By Julie-Ann Sherlock

I recently turned 50 and am firmly a Gen Xer with my I don’t take crap from anyone attitude and a bit of a middle-child syndrome thrown in for good measure. Like many of my generation, resilience and independence could be my middle names as I navigate the world with the confidence of someone who has survived some of the world’s pivotal moments.

But this self-reliance and the wealth of knowledge garnered from my many years on this planet falls foul of one aspect of today’s society: Generation Z’s lingo. 

These new pups on the block, like the generations before, have brought their own words into play, making my cool seem so uncool and have me feeling like I need to take a chill pill before I get cancelled by the youth of today. 

So welcome, fellow oldies, as I try to bridge the generation gap and spill the tea on the secret language of the young and hip – Gen Z! Don’t worry; I’ll help you navigate this strange new world. So buckle up, prepare to be on point, and impress your kids or grandkids with your newfound lingo skills. 

Keep Your Emoji Game Strong 💪

Emojis are the backbone of Gen Z communication. 🙌 Embrace these little pictorial wonders and use them liberally in your texts and social media posts. This generation are digital natives. They grew up in a world that already had Google, mobile phones and internet so using these modern-day hieroglyphics is natch for them.

From the classic 😂 for laughter to the adorable 🐶 for cuteness overload, emojis add that much-needed flair to your conversations. A well-placed emoji is worth a thousand words, but please, go easy on the eggplant and peaches unless you are sure they are appropriate for the convo.

Acronyms Are Life

OMG, IMHO, TTYL… Acronyms are the lifeblood of Gen Z conversations. These snappy abbreviations save time and show off your coolness. So instead of typing out “laughing out loud,” simply go for the ever-popular LOL. Other terms such as BRB, NGL and ICYMI will help elevate your text game to Gucci levels. 

Take the time to figure them out, and not only will you save some texting time, but you will also have the chance to impress those hip young things FTW. YOLO, so you don’t want to suffer from FOMO by spending too much time messaging. Remember, efficiency is key when it comes to keeping up with the youngsters!  

Flex Your Slang Muscle 💪

Want to sound like a true Gen Zer? Then, sprinkle some slang into your conversations. Use words like drip to describe someone’s style and how you love their fit, especially if they have just had a glow-up and look particularly snatched. When the vibe is good, and there’s a bop playing, join the Gen Zers in calling the night fire or lit. 

But don’t get salty if it takes some time to learn the slang. They may drag you for a while, but when you get the hang of it, you will be less sus and may even be treated like fam. I mean, IFYKYK, right?!

Hashtag Your Heart Out 📱

Hashtags are your ticket to thriving in the social media universe. Be sure to add them to your captions and comments to join trending conversations. Just don’t go overboard; nobody wants to see #EverySingleWordInYourSentenceHashtags. 

Like with the acronyms, keep it relevant and concise, and you’ll be hashtagging like a pro in no time. You may even be awarded #GOAT status. Just make sure that whatever your hot take on the topic is, it is #OnFleek. The last thing you need is someone putting you on blast over your lack of understanding the assignment. 

Embrace the Memes 😂

Memes are the language of the internet, and Gen Z loves them! They’re like inside jokes that unite people across the world. Even if people don’t talk regularly, they share memes through messaging apps like their lives depend on them. Don’t shy away from sharing a sick meme or two with the Zs; they will be here for this and stan you for being so savage. 

The more topical you can get, the better your cred will be. No cap. YNK, you might even become the coolest CEO on the block!

Right, I finna dip now and return to the language I know best. I hope you enjoyed your crash course in speaking Gen Z. You might actually be shook by how easy it is to communicate with our younger generations if you make a little effort to learn their slang and ways of expressing themselves.

TLDR? Basically, to thrive in their world, sprinkle your conversations with emojis, acronyms, slang, hashtags, and memes. However, make sure you don’t go from rad to ratchet by being too extra. 

Oh and one last thing… apologies to my Gen Z son for being so cringe. #SorryNotSorry