The Ultimate Guide To TikTok Slang 2023 | Axis (2024)

Skip to Content

Give

By Axis

Back to All

Update: check out our 2024 Parent’sGuide to Teen Slang!

Gen Zers have created an entirely new culture on TikTok with slang words. And for anyone who’s not a Gen Zer, it can be pretty confusing! Not to worry, we’re here to enlighten you on Gen Z slang. Check out this list of TikTok slang words, emojis, and more so you can stay in-the-know.

TikTok slang 2023

First thing’s first, you need to know what all of these slang words and phrases mean. Shade? Vibe check? It’s the __ for me? What is this code language?! Though some of these may seem strange or contrived to you, these Gen Z slang words and phrases signify belonging and membership to many TikTok users. So for Gen Z, they really matter! Here are some of the most common ones:

And that’s on __Example: A user might say, “And that’s on self-love” after a video explaining how they’ve started to take better care of themselves. Videos on any topic can use this phrase, which reinforces a certain message the user wants to get across.
CEO of __When someone is the CEO of something, it means they’re the absolute best at that thing. Examples include “CEO of making TikToks in public” and “CEO of twerking.”
CheckEssentially means “check this out.” For example, “older sibling check,” “rich kid check,” or the ultra-popular “something traumatic that changed my life check.”
Day 1When a user captions their video “day 1” it signifies a fresh start. Many “day 1” videos signify the loss of a relationship and find the user in a vulnerable position, but others can simply mean the first day of starting anything over, such as beginning a healthier lifestyle or letting go of friendships.
DuetThis is a video that’s played right beside another so that they can be watched simultaneously. Duets are usually created as response videos (example: “duet me if you think I’m cute), reactions (literally reacting with commentary or facial expressions to a certain video), or simply to interact with that person’s original video in some other way.
EuphemismsThis in and of itself is not a slang word used by TikTokers, but the idea of covering up certain words TikTok would use to flag a user’s video with euphemisms is a popular tactic. If a user types out a word like “sex,” “suicide,” or any other negative word that goes against TikTok’s policies, there’s a good chance the video will get taken down. The loophole users have found is writing words that look and sound like the actual word, but won’t be picked up by TikTok. For example, a user might write “seg” or “s£x” for “sex,” or “sue decide” for “suicide.”
GranolaUsually female, a “granola girl” is the chill, down-to-earth, hippie girl who loves the planet, probably composts, and lives in Oregon (or, at least shewantsto live there).
HeatherA “Heather” is the beautiful, perfect, desirable person that everyone wants to be with, or just wants to be (Heather can be a male or female). PopBuzz describes it like this: “The ‘Heather’ trend was inspired by Conan Gray’s song of the same name. In the song, Conan sings about the all too familiar scenario where the person who you have a crush on has a crush on someone else.” On TikTok, users generally post videos to the tune of Conan’s song, saying they wish they were Heather. They may also describe other people as “Heather,” such as this girl, who says her parents are “THE Heather of couples.”
It’s the __ for meThis phrase started as a trend where two people would talk back and forth about something they can’t stand. For example, if two people were talking about quarantine, they could say: “It’s the never going outside for me,” then the other person would respond, “It’s the canceled concerts for me,” and so on. Now, the phrase can be used in a singular context to either describe themselves or comment on someone else’s video. For example, if someone posted a funny video where they’re wearing extremely high heels and falls down, someone might comment “it’s the heels for me,” or “it’s the falling down for me.”
Lives in my mind rent-freeThis usually refers to a meme or video that a user finds funny or memorable. You know how some things live in your mind that you just wish you could forget? This is the exact opposite, as the meme/video “lives for free” in someone’s mind. A user will often post a video starting out with “this lives in my mind completely rent free,” then play a funny video or show a meme they enjoy.
Main characterA TikTok trend that places you as the starring role, aka the “main character” of life. For example, someone might say “Today, my sister just got hit on by a hot barista at the coffee shop we went to andshe found $20 on the street, she’s got such main character energy.”
PeriodtAnother word for “facts” or “tea,” usually used to end a sentence. For example, “He’s a simp periodt.”
Pick me girlA “pick me girl” is a girl who tries to impress guys and by acting as if they’re “not like other girls.” It’s sort of the girl version of a simp.
POVA “point of view” style video is a trend in which the user creates a video from the POV of a certain character, real or made up.
Put a finger downThe “Put a finger down” challenge is derived from the game “Never have I ever,” in which people take turns saying things they’ve never done, and if someone has done that thing, they put a finger down. There are two common variations of this game: 1. An audio plays in the background with a series of “put a finger down” statements, and when the user hears something they’ve done, they put a finger down, 2. The user shares a story in the “you” perspective (for example, “Put a finger down if one time you went to the mall and…”), and at the end of the video they put a finger down. The latter is primarily hyper-specific scenarios that don’t actually apply to most people, following more of a storytime format with the “you” perspective.
Put you onto somethingWhen someone says “Let me put you onto something,” it means “Let me show you something,” basically, to tell someone about something that they believe that person/group of people needs to know about.
ShadeTo talk trash about someone; to publicly denounce or disrespect someone.
SimpUsed to describe a boy who’s soft, weak, or sucks up to girls. For example, when talking about his friend who wimped out on something, a guy might say “he’s such a simp.”
StorytimeThis is a common trend used to tell a story from one’s life and is usually something awkward, embarrassing, or shocking.
Towel on the headWhen a user (usually male) puts a towel on their head it’s showing that they’re roleplaying a woman in their skit/story. Does a woman’s hair look equivalent to the towel they grabbed out of their laundry basket? We’ll let you decide.
TransitionA transition is when someone makes a smooth outfit change, makeover, scene cut, etc. In one popular use of transition, the user starts out with one look, then briefly covers the camera and reappears with a “glow up.” Here’s an example of another popular transition where a person throws a shoe in the air, swipes their leg to the left of the screen, and reappears with an outfit change.
Vibe checkLiterally means to assess the vibe someone gives off. This phrase is often used in this context: “he passed the vibe check,” meaning, “he’s chill, easy-going.”

