Gen Z slang is by far some of the most creative and interesting pieces of language that exists. The arbitrary words and phrases that people come up with are simply something that has never been heard of from any other generation. “W rizz” (good charisma) or “no cap” (No lie) are expressions that surprisingly make sense once you understand what they mean even if you aren’t a part of Gen Z. They make so much sense in fact, that the word “rizz” was voted 2023 word of the year by the Oxford University press and is soon going to be added to the dictionary. And who knows, maybe when you’re reading this a bunch of other Gen Z slang were added to the dictionary.
The exact origin of Gen Z slang is a bit foggy, but some phrases can be traced from AAVE (African American Vernacular English) and were popularized by Gen Z in recent times, changing the meanings around to fit a younger demographic. I can’t exactly go into detail of a lot of these terms’ original meanings but the important part is that a lot of AAVE terms are now used by a good majority of Gen Z.
Perhaps the biggest reason Gen Z slang is so popular is the youths’ widespread access to technology. TikTok is one of the most popular apps of all time, with over 3.3 billion downloads worldwide, almost everyone between the ages of 13-18 has used, or at least heard of TikTok once, me included. TikTok is almost entirely a Gen Z focused platform, so anyone who uses it is exposed to Gen Z slang. This further spreads the language and causes more and more people to use it. Other apps like Instagram and YouTube have also contributed to the popularity of Gen Z slang, but none come close to TikTok.
One of the most influential and popular Gen Z slang I’d like to go over is the term “Opp”. Like a lot of slang such as “sus” that’s short for suspicious, “opp” is short or opposition or opponent. The term refers to someone who is your enemy, mostly in a lighthearted and joking way. It’s someone who either differs from your ideals or figuratively gets in your way sometimes. Getting in a small argument with someone could lead them to becoming your opp.
Gen Z slang is not only for giving titles to other people, but to make everyday language “easier” and “more efficient”. Phrases such as “lock in” or “vibing” replaces “concentration” and “relaxing”, giving people a unique and more fun way to communicate. That leads me to another major factor of Gen Z slang, a lot of it is fun to use. I asked four seniors at my school why they used Gen Z slang, and all four of them gave me the same answer; it’s fun to use.
I believe another major factor of why members of Gen Z speak in their own language almost, is the same reason people in the 1700’s spoke differently. We’ve all been in a history class and read texts or government documents where the English used is almost foreign to us, even though it was written in the same place we live now. One hundred years from now, people will think the exact same way as us. The English language will likely evolve further in the future and be almost unrecognizable to modern day American English.
Humans (or at least Americans) get bored very easily, and that is why I believe the English language has changed so much over the past 300 years and will continue to do so. New words will be invented, new phrases will be popularized, and eventually Gen Z slang will be known as silly literature that kids one hundred years from now will look back on and laugh at, just as old English is today.
Sources:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/what-rizz-means-oxford-word-year-2023-rcna127911
