TL;DR
If you feel like your kid is speaking a foreign language involving toilets and Midwestern states, you aren't alone. Most Gen Alpha slang originates from TikTok, Roblox, and Twitch streamers. The Essentials:
- Rizz: Charisma/flirting skills.
- Skibidi: Can mean "bad," "evil," or absolutely nothing (filler word).
- Ohio: Weird, cringey, or "only in Ohio."
- Sigma: Cool, stoic, or a "lone wolf" (can have toxic undertones).
- Fanum Tax: Stealing a bite of someone’s food.
Check out our full guide on TikTok safety Learn how to navigate Roblox social features
So, your ten-year-old just looked at your outfit, called it "mid," said you have "negative rizz," and then walked away chanting something about a toilet.
First of all, take a breath. You haven't failed as a parent, and your child hasn't joined a cult. They are just immersed in the hyper-fast, meme-driven language of Gen Alpha (kids born roughly 2010–2024).
Internet slang has always existed—we had "LOL" and "ROFL"—but the current iteration moves at the speed of a fiber-optic connection. By the time a word hits a morning talk show, it’s already "dead" (cringey) to your kids. This glossary is designed to help you decode the dinner table conversation without having to ask "What does that mean?" every five seconds—which, as we know, is the fastest way to get an eye roll.
Slang is, and always has been, about gatekeeping and community. It’s a way for kids to signal that they are part of the "in" group while keeping adults on the outside.
Today’s slang is unique because it’s heavily visual and auditory. It doesn't just come from books or movies; it comes from five-second soundbites on TikTok or YouTube Shorts. When a kid says "Skibidi," they aren't just saying a word; they are referencing an entire ecosystem of weird internet subculture.
If you’ve heard the word "Skibidi," you’ve likely encountered the weirdest phenomenon on the internet. It started as a series of YouTube videos featuring heads popping out of toilets.
- Meaning: It’s often used as an adjective for "bad" or "evil," but honestly? Most of the time, kids just use it as a filler word or a way to be annoying.
- The Verdict: It’s mostly brain rot (mindless entertainment), but it’s generally harmless unless they’re watching the later, more violent "war" episodes.
Rizz
- Meaning: Short for "charisma." If someone has "rizz," they are charming or good at flirting.
- Usage: "He’s got unspoken rizz."
- Parent Note: This is actually one of the more "normal" terms. It’s a compliment. If they say you have "negative rizz," they’re basically saying you’re awkward.
Ohio
- Meaning: Weird, chaotic, or "cursed."
- The Backstory: A long-running meme suggests that Ohio is a wasteland where monsters live.
- Usage: "That dog looks like it’s from Ohio."
Sigma
- Meaning: Originally meant to describe a "lone wolf" or a cool, dominant person who doesn't need social approval.
- The Red Flag: While often used jokingly, "Sigma" can sometimes be a gateway to "alpha male" content that leans into misogyny. If your kid is obsessed with being a "Sigma," it’s worth a chat about what they think that actually means.
Ask our chatbot about the "Sigma" to "Alpha Male" pipeline
Fanum Tax
- Meaning: Stealing a portion of someone's food.
- The Backstory: Named after a Twitch streamer, Fanum, who would "tax" his friends' meals by taking a bite.
- Usage: If you grab a fry off your kid's plate, you just "Fanum Taxed" them.
Gyatt
- Meaning: An exclamation used when seeing someone with a large posterior. It’s a shortened version of "God damn."
- The Verdict: This one is not great. It’s objectifying. If your middle schooler is shouting "Gyatt!" in the halls, they are commenting on someone's body. It’s a good time for a conversation about respect.
Delulu
- Meaning: Delusional.
- Usage: "I think I’m going to marry my celebrity crush." "You’re being totally delulu."
- The Verdict: Harmless and actually pretty funny.
Mewing
- Meaning: A tongue-placement technique meant to define the jawline.
- The Meme: Kids will put a finger to their lips (the "shhh" sign) and point to their jaw to indicate they can't talk because they are "mewing."
- Usage: It’s usually a way to ignore someone or act "too cool" to speak.
If you want to understand the source of the slang, you have to look at what they’re consuming. About 65% of kids ages 9-12 are spending significant time on Roblox, where chat rooms are hotbeds for new terms.
Meanwhile, YouTube creators like MrBeast or streamers on Twitch influence how kids speak in real-time. If a popular streamer uses a word once, it will be in your kitchen by the next morning.
The absolute epicenter of slang. Trends here last about 72 hours. If you want to stay ahead, you don’t need an account, but you should know that the "For You Page" (FYP) is where these words are born.
Much of the "gaming" slang (like "cranking 90s" or "sweaty") comes from here. It’s less about language and more about performance, but the terms bleed over into daily life.
Elementary School (Ages 6-10)
At this age, kids are mostly parroting what they hear older siblings or YouTubers say. They often don't even know what the words mean.
- Advice: If they say something like "Gyatt," explain that it’s a comment on someone's body and isn't polite. If they say "Skibidi," just let them have their fun—it’s the "cooties" of 2025.
Middle School (Ages 11-14)
This is the peak slang era. It’s a social currency.
- Advice: Don't try to use the slang to "be cool." You will fail, and it will be "cringe" (which is the ultimate sin). Instead, use it as a bridge. "I heard you say 'Sigma' earlier—what does that mean to you?"
High School (Ages 15-18)
By high school, kids are starting to move toward more "adult" internet slang, often influenced by AAVE (African American Vernacular English) or niche irony.
- Advice: Watch for "coded" language. While most slang is harmless, some terms are used to hide discussions about drugs, self-harm, or "hooking up" from parents. Check out our guide on coded emojis and hidden meanings
The most important thing to remember is that slang is temporary, but communication is permanent.
When we mock their language, we close a door. When we act like Skibidi Toilet is the downfall of Western civilization, we just look out of touch. (Is it weird? Yes. Is it worse than the nonsensical cartoons we watched in the 90s? Debatable.)
How to Talk About It
Instead of banning the words, ask for a "translation."
- "Hey, I keep hearing you say 'mid.' What's a movie we've seen recently that you think is actually mid?"
- "I saw a video about 'mewing'—is that actually a thing at school, or just a meme?"
This shows you’re paying attention without being the "language police." It also gives you an opening to discuss more serious topics, like how Instagram filters or "mewing" relate to body image.
Your kid isn't losing their ability to speak English; they’re just participating in a digital rite of passage. Most of this slang will be replaced by something even weirder by next year.
The goal isn't to speak their language—it's to understand it well enough to know when they're just being a kid and when they might be stumbling into something more mature than they can handle.
Next Steps
Learn more about the latest gaming trends for kids
Check out our guide on YouTube brain rot vs. educational content