Gen Z Slang for English Learners 2025: How Young Americans Speak Today
In 2025, American English is still evolving at lightning speed. New slang pops up almost daily, and older phrases often get new meanings or come back into fashion. If you want to speak the same language as native speakers—especially young people—you’ll want to keep up with the trends.
Gen Z slang is born and spreads mostly through TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts, and many of these words quickly make their way into everyday conversations.
Here’s your guide to the most popular American Gen Z slang in 2025—what it means and how to actually use it.
Gen Z Slang 2025 with Native Speakers Courses
Meaning: Greatest of All Time — literally, “the best ever.”
Used when someone or something is the absolute favorite.
Examples:
- Messi is the GOAT of soccer.
- That burger was the GOAT.
Meaning: Someone absolutely crushed it—usually in terms of style, performance, or dancing. Often followed by “...and left no crumbs,” meaning it was flawless.
Examples:
- She ate that performance and left no crumbs.
- You totally ate with that outfit.
Meaning: Something is giving off a certain vibe or reminds you of something else. Can be used seriously or ironically.
Examples:
- It’s giving main character energy.
- That photo is giving 90s vibes.
Short for: delusional — living in fantasy land. Usually said jokingly.
Examples:
- I think he likes me… — Girl, you’re delulu.
- She’s delulu if she thinks she can finish that in one night.
Examples:
- He’s got mad rizz.
- You need more rizz to talk to her.
Meaning: For real, no lie. Opposite: “cap” (meaning a lie or exaggeration).
Examples:
- That was the best pizza I’ve ever had, no cap.
- He’s lying, that’s cap.
Meaning: Someone who acts like they’re the star of the movie—stylish, confident, and in the spotlight.
Examples:
- Walking into the party like I’m the main character.
- She’s totally main character material.
How to Learn and Use Slang Like a Native
- Listen to the real thing — Find these words in TikTok videos and YouTube Shorts.
- Practice in context — Don’t just memorize the translation. Use the phrases in real conversations.
- Don’t be afraid to sound like a native — Fluency means stepping outside the textbook and picking up authentic speech.
Real Conversations Are the Best Teacher
No dictionary—or even ChatGPT—can replace talking to a real person. In conversation, you pick up the tone, emotion, and cultural context behind every word.
That’s exactly the kind of environment we create at Native Speakers Courses:
- You chat with Americans and Brits in real time, not just listen to recordings.
- You get instant feedback.
- You learn humor, sarcasm, and slang directly from native speakers.
Sign up for a free trial lesson and start speaking slang like a native today!