6-7? Unc? Chicken Banana?! 20 Gen Alpha Slang Phrases Driving Parents Nuts—Decoded

As a mom to an 8-year-old boy and a 10-year-old daughter, I have been surprised by growing communication barriers. I mean, we all speak the same language…but do we? If, like me, your tween and teen are increasingly using words that are, well, unrecognizable and seemingly meaningless, take heart: I have rounded up and (attempted) to define the most common Gen Alpha slang for your edification. Use this information wisely, but I would advise against trying to adopt any of the slang yourself. OK, Unc?

Like most things Gen Alpha, there’s not a coherent meaning to this slang phrase. It supposedly came from the song "Doot Doot (6 7)" by Skrilla, which features the recurring lyric, “6-7,” then became linked with a basketball player of the same height, LaMelo Ball, who got some shade from a commentator who said that he played like a smaller athlete on the court. Since then, tweens, content creators and even basketball players adopted the phrase and use it in pretty much any and every context because, well, it has no concise meaning whatsoever. It—and its accompanying hand gesture, in which you appear to be juggling the two numbers—has become so ubiquitous that it's become almost passé among kids, eliciting eye-rolls just as often as it does laughs.

In a Conversation:

“OK, I tried really hard not to burn the pancakes. How did they turn out this time?”

“6-7.”*

*Note: Since "6-7" doesn't essentially mean anything, kids can reply with it to just about any question or statement. Often, though, it's triggered by simply mentioning either number. Heaven forbid you're headed to a soon-to-be-7-year-old's birthday party.

2. Bet

Remember when it used to be a thing to say “word”? Like when you rant to your BFF about how shitty it is that guys think they can just ghost you and your friend says “word.” Well, “bet” is the new word and it has the same meaning—namely, something to the effect of yes/agreed or even a more emphatic “sing it, sister!”

In a Conversation:

“This is going to be our best school year yet.”

“Bet!”

3. Mid

This one is pretty straightforward, but mid (as you probably guessed) means in the middle; as in, not that great and not that bad. Expect to hear this one a lot, since the air of indifference associated with mid is what makes it cool.

In a Sentence:

“Not gonna lie, McDonald’s is kind of mid.”

4. Low-key

We are all familiar with low-key, but Gen Alpha kids are using it differently. We millennials might say that we just want to have a low-key birthday this year, as in something without a lot of fuss or pageantry. Gen Alpha, on the other hand, tends to use it more as a stand-in for "mid" or "sort of." It's a way to avoid expressing enthusiasm in the interest of sounding cool.

For example, they might throw the term in front of an adjective that would otherwise express the exact opposite. (See the example below.) It can also be used as a substitute for “sort of.” Much like mid, low-key is used by Gen Alpha to avoid expressing enthusiasm in the interest of sounding cool.

In a Sentence:

“I’m low-key excited for the concert Friday night.”

5. Cap

When Gen Alpha kids say cap, they’re not referring to the headwear. In Gen Alpha speak, cap basically translates to “lie.” So if your friend tells you something that you think is an embellishment or a flat-out untruth, you might respond with “cap.”

In a Conversation:

“My dad says he’s going to get me a new car and it’s going to be a Porsche.”

“Bro, stop the cap.”

6. No Cap

This kind of goes without saying, but no cap is simply the opposite of cap. In other words, it’s what you tack on the end of a statement to indicate you’re not lying. Sort of like “swear to God!” or “no joke!”

In a Sentence:

“OMG, he just DM’d me and asked me out! No cap!”

7. Chicken Jockey

I would like to define this phrase for you, but—once again–it really has no discernable meaning. It is basically just the new skibidi toilet and serves the same purpose—namely to fill any moment of silence in the most nonsensical way. Say it whenever you feel the need, in any context, because it’s basically just a verbal tic. Though I’d be remiss not to mention that I’ve also been told that kids are especially fond of shouting this at the screen, Rocky Horror Picture Show-style, during the Minecraft movie. (In fact, its origin is from the Minecraft video game—a chicken jockey is a rare mob of tiny baby zombies riding on the back of full-sized chickens. I told you this one made no sense.)

In a Conversation:

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Chicken jockey.”

This one originates with Roblox where one of the most popular gaming experiences is a variation based on the Italian Brainrot trend. The phrase is no longer used exclusively in a gaming context, though; instead, it has morphed into an expression that can be used to call someone out for using the same completely absurd and senseless slang as you.

In a Conversation:

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Chicken jockey.”

“Bro, you stole my brainrot!”

9. Unc

Here, an abbreviation of “uncle” that the Gen Alpha crowd likes to use to humorously describe anyone older (or anyone who’s acting older) and out of touch. According to social media, this is one that teachers are hearing a lot—directed at them, of course—but it’s not malicious, just a mildly dismissive acknowledgment of a generational gap. For what it’s worth, I’m sort of surprised my kids still call me “mom” instead of “Unc.”

In a Conversation:

“I have no idea what 6-7 means but can you please start talking to me in a language I recognize?”

