Generation Alpha Slang: What do Rizz, Aura Points, Sigma, Skibbidi Ohio mean?
Rizz, aura points, sigma: Can experienced reporter Mark Williams keep up with the kids’ slang?
Do you have the Skibidi Ohio Rizz?
Or do you even know what it means? With the start of a new school year, the latest wave of teen slang hits us, and some millennials and Gen Xers are wondering if it’s time to go to the nursing home.
School start dates: Franklin County children go back to school
Many of the slang expressions on this list fall into the category of “brain rot,” which, according to the New York Times, describes the state of mind of people who are constantly online and consuming low-quality content. While some of the slang expressions used by Generation Alpha have a logical explanation, others on this list have a certain surrealist bent or are coined by popular online influencers.
The Dispatch selected terms commonly seen online by conducting an informal survey of high school students about words they and others use.
Are you suffering from brain rot? Here’s your guide to some slang expressions you might hear from Generation Alpha this year:
What are these damn children saying?
Eaten/eats: According to Keyhole, when you say someone “ate it,” it means the person did something exceptionally well or deserves praise. “Have you heard Charli XCX’s latest album? She ate.”
Aura points: “Aura points are a humorous way to measure coolness based on a TikTok trend, according to Polygon.”Have you seen her new shoes? She has definitely gained weight some aura points.”
Cap/No Cap: According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, “cap” means “to lie, boast, or pretend” (although this meaning is not yet officially established). “No cap” means you are truthful or honest. “Joe said he didn’t take my food, but I think that’s Cap.”
drops: Drip means cool, stylish, or fashionable clothing, according to Arizona State University. When someone is “driped out,” it means they are dressed stylishly. “I just went to the mall and bought a new IV.”
Fanum tax: The act of stealing someone’s food without their permission. It originated with online comedy creator Fanum, who, according to Business Insider, is part of streamer and YouTuber Kai Cenat’s “influencer crew.” Fanum is known for jokingly taking other people’s food and calling it a “tax.” “I took the fries away from him when he wasn’t looking – he had to pay the fanum tax.”
Goat: An acronym meaning “The Greatest of All Time.” LeBron James is the scapegoat. He has been hunted since he was in Cleveland.
Gyatt/Gyat: Gyatt or gyat (Ge-yaht) is used to express great excitement, surprise, or admiration, often in reference to the sight of a big butt, according to Dictionary.com. It can also be used as a standalone term for a big butt.
Looksmaxxing: “Looksmaxxing” is an online movement dedicated to optimizing one’s physical appearance, often through various techniques including enhancing the jawline, skin care and muscles, according to the BBC. “Riley has been obsessed with Looksmaxxing videos on TikTok lately.”
Meow: According to the BBC, mewing is a lookmaxxing technique that aims to improve the jawline by holding the tongue to the roof of the mouth. Mewing originated from a controversial British orthodontist named John Mew, who developed a method called “orthotropy.” According to the BBC, there is little evidence of its effectiveness. “Dude, are you seriously meowing? Are you looking your absolute best?”
Mog: According to Vice News, “liking” means being significantly more attractive than the other person, thereby reducing their attractiveness in comparison. “He was bothering everyone else at the party with his drip.”
Ohio: No, they’re not really talking about the Buckeye State. Unfortunately for Ohioans, “Ohio” has a slang meaning of weird, funny, embarrassing, or stupid. The origins likely lie in a series of memes like “it’s all Ohio” or “Can’t even X in Ohio” that circulated in online culture in the 2020s, according to Know Your Meme. “Did you see what she was dressed in to school today? She’s so Ohioan.”
Rizz: An abbreviation of the word “charisma,” which, according to Merriam-Webster, is used to express someone’s success in attracting romantic partners. “He spent the whole party picking up girls.”
Rizzler: According to the New York Times, a Rizzler is someone who successfully flirts with people.
Sigma: A “sigma” (based on the Greek alphabet) is a man who has transcended the hierarchy of “alpha” and “beta” males and is often characterized by quiet success, or someone who is a social outcast by choice and “plays by his own rules,” according to Know Your Meme. Colloquially, it can simply mean “good” or “best.”
Skibidi (Skibidi toilet): “Skibidi” refers to a series of surrealist videos popular on YouTube in which an army of toilets with human heads wage war against another army of men with camera heads, according to Forbes. Skibidi is largely meaningless as a slang word and simply refers to the video series.
Slain: According to Dictionary.com, when you “slay” something, it means you do it particularly well. “Have you heard Charli XCX’s latest album? She’s awesome.”
Stand by the business: According to USA TODAY, “standing on business” (sometimes spelled “standing on bidness”) means following through on your commitments or putting your words into action. “I told you I would do this. I mean business.”
What’s up, brother?: Saying “What’s up, bro?” while pointing the index finger in the air is a reference to the popular streamer Sketch, who uses the phrase as a sort of catchphrase, according to USA TODAY.
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