The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that Gen Z (those born between the mid-1990s and mid-2010s) will make up about 30 percent of the U.S. civilian workforce by 2030, filling nearly 50 million jobs. That 30 percent estimate is likely to apply globally.
Every generation uses slang unique to its time and place. If you want to effectively communicate with Gen Z as they enter the workplace and marketplace, you need to understand and use the terms they use.
Matthew Woodward, founder of the SEO agency Search Logistics, says workplaces should strive to adapt to this new lingo. After all, understanding your coworkers is the key to improving team collaboration and building a positive workplace culture. If you’re a novelist with characters in that age group, you need to have them speaking realistic dialog. If you’re a content creator of any type and you want to reach Gen Zers, you need to speak their language.
“Gen Z’s slang isn’t just a quirky way of talking; it’s a window into their priorities—authenticity, connection, and efficiency,” says Woodward. “If businesses want to bridge the communication gap and get the best out of their Gen Z workforce, they need to embrace this change.”
Search Logistics compiled a list of some terms you’re likely to hear from Gen Zers and what they mean.
Finesse – Skillfully handling something. “She finessed that contract negotiation.”
Cap – A lie or falsehood. “That sales figure? Straight cap.”
No cap – The antonym to “Cap”, meaning genuinely; no lie. “We hit our targets this quarter, no cap.”
Stan – A devoted fan or supporter. “‘I’m such a Stan for the new marketing strategy.”
Deadass – Seriously; no joke. “Mark is deadass about hitting this deadline.”
Extra – Over the top or excessive. “That campaign idea is way too extra.”
Salty – Upset or bitter. “She’s still salty about that budget cut.”
Mid – Mediocre or average. “Lunch at the canteen was kinda mid today, not gonna lie.”
Glow-up – Significant improvement. “Our social media presence has had a serious glow-up!”
Lit – Exciting or impressive. “The new product launch is lit!”
Flex – To show off. “He’s flexing his design skills with that new logo.”
Bussin’ – Really good or impressive, usually relating to food. “This new canteen food is bussin’!”
Receipts – Proof or evidence. “Don’t believe me? I have receipts showing that they said that in an email!”
Woke – Socially aware or conscious. “The company’s policies are very woke.”
Clout – Influence or power. “She’s got clout in the industry now.”
Sus – Suspicious or sketchy. Made famous by the video game ‘Among Us’. “That deal seems a bit sus.”
Boomer – Someone out of touch with modern trends, usually used as an insult. “OK Boomer!”
Thirsty – Desperate for attention. “He’s thirsty for approval on this project.”
Drip – Cool or stylish appearance. “His new work suit is some serious drip.”
Gassed – Excited or hyped. “Everyone’s gassed about the staff party.”
Bet – Agreement or confirmation. “You got the report done?” “Bet.” “…Thanks, I guess?”
Karen/Kevin – Someone overly demanding. “Don’t be a Karen/Kevin about the deadline.”
Shook – Surprised or shocked. “I was shook by the results of the budget report!”
Yeet – To throw something forcefully. “He yeeted that paper airplane across the meeting room.”
Main character energy – Someone who is being confident and taking charge of their life. “You’re giving main character energy in this presentation.”
Simp – Someone who shows excessive attention to someone. “He’s simping hard for that client.”
Ghost – To cut off communication suddenly. “The client ghosted us after the demo.”
Pressed – Stressed or upset. “He’s pressed about missing the deadline.”
Savage – Bold or ruthless. “He is a savage when it comes to closing a sale.”
Finna – About to; going to. “I’m finna present this proposal now.”
Sauce – Confidence or swagger. “She brought the sauce to this presentation!”
Skrrt – To leave quickly. “We need to skrrt out of this conversation.”
Vibe check – Assessing the mood or energy of a situation. “That client did not pass the vibe check.”
YOLO – You only live once; taking risks. “YOLO—let’s pitch the big idea today!”
Chad – A confident or arrogant man. “He’s such a Chad when it comes to sales.”
FOMO – Fear of missing out. “I’ve got major FOMO about not attending the work party.”
Keep in mind, of course, that these are slang terms and aren’t appropriate to include in formal writing. But knowing these terms will help you glow-up your casual communication skills, no cap.
Search Logistics is an SEO agency with an elite team of SEO experts skilled at increasing search traffic and maximizing online presence for their clients. We appreciate them sharing this information with us.
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Jacquelyn's latest book is Christian Business Almanac: The Ultimate Daily Guide for Kingdom-Driven Entrepreneurs and Leaders.
She is the author of the nonfiction books Simple Facts About Self-Publishing (Second Edition), Words to Work By: 31 devotions for the workplace based on the Book of Proverbs and Finding Joy in the Morning: You can make it through the night as well as the novel Choices (A Joyful Cup Story). With her husband, she is the co-creator of several coloring books for adults and the novelty My Book About series.
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