“Yeah, sure thing, Unc.”

10. Skibidi (toilet)

It’s hard to pin down a definition for this one since my impression is that it’s just a total nonsense word that can be used in a wide range of contexts. For example, it can mean “cool” or “bad,” and can also be used to describe someone who’s obsessing over some unimportant thing. Gen Alpha also uses it to start and end conversations. The most important thing to know is that it comes from a viral meme and a series of animated videos that took YouTube and social media by storm, which feature the heads of grown men singing from…a toilet bowl.

In a Sentence:

“I don’t know how to use this skibidi slang in a skibidi sentence because it’s more of a weird verbal tic than an actual word.”

11. Rizz

Rizz can be a verb or an adjective, and in both cases it’s used to describe a kind of charisma. In fact, it’s believed to have started off as an abbreviation of the word charisma and now all the cool Gen Alpha kids use it to describe anyone who’s either turning on the charm or just inherently alluring. When it comes to using rizz, you have options—namely because it’s been adapted as a noun, too. So if you hear the word rizzler, just know it’s a close cousin of rizz.

In a Sentence:

“She’s got so much rizz that I just couldn’t (rizzist?)”

12. Suss (or Sus)

A Gen Alpha abbreviation of the widely known dictionary words suspicious and suspect, sus is frequently bandied about by today’s youth to describe anything questionable or dishonest. In other words, it’s used to denote any situation that you’re wary of. And let’s just say that Gen Alpha is wary of a lot of things, to the point that I’m not so sure they actually understand what it means to be legitimately suspicious.

In a Conversation:

“Hey, let’s check out that new restaurant tomorrow.”

“Nah, that place looks totally sus.”

13. Flex

Much like flexing your muscles, this slang term is used to call out another person for showing off or boasting. According to Dictionary.com, it doesn’t have the most positive connotation, as it’s associated with power moves, arrogance and insincerity. For example, I’m totally flexing my knowledge of tween slang right now.

In a Sentence:

“Those shoes are such a flex—you’re just going to grow out of them in two months anyway.”

14. Sigma

Here, an adjective to describe a dude who’s even cooler than your typical alpha male. If this is all Greek to you, allow me to explain: A sigma male is basically some bro who has all the power of an alpha male but a more subdued ego. As such, it’s commonly used to describe a popular boy who has that casual-cool thing going on (um, OK), but it can also just mean cool on its own.

In a Sentence:

“He’s got so much sigma male energy (*swoon*).”

This one is oddly specific…and physiological. My sources tell me that mewing (a subset of looksmaxxing, AKA trying to optimize your appearance) refers to the act of pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth—an action that makes your jawline more prominent and boasts the added benefit of making it impossible for you to utter ridiculous slang words. As such, mewing may happen in response to someone asking you a question or raising a topic that you don’t want to discuss.

It can also be used as a compliment for someone who has a strong, sexy jawline. The exercise itself can also be done in private and, according to the highly unscientific TikTok videos that gave birth to the trend, it might boost your facial aesthetic. (For what it’s worth, I’m biting my tongue, not mewing right now.)

In a Sentence:

“I asked him where he was at lunch yesterday, but he just stood there mewing.”

16. Aura Points

Aura points is more or less Gen Alpha’s version of ‘cool factor.’ And by describing it that way, I’m sure I just lost some. You can score aura points by doing, wearing or saying something cool. These points can be referred to in a non-specific way or given an actual numerical value—either way it’s a quantification of how cool you are, and is closely linked to how your personal successes and failures affect your overall vibe.

In a Sentence:

“Just spilled my water glass in the cafeteria. How many aura points do you think I lost?”

17. Delulu

This one’s a slang abbreviation for delusional that has the same meaning. You could call me delulu for thinking that writing this story could win me aura points with Gen Alpha. My tween daughter is delulu for thinking I can afford to buy her Taylor Swift tickets. You get the idea, right?

In a Sentence:

“If she thinks that TikTok is going to go viral, she’s delulu.”

18. Baka

This Japanese word meaning “crazy,” “foolish” and “dumb” has caught on with Gen Alpha, particularly among those who have an interest in anime and manga. Although it’s considered a swear word in its country of origin, it’s generally just used as a playful insult stateside (sometimes along the aforementioned “sus”), or as a standalone expression of irritation with oneself a la “god dammit!” In other words, this one is a mostly harmless way to call someone (or yourself) an idiot.

In a Sentence:

“You don’t know how to tie your shoes? Baka!”

19. Fanum Tax

‘Fanum tax’ is a term first coined by an American streamer by the name of (you guessed it) Fanum. It went viral, became a meme and the rest is history. As for its definition and usage, this phrase refers very specifically to playful food theft between friends.

In a Sentence:

“I disappeared his fries while he was in the bathroom. He had to pay his Fanum tax.”

20. Ohio

Reddit says this one started with a series of memes that showed weird, random things—originally happening in Ohio, but soon just…anywhere. It then transitioned to meaning weird, dumb or creepy in general. It’s cringe. It’s not good. (Sorry if you live in the Buckeye State.)

