Raising kids in 2025 means learning to speak fluent Gen Alpha and no, there’s no Duolingo for that. Between the “bussin” lunches and “goofy ahhh” TikToks, it can feel like you’ve entered an alternate language zone.
I’ve got three kids (they asked to remain anonymous because… cringe): my 19-year-old daughter, who rolls her eyes right along with the boys but also helps me decode; and two sons, 11 and 9, who remind me daily that I am definitely no longer the cool one in the house. But instead of fighting it, I leaned in.
Now I tell them to “touch grass.” I call their outfits “mid.” I casually drop a “no cap” just to relate. Do they cringe? Absolutely. Am I guaranteed a side-eye? Every single time.
But here’s my thinking: if using their slang helps me connect, or maybe even win back a sliver of cool, I’ll take it. And hey, if I embarrass them enough to make them stop using it altogether? Even better. Has it worked? Not yet. But here’s hoping.
So if your kid says their friend has “rizz” and lunch “slapped,” don’t panic. I think I’ve decoded just enough of the Gen Alpha language to help you win back some cool, or at least start a great dinner conversation.
Slaps
Meaning: Something really good: usually music or food.
Translation: “This is a bop” or “That meal was amazing.”
Bet That Up
Meaning: Agreement, challenge accepted, or “OK.”
Translation: “Got it,” “Sure,” or “Watch me.”
Gyatt
Meaning: Comment on curves. Millennials think Miss New Booty.
Translation: “Whoa!” (Use caution—can be inappropriate.)
Sus / Suss
Meaning: Origins Suspicious, sketchy, or shady behavior.
Translation: “That’s kinda fishy.”
Touch Grass
Meaning: Get offline and go outside.
Translation: “You need a reality check.”
Main Character Energy
Meaning: Someone confident or acting like the center of attention.
Translation: “They’re making it all about them, in a bold way.”
Cap / Capping
Meaning: A lie.
Translation: “That’s not true.”
No Cap
Meaning: You’re being honest.
Translation: “For real.”
Skibidi
Meaning: Random, chaotic meme from the internet.
Translation: “I can’t explain it. It’s just Gen Alpha energy.”
Slay
Meaning: To succeed or look amazing.
Translation: “You nailed it” or “You look fire.”
Bussin
Meaning: Delicious. Usually about food.
Translation: “So good I need seconds.”
Low Key
Meaning: Quietly or subtly.
Translation: “I’m kind of into it, but don’t make it a big deal.”
Mid
Meaning: Mediocre.
Translation: “It’s just okay.”
Disclaimer: After reading this list, my kids told me, “No one says that anymore.” So use with caution. And if they hit you with a side-eye? Congratulations, you’re officially fluent.
“If embarrassing my kids with Gen Alpha slang is wrong, I don’t wanna be ‘mid.’ No cap.”