Dear parents, has it ever happened to you to read a message sent by your child and understand absolutely nothing? Or to hear them say something enthusiastically while you are left with the feeling that you missed half the conversation?
You are not alone. The language of Generation Z (and already Generation Alpha) evolves rapidly and sometimes feels like a true secret code. The good news? It can be decoded. And, more importantly, it can become an opportunity for connection rather than frustration.
Out of a desire to help a journalist friend working on an article about this topic, Dana Papadima, Educational Director at Avenor, had an experience from which we can all benefit.
“I tried to lend a hand to a journalist friend who is preparing a more extensive article about the language – or rather, languages – used by children and young people. He thought he would be consulting a linguistics specialist; I turned out to be an amateur. I DO NOT KNOW how young people speak, what English or American expressions they borrow, or what gestures accompany their words or exclamations.
In desperation, I turned to a few high school students with whom I have very warm relationships. However, in the presence of teachers and adults in general, they tend to self-censor. An adult attempting to immerse themselves in their language codes would immediately be labelled cringe — the only word from their jargon I have known for about three years.
Natalia helped me put together a list, and I invite both teachers and parents to read it, take note, and enjoy it. I promise — it’s worth it.”
A Mini Gen Z Dictionary
“That’s bussin!” means: “It’s really good / I love it.”
“Slay!” means: “You did an excellent job!” or “You look amazing!”
“I have rizz.” means: “I’m charismatic / socially confident.”
“YOLO.” means: “You only live once — it’s worth trying.”
“Bae.” means: someone very dear (a boyfriend, girlfriend, or special person).
“Fri yay!” expresses maximum excitement that the weekend has arrived.
“Din dins.” simply means… dinner 🙂 (yes, sometimes it’s that simple).
“Moist” (followed by laughter) refers to a word considered funny or cringe in certain online contexts.
“Holibobs.” means: holiday or vacation.
“I-a dat înjoseală”. ( “He/she got humiliated.”) means someone embarrassed or publicly shamed another person.
“Mi-a dat cu seen.” (“Left me on seen.”) means your message was read but not answered (and… yes, it stings a little).
“Ghosted.” means someone suddenly disappeared from communication without explanation.
“L-a casperizat.” (“Caspered.”) means a softer or temporary version of ghosting — disappearing for a while.
“Mane.” means: “man,” “bro,” an informal way friends address each other.
“Chill.” means: “calm down” or “relax.”
“Sho.” means: “me too.”
“Soto.” means: “seriously,” “for real,” without exaggeration.
“Te-a luat randeaua.” means someone verbally attacked you and left you without a comeback.
“Simp.” means someone who does too much for a person they like, usually without receiving the same interest in return.
“Harfă.” means exaggeration, bragging, or storytelling meant to impress.
“I’m weak” / “I’m dead” / “mor” mean something is extremely funny.
“FR FR.” means: “for real, seriously.”
“Sus.” means: suspicious — something feels off.
Why Does Understanding This Language Matter?
It is not just about words. It is about belonging, identity, and the way children build their social relationships. For them, these expressions are natural — just as the expressions of our own generation once were for us.
When we try to understand their language, we communicate something far more important than linguistic correctness: “I am curious about your world.” And from there, a real conversation often begins.
We may never say “slay” perfectly without sounding forced — and that is perfectly fine. But if we can translate a few words and smile together about them, we are already speaking the same language.
And that… is truly bussin. 🙂
