Do you prefer to “chillax” or “vibe"? If someone wears a lot of jewellery are they “blinged up” or “iced out”? Do you think of a “catfish” as a freshwater fish with a flattened head and whisker-like protrusions from its mouth, or a person who creates a fake online persona to trick people into handing over sensitive information?
For their 90th birthday, cultural organisation the British Council have pulled together a list of 90 words that have captured “shifts over time in culture, technology, society and the environment”. They picked out words which were coined in every decade, going back to the 1930s, which still have significance today, like “artificial intelligence” in the 1950s and “intersectionality” in the 80s.
Slang is moving at a rate of knots, and how you interpret a word can reveal your age. So, take our quiz to see whether your use of language is boomer, millennial or Gen Z.
What do you think of when you hear the word “drip”?
A) A tube which passes fluids or nutrients into the body intravenously
B) Having cool fashion sense
C) A soppy, wet blanket of a person
What do you think of when you hear the word “rizz”?
A) A nickname for Betty Rizzo from Grease
B) A shortening of “charisma”
C) A shortening for Rizla, the rolling paper
What do you think of when you hear the word “blockbuster”?
A) Large bombs in World War II that could destroy a block of houses
B) A smash-hit Hollywood film
C) A video rental store
If you “ghost” someone, are you…
A) …Writing something for them which their name will appear on?
B) ...Ignoring their messages?
C) …Sneaking up on them?
Is a “brat”:
A) A spoilt child?
B) A hedonistic party girl?
C) A German sausage?
If someone said “I’m dead”, what do they mean?
A) I’m not alive
B) I’m laughing
C) I’m boring
If you answered...
Mostly As: then your use of language is typical of a Boomer
Mostly Bs: we reckon you’re a Gen Z
Mostly Cs: you’re a classic Millennial
Now it’s time to test your knowledge of Gen Z slang
If you think that slang like “sick” and “cold” has negative connotations, chances are you weren’t born in this century. It feels like words are taking on new meanings every day, and the advent of social media has enabled colloquialisms to spread like wildfire. Test how down with the kids you are by picking out the definition of these popular Gen Z slang words.
1. What does it mean if someone is “snatched”?
A) They’ve been kidnapped
B) They have a narrow waist
C) They’re angry
2. What is a “Zaddy”?
A) A Gen Z father
B) A bad neighbourhood
C) An attractive older man
3. What does “cheugy” mean?
A) Uncool
B) Smelly
C) Stupid
4. What does FR stand for
A) France
B) For real
C) Fake romance
5. What does “salty” mean?
A) Irritated
B) Dry
C) Funny
Answers
1:B
2:C
3:A
4:B
5:A
