1.

Cheugy

This word (pronounced choo-gee) has swooped in to replace old fan-favorite “basic”. It refers to the
painfully mainstream or, along the same vein, someone hanging onto things that were cool years ago
but would now be deemed basic or “cheugy”.

2. Rent free

Can’t stop thinking about someone? Sounds like they’re living rent free in your mind. This is most often
used when you can’t get something out of your brain – whether it’s a song, video, experience or person.
They’re stuck in there and they’re not even paying rent for the space they’re occupying.

3. Vibe check

Is someone acting shady or negative? Sounds like they didn’t pass the vibe check. This describes when
you check in on someone’s vibe and assess what it’s giving. Good vibes? You’ve passed the vibe check.

4. Main character

This one is fairly self-explanatory. When you call someone the main character, they’re basically the core
person in a situation. For example, in a video where someone seems to really stand out or is especially
well dressed, funny, etc. you can identify them as the “main character” or as having “main character
energy”.

5. Caught in 4k

Caught someone red-handed and have the receipts to prove it? You’ve caught them in 4k with solid,
digital evidence. Another popular phrase on TikTok, it can often be accompanied by the camera emoji to
really bring home the fact that you’ve been exposed.

6. Understood the assignment

You can use this for someone that is really killing it in some (or any) aspect of their lives. They’re giving it
their all and doing an amazing job. Whether it’s related to something they’re doing, wearing, etc. they
really understood the assignment.
7. Bussin’

You can use this when something is really, really good – often relating to food. If you’re eating a really
great meal you could say, “This food is bussin’”. Want to add some extra emphasis? Just double up:
“Wow this pizza is really bussin’ bussin’”.

8. “YAAASSSSS”

Yaassss (no definite number of As or Ss) is another way to say yes, but with added amounts of punch
and enthusiasm. It originated from drag queen culture.

How to use it: “Yaassss, we’re so having ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

9. “Periodt” (the “t” is silent)

Periodt is often used at the end of a statement or can also be used to express being done with the
conversation. It’s basically a way to “drop the mic” after saying something important.

How to use it: “These are the best chocolate chip cookies I ever had. Periodt.

10. “Spill The Tea”

Want to catch up on all the juicy hot gossip? Asking for someone to spill the tea will do just that. It’s a
gen Z slang way to say “So, tell us what happened…”.

How to use it: “I heard that you went on a date last week. Spill the tea, sis!”

11. “Extra”

When someone is being over the top and overly dramatic, or they are just simply overdressed for the
occasion.

How to use it: “Stop being so extra. it‘s not that big of a deal.”

12. “Shook”

Slang that literally means, “I am in shock”.

How to use it: “Ryan Gosling just liked my picture on Instagram. I am shook.”
Read more: How To Help Expat Kids Say Goodbye To Friends And Hong Kong

13. “Sliving”

Created by Paris Hilton, this term means living your best life. In true Gen-z fashion, it’s a blend of two
slang words: “slay” and “living”.

How to use it: “Watch me #sliving it up in college, that would be my peak.”

14. “YAAASSSSS”

Yaassss (no definite number of As or Ss) is another way to say yes, but with added amounts of punch
and enthusiasm. It originated from drag queen culture.

How to use it: “Yaassss, we’re so having ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

15. “Periodt” (the “t” is silent)

Periodt is often used at the end of a statement or can also be used to express being done with the
conversation. It’s basically a way to “drop the mic” after saying something important.

How to use it: “These are the best chocolate chip cookies I ever had. Periodt.”

Read more: Raising Resilient Hong Kong Kids By Teaching Them Happiness

16. “Spill The Tea”

Want to catch up on all the juicy hot gossip? Asking for someone to spill the tea will do just that. It’s a
gen Z slang way to say “So, tell us what happened…”.

How to use it: “I heard that you went on a date last week. Spill the tea, sis!”

