The secret language of Gen Z: From 'OK Boomer' to 'Love Bombing'
Generation Z has been the most popular topic in academia, media, and sociology in recent years. Spanning a range of over 10 years, from the mid-1990s to the early 2010s, Gen Z finds a place for itself at every table... According to a report in HaberTürk, here are the words Gen Z uses, a mix of English and Turkish, and what these words mean...
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Boomer: Boomer is actually a term used to represent the generation born in the 20-year period following World War II. It comes from Baby Boomer, but the Gen Z term "OK Boomer" is a word they use to mock Generation X, to say that they are old.
Viral: Videos and photos that spread very quickly on social media and are watched by many. Cringe: Used to describe an embarrassing situation or event. It means feeling shame or feeling embarrassed on someone else's behalf...
Trend: Creating a large number of videos on a specific topic on social media creates a 'trend.' Filming the same popular video and sharing it on your own account is 'jumping on the trend.' Random: Meaning at random, without planning, and irregular...
Slay, to slay: The word 'slay' is used in English to mean 'to kill,' but that is not the meaning used by Gen Z... When something is 'slay,' it is used to mean that it is very cool, very beautiful, and impressive. 'Görüldü atmak' (leaving on read): Reading a message in a digital environment and sending a read receipt to the other party, but not replying to the message.
Love Bombing: When one person overwhelms the other with excessive attention and affection while dating. In other words, a bombardment of love...
Gaslighting: Manipulation! It is when someone pressures you on a matter where they are in the wrong, making you feel as if you are the one who is wrong...
Benching: To keep on the bench. Talking to someone else while flirting with one person, but not yet flirting with the other, keeping them waiting at a distance just one step away from flirting.
Stalking: Researching someone on social media, secretly checking their posts.
BAE (before anyone else): The English meaning is "someone who comes before anyone else." Gen Z uses it to describe people who are more important than their boyfriend or girlfriend.
Salty: Its English meaning is "salty." But Gen Z uses it to say they are annoyed by something or angry at someone.
Rizz: Used to mean being charming, attractive, and impressive. Meme: Refers to videos, events, and photos that spread rapidly on the internet and that almost everyone would recognize and say, "Oh, I know that." Cancel: To target, ostracize, or boycott.
GOAT (Greatest of All Time): Used to praise anyone or anything as the "best of all time." Shipping: Imagining two people together because they are thought to be a good match. This is generally done for TV series and movie actors.
Red flag: While the literal translation is 'kırmızı bayrak', the meaning used by Gen Z refers to things in a situation or a person that are disapproved of, found dangerous, or are reasons to stay away. Bullying, to bully: Means to act in a bullying manner.
Ghosting, to ghost: Refers to one of the parties in a dating scenario suddenly disappearing, stopping communication, and not answering calls when everything was going well and there was no apparent issue.
Catching a vibe: Used to describe the feeling or impression one gets from a person. In the past, people would say "I didn't get good energy from you," but now we say "I didn't catch a good vibe from you."