweat.’”
Bruh
Stands for bro. If you interact with a teen at any point, you likely have been called this name.
rizz
Your ability to flirt, to charm guys or girls effortlessly.
Student 1: “Who are you taking to homecoming this weekend?”
Student 2: “You know I’ve got a lot of options because I’ve got mad rizz.”
Lowkey
An opinion that you’re trying to be subtle about
Example
Student: “Lowkey, I actually like the school buffalo chicken dip.”
Student: “The buffalo chicken dip smacks.”
Aura points
Similar to your vibe, you can earn them when you’re doing something Gen Z considers worthy, but you can also lose them. (I lose them every time I adopt their vocabulary into my lessons. I’m probably at negative 10,000 aura points and the school year is only halfway through.)
Example
“You brought us Christmas cookies? You get 10,000 aura points for that.”
Gas
Really good
Example
“Did you listen to Taylor Swift’s new vault tracks? They are gas.”
Emo
An emotional person
Example
“My emo playlist includes every Dashboard Confessional album.”
Bussin
Very good (usually refers to food)
Example
Student: “This McFrappe is bussin.”
Smacks
An indication that something is very good
Example
Student: “The buffalo chicken dip smacks.”
Yeet
Throw something
Example
Student: *frustrated with the Chromebook* “Can I just yeet my computer out the window?”
Teacher: “No, I am afraid you cannot throw the computer out of the window. Try turning it off and back on again. That is my go-to solution for all computer problems.”
Brain rot
Consuming too much online content to the detriment to your mental state
Example
“I’ve got brain rot from watching TikTok all day.”
Vibe
A feeling, a look
Example
“Writing papers with Adele playing in the background is such a vibe.”
Sigma
An independent, lone wolf with a strong will
Example
“I’m so sigma, I won every Kahoot we played in English class.”
Cap
You’re lying. That’s not true.
Example
Teacher: “We have a quiz today.”
Student: “That’s cap.”
Flex
Bragging about something
Example
Student 1: “I never pop my zits. I just leave them there for the world to see.”
Student 2: “Weird flex, but OK.”
Era
A phase that someone is in
Example
“I’m in mini-van mom era and loving every minute of it.”
Baddie
Looks good, not bad
Example
“Taylor Swift is a baddie and I don’t care who disagrees.”