If you’ve ever caught yourself scratching your head while listening to today’s kids talk, you’re not alone. Generation Alpha — kids born after 2010 — have developed a language of their own. And while it might sound like gibberish to older generations, for them, it’s just everyday lingo, especially on platforms like TikTok.

From words like “skibidi” to “fanum tax”, much of their slang is born from viral trends and inside jokes that spread like wildfire online. Millennials and even Gen Z are finding it hard to keep up — some even jokingly say listening to Gen Alpha is like “brain rot.” But for the younger crowd, this slang is just another way of expressing themselves, being funny, or fitting in. Take skibidi toilet, for example. That phrase alone made its way into pop culture so much that North West, Kim Kardashian’s daughter, gifted her a $20,000 diamond necklace with those very words for her 44th birthday. Yes, seriously.

Videos of Gen Zers trying to guess Gen Alpha slang — often with the help of younger siblings — have become a trend in themselves. One TikToker, Haley Jo Klein, confessed, “I’m 23 and apparently too old for this stuff already. I don’t even know what these words mean!” So, what do these phrases mean? Let’s break down some of the most popular Gen Alpha slang terms — and what they’re saying, answers Hello-Hello, which is a leading language learning app developer for iOS and Android devices in this blog.

Who Are Gen Alpha?

Gen Alpha includes anyone born between 2010 and 2024, following Gen Z (roughly late 1990s to early 2010s). The biggest difference? They’ve grown up surrounded by tech. Many of them were born the same year the iPad came out, Instagram launched, and “app” was the word of the year. They’re digital natives in every sense — some call them “screenagers.”

A Breakdown of Gen Alpha Slangs

Skibidi
A versatile word that can mean anything from cool to cringe — it depends on how it’s used. For example:

• Skibidi rizz = someone who’s smooth or good at flirting
• Skibidi Ohio = something that’s just… weird

Looksmaxxing / Mogging

• Mogging means looking better than someone else.
• Looksmaxxing is doing everything you can to look your best, like working out or changing your style.
  A “looksmax mogger”? That’s someone who’s absolutely nailed their appearance.

Mewing
This one’s a technique where you press your tongue to the roof of your mouth in hopes of getting a sharper jawline. The science is still out on whether it actually works, though.

Fanum Tax
Coined by Twitch streamer Fanum, this means “stealing” someone’s food — but more like, “Hey, share with your friends!”
Used in a sentence: “Bro, you already Fanum taxed me, get your own fries.”

Gyatt
A cheeky way to refer to someone’s backside.
Example: “That girl’s got a gyatt.” (Yes, it makes adults cringe — that’s the point.)

Sigma
Being sigma means being strong, confident, independent — a “lone wolf” type. It’s the opposite of being beta (weak or submissive).

Ohio
If something’s “Ohio,” it’s weird or cringe. It comes from a meme that all the weirdest stuff happens in Ohio — now it’s just shorthand for anything that feels off or bizarre.

Rizzler
A rizzler is someone who’s great at flirting — someone with charisma.

• Rizz = short for charisma
• Skibidi Ohio rizz = someone with bad game

Negative Aura / Aura Points
This one’s all about how “cool” you seem.
If you do something awkward, like drop all your books in the hallway, you just lost aura points. Too many awkward moments? You’ve got negative aura.

What’s the Deal with “Skibidi Toilet”?

This phrase comes from a chaotic and bizarre YouTube series called Skibidi Toilet, where toilets with human heads battle characters with electronic devices for heads. It’s surreal, strange, and wildly popular among Gen Alpha. It’s also the inspiration behind North West’s necklace gift to Kim Kardashian.

Gen Alpha in Action

In a viral video, one 10-year-old explained her slang to her mom:

• “You got that Ohio skibidi rizz?” Translation: You’re bad at flirting.
• “I’m sigma.” Translation: I’m cool and confident.

Her mom’s response? Equal parts confused and entertained — like most parents probably feel these days.

Final Thoughts

Yes, Gen Alpha’s slang can feel like a foreign language. But it’s also a sign of a generation raised online, fluent in memes, irony, and humor. They’re playful, creative, and completely at home in their digital world — even if it leaves the rest of us asking, “What on Earth does that mean?” Want a fun way to connect with the younger generation in your life? Try learning a few of these terms and use them (carefully) in conversation — just be prepared to get roasted for it.