Emoji meanings

For Gen Z, emojis have become a full-fledged language on their own. Though you may have seen these emojis before, they probably hold a much different meaning for Gen Z than you’d first think. Let us be your emoji translator!

🥺 aka “pleading face”The pleading face emoji has large “puppy dog” eyes as if begging or pleading. It can also represent adoration, happy emotions, a simp, or feeling touched by a loving gesture.
👉 👈Two Fingers Touching are two index finger emojis touching one another, which indicates shyness or hesitation when asking a question. It’s the subject of the “Is for me?” meme, and is sometimes paired with the pleading face emoji.
😭 💀 ⚰️Dead/dying/laughing. The “laughing face” emoji ( 😂 ) is officially out, and the “crying,” “skull,” and “coffin” emojis are in to signify that something is really funny, aka you’re “dead/dying.”
✨ [word]Putting a word between two sparkles emojis is a way of adding emphasis. For example, if a user is feeling excited about something they might caption their video “I’m feeling excited✨”
✍️The handwriting emoji is found in the comment section to indicate that someone is “taking notes” on the subject matter in the video.
🎣When a user comments the fishing emoji they’re indicating that they think the user is fishing for compliments.
When a user comments the hourglass emoji they’re indicating that they think the user has an hourglass figure.

Mannerisms and gestures

This one is hard to explain without showing it. TikToker Benji Xavier puts it pretty accurately:

@benjixavierMy strange addiction: 😛😏🤭 Follow to see more of the series 😂💀 ##realitytv ##genz♬ original sound – BenjiXavier

Let’s break it down: Things like the face slap, making the “AHH” sound (👁️👅👁️ in emoji language), and hair tucking are all ways for Gen Z to express themselves in a funny way. The face slap indicates something shocking that just happened, and the hair tuck usually indicates a sort of coy, shy behavior and is generally accompanied by a side smile (example: “a present, for me? *hair tuck*). And it’s important to remember that these are meantto be exaggerated and somewhat ironic, especially the hair tuck.

Not featured in the video: finger guns. Another hugely popular gesture, in which a user will wave around their pointed finger, usually when going off or making a point.

Keep exploring

  • Teen Slang | 2020 Glossary
  • A Parent’s Guide to Teen Slang

The Culture Translator

A weekly email to help you stay up to date on the music, movies, TV shows, and social media trends impacting your kid’s world.