In a Sentence:

“Could anything be more Ohio that a 35-year-old woman trying to define 9-year-old slang?”

21. Chat

Nothing reflects Gen Alpha and Gen Z's digital fluency more than "chat." When wanting attention for a big moment (swinging the monkey bars then, making a tactical video game move now), the kids will say "chat" to get people's attention. It basically translates to "hey, everyone!" in a group message context. Alternatively, it can also be used to describe feeling/looking good.

In a Conversation:

"Chat, we going out tonight?"

"Did you see her outfit? She's looking chat."

22. Chicken Banana

Brace yourselves. The phrase comes from a 2-minute-and-11-second, psychedelic EDM disco rage with just two words: chicken banana. The song was released in February 2025 by the Swedish dance/electronic music production group Crazy Music Channel, whose discography includes tracks like "Techno Duck," "Christmas Banana" and "I Got a Pig Under My Arm," all set to thumping beats—though "Chicken Banana remains their greatest hit, with multiple riffs. As to its meaning, however, it is meaningless.

Per PureWow Editor-In-Chief Jillian Quint, who brought up the phrase to her children, she reported, "Both my kids started singing it when I brought it up, so it's a thing. It’s like a chant." And when she inquired as to its definition, they replied: "It doesn’t mean anything! Kids are silly!"

In a Sentence:

No one:

Gen Alpha: "Chicken. Banana. Chicken. Banana. Chicken. Banana. Banana. Banana."

23. Mogging

This slang term is so popular, Merriam-Webster had an official definition. "Mog is a humorous Internet slang term meaning 'to outclass,' used especially to describe one person as appearing far more attractive than another. It was originally used to praise one man as being taller, more muscular, or more stereotypically handsome in direct comparison to another man." So if you're mogging, you are the best-looking person on the block—and everyone else is peanuts in comparison.

In a Sentence:

"All the looksmaxxing influencers are trying to out-mog each other."

24. Call Taylor

Have you ever asked your parents for advice, only for them to come back with something completely ludicrous? That's the origin story of "Call Taylor." It all started back in 2016 (yep, you really are that out of touch) in an episode from the 12th season of the reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians, in which Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian were discussing the ongoing feud between Kanye West and Taylor Swift. Kris’s advice? "Why don’t you just call Taylor up and try to make amends?" As you can see, if you watch this clip, Kim took a hard pass on that suggestion.

In a Conversation:

Gen Alpha: "That high schooler is such a cool artist. I wish I could be her friend."

Parent: "Why don’t you just go up to her, compliment her art and ask her if she could give you some tips to improve your figure drawing?"

Gen Alpha:  “Yeahhh, OK, mom. Call Taylor.”

25. Aura Farming

If aura points are a measure of someone's cool factor, aura farming is the act of the harvest. If you’re hunting down aura points, flexing too hard (i.e., showing off) and inadvertently making a mockery of yourself by flaunting too much cool, chances are you’re in the business of aura farming. For us millennials, there are some more familiar phrases to describe this behavior: “so desperate,” “such a poser” and “trying way too hard” come to mind. As with most Gen Alpha trends, there’s an inherent contradiction here—namely that aura farming isn’t always a negative thing. In fact, aura farming can win you actual aura points if you do it successfully on social media and garner a following as a result.

In a Sentence:

"Michael Jackson is the original aura farmer."

26. Negative Tilt

File this one under the looksmaxxing umbrella. Negative tilt is an abbreviation for "negative canthal tilt." Per Urban Dictionary, this manifests when your inner edge of your eye (medial canthus) is higher than the outer edge (lateral canthus), creating an inverted V shape. It is often associated with looking tired, submissive and old.

In a Sentence:

"He's not cute, he's got negative tilt."

27. Hunter Eyes

Hunter eyes are the opposite of negative tilt, in that the outer corners of your eyes slant upwards, creating a V shape. These eyes are also typically deep-set and hooded with an almond contour and pronounced brow ridge.

In a Sentence:

"His hunter eyes are giving sigma energy."

28. Starvemaxxing

If looksmaxxing wasn't already extreme enough, starvemaxxing takes things to a problematic and dangerous level. The term describes extreme diets young men are using in attempt to emulate the looks of their favorite chiseled influencers. (While many say they use the term satirically, experts caution that it could spark or encourage eating disorders.)

In a Sentence:

"How much are you eating and do you starvemaxx?"

29. Cook

This Gen Alpha slang term probably has the most diverse applications, depending on the scenario. It can mean someone has done something extremely well—conversely, it can mean they totally bombed. If someone is being allowed to cook, that means it may appear that they're doing something crazy, but the end result is going to be amazing.

In a Sentence:

"Did you see his presentation? He cooked."

30. Goated

More like G.O.A.T.ed—Greatest of All Time. Also commonly employed as "GOAT."

In a Sentence:

"Simone Biles is the GOAT."