13 Gen Z slang terms taking over the internet

If hours of doomscrolling have ever left your brain feeling like mush, you’ve probably come across a whole new vocabulary that barely sounds like English. And if you’ve smiled and nodded without knowing what any of it meant—don’t worry, you’re not alone. Gen Z lingo moves fast, blending internet humour and pop culture into snappy, bite-sized phrases that spread like wildfire on social media. Keeping up with peak internet brainrot can feel like a full-time job, but this cheat sheet has got you covered.

IJBOL

Move over, LOL—IJBOL is the new go-to for online laughter. Dating back to 2009, the acronym for “I just burst out laughing” skyrocketed to global fame thanks to TikTok and K-pop fandoms. It’s the perfect response for those moments of uncontrollable laughter that feel way too intense for a basic “haha”. Millennials won’t love this, but when’s the last time LOL actually made anyone laugh out loud?

they’re always ijboling never not ijboling pic.twitter.com/0BxGWrsNzp

— ♡ (@idreamaboutit) November 12, 2023

POOKIE

Originally a pet name for real-life relationships, “pookie” has taken on a second life online. It’s become a staple term of endearment for friends, celebrities and fictional characters across the internet when a simple “babe” just won’t cut it. The nickname was popularised on TikTok by creators like JayRScotty (@jrscottyy) and Prayag (@444pray), whose followers affectionately dubbed “pookie”, turning it into a full-on trend.

sometimes pookie is a 51 year old mother of two 😌 pic.twitter.com/QhPFtu7CzQ

— Elle All Along (@DSMSIX) February 8, 2025

PMO

This acronym has been taking over social media lately, becoming Gen Z’s favourite shorthand for expressing frustration online. Originally gaining traction on Stan Twitter (now X), the term quickly spread to TikTok and beyond, where users drop it in comment sections and captions to vent their irritation. The abbreviation TS (this sh*t) often precedes PMO to add extra emphasis—because sometimes, you just need everyone to know how much something truly pisses you off.

EVERYTHING PMO STOP pic.twitter.com/wkW2qw912i

— vy ⭑ .ᐟ (@vylantic) March 6, 2025

MY SHAYLA

The internet is flooded with videos using the viral My Shayla audio, but who exactly is she? The phrase comes from a 2017 video of actor Tyrese Gibson tearfully pleading for his daughter, Shayla, during a custody battle. TikTok turned his emotional outburst into a meme, using it to dramatise everything from minor inconveniences to full-blown meltdowns. Whether you’re mourning sold-out concert tickets or missing your ex, this audio captures the perfect level of exaggerated despair.

MY SHAYLA IS BACKKK 😭 sooo excited to see #Felix stun at the Louis Vuitton show for #ParisFashionWeek ✨#PFW2025 #FELIXxLouisVuittonPFW #FELIXxLVHouseAmbassador pic.twitter.com/oZ2id2UhXg

— MTV UK (@MTVUK) March 6, 2025

REHEATING NACHOS 

Just like how nachos lose their crispiness after reheating, this phrase perfectly describes celebrities or artists who try to replicate past successes—or imitate someone else’s style—and miss the mark. The term exploded in early 2025 after Lady Gaga and Benson Boone were accused of “reheating nachos” when fans slammed their attempts to recreate the originality or magic of their previous work. However, the term can also be used to praise an artist who successfully revives a nostalgic vibe or puts a fresh spin on an old hit.

ariana needs to reheat THESE nachos actually. pic.twitter.com/kXcsGoZDDP

— ariana grande gifs (@vodolove) March 4, 2025

CEO OF…

Being the chief executive officer doesn’t require any qualifications now—at least not according to Gen Z. All you have to do is become the master of a specific skill or trait, and suddenly, you’re the CEO of it. The phrase gained attention on TikTok and X, where users started tagging themselves or others as the CEO of everything. It’s become a fun way to celebrate niche expertise and self-appointed dominance in any given area, all without the need for an official corporate title.

never forget that Olivia Rodrigo is the CEO of trying to “fix” broken men pic.twitter.com/UXsaWbvBhR

— Anisa (@anisataylivia) April 11, 2024

BET

“Bet” is Gen Z’s version of “roger that”—a quick, confident way to say “okay” or “I’m down”. Though it dates back to the 1850s, it’s now the go-to phrase for quickly acknowledging something, whether online or in person.

IGHT BET IM WATCHING THE BOYS https://t.co/FaxP5EojW3

— Calcifer (@calaytia) February 26, 2025

IT’S GIVING

“It’s giving” can be attributed to African American Vernacular English (AAVE), and has become a shorthand for expressing when something hits the mark or gives off the right vibe. Users often pair it with “slay” to amplify the praise, or relate it to pop culture icons by drawing references to celebrities, fictional characters, or famous TV personalities.

it’s giving regina george before she gets hit by a bus pic.twitter.com/aFYc8Qbsby

— emma (@hnnymoonave) October 13, 2024

ICK

“Ick” has been around in internet slang for a while. Although the term was popularised by Love Island in 2017, it blew up on TikTok in 2020, with countless videos of women sharing experiences of noticing little things in their partners that are unappealing or cringe-worthy. These videos quickly became a viral trend, with people listing their quirkiest deal-breakers.

the ick is like he puts vaseline on his lips and it leaves a white mark and now for some reason you can’t stand him😭 https://t.co/UKrKtt0uON

— t (@tiannelisex) October 15, 2020

LIVING RENT FREE

Have you ever been overly obsessed with someone or something? Gen Z uses this phrase as a way to express how certain things or people are stuck in one’s head without paying any sort of mental cost, whether in a positive or negative way. The term gained traction on social media, where users joked about how certain ideas, people, or events would “live rent-free” in their minds.

rent free, no mortgage, no loans, zero debt pic.twitter.com/ShKElY4CWD

— ♰ (@mimiscatalog) December 30, 2024

MOTHER

“Mother” is used as a term of high praise, often directed at someone who embodies confidence, strength, or excellence. It’s often used to elevate people to a queen-like status. The phrase is believed to have roots in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly within drag culture, where “mother” was used to describe a dominant and respected figure or matriarch within a drag family.

MOTHER OMG pic.twitter.com/lWgcJ82T0W

— blackpink (@blckpinkpic) March 1, 2025

ATE

It’s the internet’s way of saying someone “nailed it” or “killed it”—because let’s face it, no one just gives a regular compliment anymore. If you’re not going all out with praise, are you even really complimenting? The phrase comes from the idea of someone devouring or destroying something with ease. To emphasise just how flawless something was, people often add “and left no crumbs”, further stressing the perfection.

this sabrina carpenter look ate so bad omg pic.twitter.com/UIrQ8oERPI

— hawa🪞 (@diorbabe66) August 10, 2024

GREEN/RED FLAG

In dating and relationships, green flags and red flags have become popular terms to describe desirable or concerning traits. The former refers to a positive characteristic or behaviour that indicates someone is a good match, while the latter signals warning signs that suggest trouble ahead. People who fall somewhere in between are often called beige flags—neither exciting nor disastrous, just…there.

Fictional men who are obvious red flag just hit different idc idc pic.twitter.com/Zmxim18aDZ

— Alizeyyy ✷ (@miss__kyoshi) March 14, 2023

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