Related Posts

  • January 25 Two Faces of Christian Deconstruction: Is It Always Bad? Read
  • June 15, 2023 Should I Let My Teen Listen To Secular Music Read
  • February 15, 2023 The Masculinity of Andrew Tate Read

View All

The Ultimate Guide To TikTok Slang 2023 | Axis (2024)

FAQs

What is the new slang for 2023? ›

Sus - "Giving the impression that something is questionable or dishonest; suspicious." Bet - "An expression that means 'I agree', 'good news'." Yeet - "To violently throw an object that you deem to be worthless, inferior or just plain garbage." Salty - ""When you are upset over something little."

What is a rizz in Gen Z slang? ›

Anyone born roughly between 1995 and 2010 is considered to be Gen Z, while anyone born roughly between 2010 and 2024 is considered to be a part of Gen Alpha. So I called the experts to explain some of this slang. Rizz. Additionally, Meriam-Webster describes rizz as meaning romantic appeal or charm.

What do the kids say now in 2023? ›

The terms most parents say they understand are “salty” (70%), “bougie” (67%), “sus” (65%), “bet” (63%), and “extra” (62%).

What does Gen Z say instead of cool? ›

Dank- While the dictionary definition of "dank" means unpleasantly humid or damp and chilly, as slang the term refers to something else entirely. The word can be used to describe someone's level of coolness. Calling someone “dank” is the equivalent of calling them cool or great.

How does Gen Z say "drunk"? ›

They may say things like, “I'm amped about my drip today,” or, “He's got rizz.

What do kids say instead of LOL? ›

Instead, they're saying IJBOL, meaning “I Just Burst Out Laughing.” It's one of many ways internet users use online slang terms to convey amusement in the absence of face-to-face communication.

What do kids say instead of "cool"? ›

What is cool, though, is just how many slang words we've used over the years to talk about people and things that we think are fab, funky, fresh, groovy, fly, phat, lit, gnarly, rad, and the cat's meow.

What is a Gyatt girl? ›

Urban Dictionary explains that “GYAT" is used when complimenting someone with a curvaceous body, while “GYATT" (spelled with two Ts), describes a man or woman with a large butt.

What is cringe millennial slang? ›

Cringe millennial slang encompasses phrases, words, or trends that were popular among millennials but are now viewed as outdated or embarrassing by both younger generations and some millennials themselves. Examples include terms like "YOLO" (You Only Live Once), 'on fleek', or overusing hashtags.

What does K rizz mean? ›

Rizz is short for “charisma,” and it simply means an ability to charm and woo a person. It's pronounced, well, rizz, just like it's spelled. The term found its way into teen slang through TikTok and other social media.

What is slang for cool in 2024? ›

Dope - Cool or awesome.

What does 23 mean in slang? ›

For some time past there has been going the rounds of the men about town the slang phrase "Twenty-three." The meaning attached to it is to "move on," "get out," "good-bye, glad you are gone," "your move" and so on. To the initiated it is used with effect in a jocular manner.

What is a Sigma in slang? ›

Sigma. "Sigma" is commonly known as the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet. But in Gen Alpha terms, it also has various meanings like dominant leader, lone wolf, cool and popular, according to a video of middle schoolers explaining "Sigma" to their teacher, user @mr_lindsay_sped, on TikTok.

What are the new words for 2023? ›

Winter 2023 New Words: “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” Self-coup, latine, rage farming, petfluencer, nearlywed, hellscape, talmbout, cakeage. Explore the explosive variety of new terms and meanings just added to Dictionary.com.

What is drip slang for 2023? ›

Something that is a drip, drippin', or drippy is very cool, awesome and stylish.

What is the word for the new year 2023? ›

The word that defined 2023 is… “Authentic” ‼️ 📱In a world of filters, social media, and now AI… this choice emphasizes our need for truth and connection. 👊🏽 I'm excited about this focus on authenticity. I've been doubling down on this topic since my viral TEDx talk.

What will the word of the year be for 2023? ›

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year for 2023 is authentic—the term for something we're thinking about, writing about, aspiring to, and judging more than ever.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Van Hayes

Last Updated:

Views: 5954

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Van Hayes

Birthday: 1994-06-07

Address: 2004 Kling Rapid, New Destiny, MT 64658-2367

Phone: +512425013758

Job: National Farming Director

Hobby: Reading, Polo, Genealogy, amateur radio, Scouting, Stand-up comedy, Cryptography

Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.