TL;DR: Your kid isn't speaking a foreign language; they’re speaking "Internet." Most Gen Alpha slang like "rizz" or "Ohio" is harmless—if annoying—wordplay. The real boundary needs to be drawn when slang crosses into "brainrot" territory (low-effort, high-stimulus content) or adopts the casual misogyny often baked into "Sigma" culture.
Quick Links for Navigating the Noise:
- YouTube Shorts - The primary delivery system for "brainrot."
- Skibidi Toilet - The surrealist YouTube series that started a thousand memes.
- Roblox - Where most of this vocabulary is peer-tested.
- The Good Place - A great show for teaching kids about ethics and language impact.
If you’ve heard your third-grader describe a sandwich as "mid," or your middle-schooler tell you that you have "negative rizz" because you wore socks with sandals, you’ve entered the Gen Alpha lexicon. Unlike Gen Z slang, which often felt like an evolution of African American Vernacular English (AAVE), Gen Alpha slang is a hyper-speed mashup of gaming culture, YouTube algorithms, and literal nonsense.
It’s fast, it’s recursive, and it’s designed to be "cringe" to anyone over the age of 20. But here’s the reality: language is the first way kids claim autonomy. By using words you don't understand, they are creating a "walled garden" for their peer group.
The Gen Alpha Dictionary
- Rizz: Derived from "charisma." Having "rizz" means you're smooth or charming.
- Ohio: Used to describe anything weird, cringey, or "only in Ohio." (Apologies to the Buckeye State, you're just a meme now).
- Sigma: Originally meant a "lone wolf," but now just means someone who is cool, stoic, or dominant. Warning: This one often overlaps with toxic "alpha male" content.
- Gyatt: A shortened exclamation of "God damn," usually used when seeing someone with a large posterior. This is one to watch for boundary-setting.
- Fanum Tax: Stealing a bit of someone’s food. (Named after the creator Fanum).
- Brainrot: A self-aware term for content that is mindless, loud, and nonsensical—like watching 50 YouTube Shorts in a row.
Ask our chatbot for a full breakdown of current slang terms
It’s about belonging. When a kid says "Skibidi" in the middle of a Roblox lobby and everyone laughs, they’ve achieved social currency.
There’s also an element of absurdism. Gen Alpha is growing up in a world of AI-generated hallucinations and deepfakes; their humor reflects that. Skibidi Toilet isn't "good" in any traditional sense—it's a series of videos about heads popping out of toilets—but it’s a shared cultural touchstone. It’s their version of Beavis and Butt-Head, just shorter and more frequent.
As parents, we need to distinguish between "annoying but harmless" and "disrespectful or harmful."
1. The "Cringe" Category (Harmless)
If your kid calls their homework "L-rizz" or says "no cap" after every sentence, let it go. It’s annoying, but it’s not hurting anyone. If you try to ban "rizz," you’re just becoming the "Ohio" parent.
2. The "Brainrot" Category (The Wellness Boundary)
The term "brainrot" is actually useful. It describes the state of mind after consuming too much TikTok or YouTube Shorts. The Boundary: "You can use the words, but we aren't going to let our brains rot." Set limits on the delivery systems of the slang, not the words themselves.
3. The "Cruel/Disrespectful" Category (The Hard No)
This is where we draw the line.
- "Gyatt": This is often objectifying. In our house, we explain that commenting on people's bodies—even in "meme speak"—is off-limits.
- "Sigma" Culture: Be careful here. The "Sigma" meme is often a gateway to influencers like Andrew Tate. If your kid starts using "Sigma" to justify being mean, stoic to the point of unkindness, or dismissive of women, it's time for a serious talk.
Learn more about how "Sigma" culture impacts boys
If you want to combat the "brainrot" with content that actually has some nutritional value, here are a few picks that use language well or encourage better communication:
Ages 8-12 This book is a masterclass in communication. It follows a robot who has to learn the "language" of the animals on an island to survive. It’s a great way to talk about how the words we choose help us connect with different groups.
Ages 3-9 I know, it’s for "little kids," but even older siblings can learn from how the Heelers handle "made-up words" and play. Bluey shows that play can be silly without being mindless.
Ages 12+ If you have a middle or high schooler, this show is the ultimate antidote to "brainrot." It’s hilarious, but it deals with complex ethics and the weight of our words. Plus, the "forking" gag is a great example of how language boundaries can be creative.
Ages 6-12 Instead of the high-decibel screaming of MrBeast, try this. It’s fast-paced and engaging but focuses on actual science and curiosity.
Lower Elementary (K-2nd Grade)
At this age, they’re mostly parroting what they hear from older siblings or on the playground.
- The Move: Keep it simple. "That word sounds silly, but it's not a 'school word' or a 'dinner table word.'" You don't need to explain the nuances of "Skibidi."
Upper Elementary (3rd-5th Grade)
This is the peak "brainrot" era. They want to fit in.
- The Move: Create a "Family Dictionary." Let them teach you five new words a week. It takes the power out of the "secret language" and lets you vet the meanings.
Middle School (6th-8th Grade)
This is where the "Sigma" and "Gyatt" stuff usually creeps in.
- The Move: Focus on impact over intent. "I know you're joking when you say that, but here is how it sounds to the person you're talking to." Middle schoolers are hyper-aware of social status; help them see how certain slang actually makes them look less "Sigma" (cool) and more like a follower.
When the slang starts flying, don't get angry. Get curious.
Try these scripts:
- "I've heard that word 'rizz' a lot lately. What’s the difference between having 'rizz' and just being a nice person?"
- "I noticed you're watching a lot of those 'Skibidi' videos. What’s the funniest part to you? Because to me, it just looks like a head in a toilet."
- "In our house, we don't use words that treat people like objects. That includes 'Gyatt.' Let's find a different way to be funny."
Check out our guide on having hard conversations about digital culture
Gen Alpha slang is a phase, just like "rad," "tubular," or "on fleek" were for previous generations. Most of it is just kids being kids in a digital-first world.
The goal isn't to police every "cap" or "bet," but to ensure that our kids' vocabulary remains rooted in empathy and respect. If they want to say the dinner you cooked is "Ohio," that’s a conversation about manners. If they’re using slang to bully or objectify, that’s a conversation about character.
Next Steps:
- Audit the Algorithm: Take a look at their YouTube or TikTok feed together. If it's 100% "brainrot," introduce some educational YouTube channels to balance the scales.
- Set the "Dinner Table Rule": Slang is fine for gaming, but "Standard English" (or whatever your primary home language is) is for family time.
- Stay Informed: Use the Screenwise chatbot whenever a new word pops up that makes you tilt your head.
Ask our chatbot if a specific app is contributing to "brainrot"