Gen Z slang 2027: 20 English phrases you'll hear
These are twenty slang phrases you'll hear from young English speakers going into 2027, in person, in group chats and under every video. Each one has its meaning, an example and audio, so you'll know what no cap or it's giving means the next time someone says it.
20 Gen Z slang phrases with meanings
The ones you'll hear most come first. Every phrase starts chosen: untick the ones you know and add the rest to your dictionary.
| Play pronunciation | Phrase | Meaning and example | |
|---|---|---|---|
no cap no lie, for real This is the best pizza in town, no cap. | no lie, for real This is the best pizza in town, no cap. | ||
bet OK, deal Meet at six? Bet. | OK, deal Meet at six? Bet. | ||
lowkey a little, quietly I'm lowkey tired of this song. | a little, quietly I'm lowkey tired of this song. | ||
sus suspicious That message looks sus. | suspicious That message looks sus. | ||
it's giving it has the feel of This outfit, it's giving summer. | it has the feel of This outfit, it's giving summer. | ||
I'm dead that's so funny Stop, I'm dead! | that's so funny Stop, I'm dead! | ||
say less got it, no need to explain You want pizza? Say less. | got it, no need to explain You want pizza? Say less. | ||
that's mid it's average, not great The film everyone loves? Honestly, that's mid. | it's average, not great The film everyone loves? Honestly, that's mid. | ||
you ate you did that brilliantly You ate that presentation! | you did that brilliantly You ate that presentation! | ||
rizz charm, a gift for flirting He's got so much rizz. | charm, a gift for flirting He's got so much rizz. | ||
delulu hoping for something unrealistic She thinks he'll call back. She's delulu. | hoping for something unrealistic She thinks he'll call back. She's delulu. | ||
GOAT the greatest of all time Messi is the GOAT. | the greatest of all time Messi is the GOAT. | ||
spill the tea share the gossip Come on, spill the tea! | share the gossip Come on, spill the tea! | ||
the ick a sudden feeling of being put off He chewed so loudly that I got the ick. | a sudden feeling of being put off He chewed so loudly that I got the ick. | ||
rent free stuck in your head That song lives rent free in my head. | stuck in your head That song lives rent free in my head. | ||
touch grass go outside, get offline You've been online all day. Go touch grass. | go outside, get offline You've been online all day. Go touch grass. | ||
main character energy acting like the hero of the story He walked in with main character energy. | acting like the hero of the story He walked in with main character energy. | ||
understood the assignment did exactly what was needed, and did it well Her costume was perfect. She understood the assignment. | did exactly what was needed, and did it well Her costume was perfect. She understood the assignment. | ||
side quest a small unplanned errand Getting coffee turned into a side quest. | a small unplanned errand Getting coffee turned into a side quest. | ||
highkey a lot, openly I highkey love this place. | a lot, openly I highkey love this place. |
Where these words come from
Most of this slang reached the mainstream through TikTok, games and group chats, but many of the words are older than the apps. Slay grew up in the Black, Latino and queer ballroom scene of the 1970s and 80s, and spill the tea came out of the same world. No cap comes from hip-hop.
Words that last end up in dictionaries. In 2025 the Cambridge Dictionary added delulu and skibidi among about 6,000 new words, and its editors said they only add words they expect to stay.
When to use slang, and when not to
With friends and in messages these phrases sound natural. At a job interview, in a work email or with someone you've just met, they don't, and a few will make you sound like you're trying too hard.
Some are already used with a wink: older speakers say GOAT or it's giving half as a joke. If you're not sure about a word, use it in a reply to someone who used it first.
Slang moves fast. Lowkey and sus have been around for years, while other words fade within months. For a learner, understanding them is more useful than using every one.
Sources
- NBC News (2025) Cambridge Dictionary adds 'skibidi' and 'tradwife' among 6,000 new words
- PinkNews (2024) The fascinating history of the LGBTQ+ term 'slay'
- Burnett Foundation Aotearoa Popular queer slang and their origins