Gen Z Terms Your Colleagues Are Using - And What They Really Mean

As Gen Z enters the workforce in record numbers, it’s important to understand the meaning of potentially confusing slang terms the generation is using in the workplace.

Move over, millennials! With rising global populations and an aging workforce stepping back, Gen Z is set to make up a whopping 30-35% of workers by 2030.

That means offices are about to get a whole lot more 'lit', as the generation brings its own language with it into the workforce. Whilst it's not a complete overhaul in vocabulary, these new words can be confusing for the uninitiated.

But instead of shying away from the often intimidating linguistic changes, Matthew Woodward, the founder of leading SEO agency, Search Logistics, says workplaces should be striving to adapt to this new lingo.

After all, understanding your coworkers is the key to improving team collaboration and building a positive workplace culture (and avoiding those awkward "OK, Boomer" moments!).

"Gen Z's slang isn't just a quirky way of talking; it's a window into their priorities—authenticity, connection, and efficiency," says Matthew. "If businesses want to bridge the communication gap and get the best out of their Gen Z workforce, they need to embrace this change."

From ‘Fire’ to ‘Simp’: The Ultimate Gen Z Lexicon

Remember when 'LOL' was the peak of internet humor? Gen Z has taken things to a whole new level of emojis and acronyms.

Let's dive in and avoid becoming the office's 'Karen' (or 'Kevin') when it comes to understanding the latest trends:

Finesse – Skillfully handling something. “She finessed that contract negotiation.”
Cap – A lie or falsehood. “That sales figure? Straight cap.”
No cap – The antonym to “Cap”, meaning genuinely; no lie. “We hit our targets this quarter, no cap.”
Stan – A devoted fan or supporter. “‘I’m such a Stan for the new marketing strategy.”
Deadass – Seriously; no joke. “Mark is deadass about hitting this deadline.”
Extra – Over the top or excessive. “That campaign idea is way too extra.”
Salty – Upset or bitter. “She’s still salty about that budget cut.”
Mid – Mediocre or average. “Lunch at the canteen was kinda mid today, not gonna lie.”
Glow-up – Significant improvement. “Our social media presence has had a serious glow-up!”
Lit – Exciting or impressive. “The new product launch is lit!”
Flex – To show off. “He’s flexing his design skills with that new logo.”
Bussin’ – Really good or impressive, usually relating to food. “This new canteen food is bussin’!”
Receipts – Proof or evidence. “Don’t believe me? I have receipts showing that they said that in an email!”
Woke – Socially aware or conscious. “The company’s policies are very woke.”
Clout – Influence or power. “She’s got clout in the industry now.”
Sus – Suspicious or sketchy. Made famous by the video game ‘Among Us’. “That deal seems a bit sus.”
Boomer – Someone out of touch with modern trends, usually used as an insult. “OK Boomer!”
Thirsty – Desperate for attention. “He’s thirsty for approval on this project.”
Drip – Cool or stylish appearance. “His new work suit is some serious drip.”
Gassed – Excited or hyped. “Everyone’s gassed about the staff party.”
Bet – Agreement or confirmation. “You got the report done?” “Bet.” “...Thanks, I guess?”
Karen/Kevin – Someone overly demanding. “Don’t be a Karen/Kevin about the deadline.”
Shook – Surprised or shocked. “I was shook by the results of the budget report!”
Yeet – To throw something forcefully. “He yeeted that paper airplane across the meeting room.”
Main character energy – Someone who is being confident and taking charge of their life. “You’re giving main character energy in this presentation.”
Simp – Someone who shows excessive attention to someone. “He’s simping hard for that client.”
Ghost – To cut off communication suddenly. “The client ghosted us after the demo.”
Pressed – Stressed or upset. “He’s pressed about missing the deadline.”
Savage – Bold or ruthless. “He is a savage when it comes to closing a sale.”
Finna – About to; going to. “I’m finna present this proposal now.”
Sauce – Confidence or swagger. “She brought the sauce to this presentation!”
Skrrt – To leave quickly. “We need to skrrt out of this conversation.”
Vibe check – Assessing the mood or energy of a situation. “That client did not pass the vibe check.”
YOLO – You only live once; taking risks. “YOLO—let’s pitch the big idea today!”
Chad – A confident or arrogant man. “He’s such a Chad when it comes to sales.”
FOMO – Fear of missing out. “I’ve got major FOMO about not attending the work party.”

Matthew Woodward from Search Logistics concludes:

“With Gen Z making up close to a third of the workforce, adapting to their evolving communication style is something businesses need to start thinking about. It’s about more than just understanding their slang; it’s welcoming the fresh perspective they bring, no matter how disruptive it may feel.
“By aligning our language with theirs, society, let alone the workplace, could improve things both innovatively and cohesively. Companies that fail to adjust may seriously struggle to retain top talent from this new generation by looking close-minded or too old-fashioned. Failure to do so could result in missing out on opportunities to grow in this exciting new Gen Z landscape - ‘No cap’.”