Hello peeps,
Welcome to another issue of Girlsplaining, where I - a girl - explain things. I don't pretend to be an expert on these topics; in fact, I am not. But I'm a fast learner, and I can easily explain the basics to increase your chances of someday winning 'Who wants to be a millionaire?' with every article you read.
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Today's email has much more street knowledge than academic. If you need someone to keep you young, the way the plastics did with Regina George's mom on Mean Girls, keep reading because that person is me.
What are centennials/gen zers?
Before I explain their slang, I want to tell you a little about who they are.
The gen zers or centennials are people who were born between the late nineties and today. Some authors define it among those born after 1996 and others after 2000.
Sociologists are already discussing a new generation called the Alpha (Born after 2020.) But that is a topic for another email.
(Here is the illustration of a Gen Zer that I used in my university thesis. Design: María Belén Daboin)
Usually, generations divide people by age groups of approximately 20 years. Because this habilitates the possibility to evaluate how new technologies affect the development of these people.
For example, it's not that the average today's baby is smarter than Plato just because the baby knows how to change a YouTube video on an iPad. It's the fact that technology has evolved much faster than our brains have, and we learn to use the tools around for our development.
That is why technology shapes humans and why generations mainly study this interaction. Also, is one of the reasons why it is impossible for there to be a single answer about the start and end year of a generation.
Since technology reaches countries or continents at different rates and times, age groups change due to their new technology exposure.
Anyway, it's time to get down to business. Like all generations, centennials also have their own codes, and with the rise of TikTok, we are increasingly being exposed to listening to them interact without understanding. Today I will explain what the most popular words or phrases are and what they mean.
List of words most used by gen zers:
Although they are in English, these phrases are used by teenagers worldwide and adapted to their local language.
Cap | No cap (🧢):this word is used to refer to something true or false. Cap, it's a lie; no cap, it's true.
For example, let's say someone uploads a video to TikTok saying that 10 years ago, at a party, they kissed Harry Styles. If there is not enough evidence, the comments will likely be filled with thousands of cap emojis, meaning they don't believe the story.
Simp: someone who tries too hard or does a lot for someone they like, and everyone notices.
Tea: gossip, a succulent story.
Stan: when you're a little bit more than just a fan of something, but don't get to cross the weird / stalker line. There are many Twitter accounts with names like this "Shawn Mendes stan account." It means they are Shawn Mendes fans, know everything about him, but it is not creepy.
Thicc: when a woman is curvy in "the right" places. (Notice "the right" in quotations because everybody is beautiful, and it's time to challenge the use of those adjectives towards bodies).
Thirsty:a person who is desperate for romantic attention.
Wack: something that didn't work or went wrong. For example, the party was wack. It means the party was terrible.
Shook: something that you cannot believe happened, or you did not imagine was going to happen, and you’re surprised by it.
Flex: when you brag about something you are or have. For example, my biggest flex is that I could celebrate my last two birthdays out of quarantine.
Fit:an outfit, the clothes they put on that day.
Clown/Clowned/Clowning🤡: you made a fool of yourself. You were ashamed.
Cringe/cringy: when something causes you discomfort to see, do, or hear. For example, explaining centennial slang and googling a few words makes me cringe.
Try this, record yourself with the selfie camera on Instagram as if you were promoting a product. Watch the video. The sensation that is going to give you that video is cringe.
Fire: something cool, good.
Glow-up:the transformation from something less attractive to something very attractive.
For example, when someone is filmed in their pajamas just woken up and then show their change at night when they have makeup on, have done their hair, and have a sick outfit. That is a glow-up.
💀😩: laughs. The centennial for "It's so funny, I'm dying."
Final warning:
Now that you know what these words mean, use the list to understand when they speak, but not to use them in your day-to-day life.
Doing so can be counterproductive, and you could earn the rejection of the entire generation. You can even get canceled - like skinny jeans and the side part -.
Look at all the things you learned today:
Generations are groups of people that are separated by age ranges of approximately 20 years.
New technologies affect people and their development.
The brain of today's babies is very similar to Plato's, but with an iPad.
Each generation has its own language codes and jargon.
Slang exceeds the limits of the language.
Being a millennial or older and using these words can be very cringy, no cap.
Thanks for reading. I hope you learned something. If so, please recommend it, leave a comment if you want me to explain any particular topic, or buy me a beer if you truly enjoyed it.
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