17. “Extra”

When someone is being over the top and overly dramatic, or they are just simply overdressed for the
occasion.
How to use it: “Stop being so extra. it‘s not that big of a deal.”

18. “Shook”

Slang that literally means, “I am in shock”.

How to use it: “Ryan Gosling just liked my picture on Instagram. I am shook.”

Read more: How To Help Expat Kids Say Goodbye To Friends And Hong Kong

19. “Sliving”

Created by Paris Hilton, this term means living your best life. In true Gen-z fashion, it’s a blend of two
slang words: “slay” and “living”.

How to use it: “Watch me #sliving it up in college, that would be my peak.”

20. “G.O.A.T”

Greatest Of All Time. Especially for sportspersons.

How to use it: “Did you see Simon Biles? She really is the GOAT!”

Read more: Best Gymnastics Classes For Kids In Hong Kong

21. “Boujee”

Someone who is high-class, and owns expensive things. It got famous after American Hip-hop group
Migos released the song “bad and boujee”.

How to use it: “Wow! She’s so boujee”

22. “Goals”

Celebrating something desirable, such as a relationship or a person’s success.

How to use it: “Kanye and Julia Fox are such goals.”
23. “Facts”

Ahh, one that follows its literally meaning – “indisputably true”. But you can emphasise it by adding in
an extra “a” or two.

How to use it: “The Beatles have the highest-selling album of all time. Facts.”

24. “Totes”

It means totally. A slang way to abbreviate “totally”, could be used in a sentence or a standalone
response.

How to use it: “The final Harry Potter movie was totes the best one!”

25. “Girlboss”

According to Sophia Amoruso in her 2014 eponymous book, it means a woman “whose success is
defined in opposition to the masculine business world in which she swims upstream.” It is widely used as
a compliment for girls who kicks a**.

How to use it: Team Sassy is led by an incredible girlboss!

24. “Simp”

It means when someone does way too much for a person they like.

How to use it: “Look at him, he is totally simping over her.”

25. “Okurrr”

Ru Paul’s Drag Race fans would have heard this term many a time on the show. It’s a sassier way of
saying okay in an agreeable manner or to finish a mic drop-worthy statement.

How to use it: “I haven’t had a night out in forever so I’m letting my hair down tonight and there’s
nothing you can do about it, okurrr!”

26. “Low key”

“Secretly”.

How to use it: “I am low key obsessed with eating fries with milkshake.”

27. “Stan”

Originating from Eminem’s iconic song of the same name, “stan” is the term used for the obsessive fans
of a popular celebrity. It can also be used as a verb.

How to use it: “I’m a Beyoncé stan.” or “I will stan Beyoncé forever!”

28. “Slay”

If you see someone commenting, “Slay, mama!” on your latest Instagram post, don’t freak out – it’s a
compliment! The word’s additional meaning has been added to the Oxford dictionary and defined as to
“be extremely impressive, stylish, or successful“.

How to use it: “Wow, you are really slaying in those shoes!”

29. “Thirsty”

Desperate, usually for attention.

How to use it: “Be careful not to post too many selfies on the same day, or you’re gonna end up looking
thirsty.”

30. “Salty”

Bitter or upset.

How to use it: “Did my toddler really just roll her eyes at me? She must be salty that I ate the last
doughnut.”

31. “Savage”

This word, like in traditional dictionaries, means to do something without mercy. In the cyber world
though, it is used hyperbolically, especially when it comes celebrity feuds or trolling.
How to use it: “She took on all the cyberbullies singlehandedly. Her response was savage!”

32. “Thank you, next”

Slang term for when something was useful but has now passed. It was used by Ariana Grande in her
song with the same title.

How to use it (In Ariana Grande’s words): “I’ve loved and I’ve lost, But that’s not what I see. So, look
what I got, Look what you taught me. And for that, I say, Thank U, Next.”

33. “Woke”

Meaning “well-informed” or used to describe someone who’s aware of the current social or political
climate.

How to use it: “It’s election year again next year. #StayWoke”