Unpacking Millennial and Gen Z Lingo: Part Two

In this second segment of our deep dive into the language of Millennials and Gen Z, we explore ten more terms that are central to understanding their unique communication style. Each term will be accompanied by an explanation and an example to highlight how they are used in everyday conversations.

TBH (To Be Honest) Explanation: Used to introduce a candid statement. Example: TBH, I only go to the gym for the smoothie bar.

FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)

Explanation: "FOMO" is the anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere.

Example: Jenny's FOMO was so strong that she showed up to a party uninvited, only to find out it was a book club meeting.

Salty

Explanation: Being "salty" means being upset or bitter, often over something minor.

Example: Stephen got so salty when he lost at the golf tournament that he declared his golf club was "obviously defective" and stormed off.

Receipts

Explanation: Receipts are evidence or proof, often used in the context of screenshots or messages.

Example: When Mikayla accused me of eating her cookies, I came back with receipts: a video of her sleepwalking to the kitchen at 2 AM.

Stan

Explanation: To "stan" someone means to be an overzealous or obsessive fan.

Example: I stan Beyonce so hard that my friends joke I have a shrine to her in my closet - and honestly, they're not entirely wrong.

Extra

Explanation: "Being extra" means being overly dramatic or excessive.

Example: When Jake showed up to the picnic with a gourmet three-course meal, we all agreed he was being extra - but the cheesecake was gucci.

Woke

Explanation: "Woke" refers to being aware of social and political issues.

Example: David is so woke he started a protest when our office switched to single-use coffee pods; he's now our official sustainability guru.

YOLO (You Only Live Once)

Explanation: Encourages taking risks.

Example: Just bought a trampoline for my apartment. YOLO.

IMO (In My Opinion)

Explanation: Prefaces a personal view.

Example: Yo, IMO, pineapple does belong on pizza.

Understanding the evolving lingo of Millennials and Gen Z not only keeps us in the loop, but also adds a touch of satire to our interactions. From navigating receipts and FOMO to staying woke and flexing, these terms offer a glimpse into the dynamic and often playful world of younger generations. Embracing this vocabulary helps bridge generational gaps and ensures our conversations stay as lit as the latest TikTok trend.