Cracking the Code: A Parent’s Guide to Gen Z and Gen Alpha Slang
Every parent knows that feeling: your child has just finished a long, animated story and you realise you only understood about four words. The rest sounds like a completely different language made up of slang, inside jokes and TikTok trends.
To truly celebrate our favourite little humans, it helps to understand the way they speak – or at least try to. Today’s kids are growing up in a world shaped by social media, fast‑changing “brainrot” content, and online culture that creates new phrases almost overnight. It is no wonder so many parents feel left behind when it comes to modern slang.
Why Kids Speak So Differently
If your child is Gen Z (born roughly between 1997 and 2010) or Gen Alpha (born after 2010), their language is heavily influenced by what they see and hear online. Short videos, memes and trending audio clips all introduce new expressions that quickly become part of their everyday vocabulary with friends.
For parents, this can be frustrating and even worrying. You want to know what your child is talking about, what they are laughing at, and whether something is harmless fun or a red flag. Learning a few popular slang terms is a simple way to feel more connected and confident.
That is where be.UP comes in. After spending many hours every day training, playing and chatting with kids, our team has put together an easy “translation guide” to help you decode some of the most common slang words you might hear.
Kid Slang Translation Guide For Parents
Below are a few popular slang terms, what they mean in “parent language”, and how your child might use them in a sentence.
| Term | Parent Translation | Example in the Wild |
| Rizz | Charisma; being smooth or cool. | “That kid has main character rizz.” |
| Aura | Your overall vibe or “cool” factor. | “Helping a friend? +1000 aura points.” |
| Sigma | A “boss” or someone who is stoic/cool. | “He handled that fall like a total sigma.” |
| Cooked | To be in trouble or a lost cause. | “I forgot my grip socks… I’m cooked.” |
| Let him cook | Let them finish their idea or process. | “He’s figuring out the climbing wall—let him cook!” |
| Fanum Tax | Stealing a bite of someone else’s food. | “Dad just took a Fanum Tax of my pizza.” |
| Sus | Short for suspicious or “dodgy.” | “That jump looks a bit sus.” |
| Cap / No Cap | Lying vs. Telling the truth. | “This is the best day ever, no cap!” |
| Yap | To talk, and talk a lot, sometimes without a real point | “I love yapping with you” |
How To Use Slang Without The Eye Rolls
Now that you know what some of these words mean, you might be tempted to try them out. Just be warned: hearing a parent talk about “rizz” or “fanum tax” can lead to dramatic eye rolls and loud sighs from your kids. To them, adults using their slang can feel a bit “sus” too.
The goal is not to become fluent in every new phrase, but to show your child that you are interested in their world. Even if you get it slightly wrong, the effort matters. Your child will notice that you are listening and trying to understand – and they may even enjoy teaching you the “right” way to say things.
At be.UP, we know it takes time to learn this new language. We spend our days chatting, playing and yes, “yapping” with kids, so we see how much they appreciate adults who make the effort to connect with them on their level.
Swap Screen Time For Real‑Life “Yap” Time
Instead of only hearing slang through a screen, why not give your child the space to use it in real‑life, active play? This Youth Day, swap some screen time for airtime at our parks. Let them burn off that “brainrot” energy by climbing, jumping and yapping with friends in a safe, active environment.
Whether your child is a “sigma” on the climbing wall or just there to “yap” and laugh with their crew, be.UP gives them room to be themselves, use their language and feel like the main character – no cap.
If you hear any new words at home that you do not understand, share them with us on Facebook or Instagram. We might just be able to translate them for you!
