The banning of Gen Alpha (those born between 2010 and 2025, according to Brittanica) slang at a primary school in Australia has prompted debate over how language is used to define a generation and make it somehow different from those who have come before. Many parents say trying to understand Alpha slang just makes them “feel old,” the New York Post reports.
There are 11 verboten words and phrases identified by a teacher who wishes to remain anonymous, including “skibidi”, “sigma”, “rizz”, “mewing”, “gyatt”, “bet”, “bussin'”, “ohio” and “baddie”.
Parents are reduced to Googling the words because there is no other place to begin.
Another parent told the Post: “I must be realllllly old.”
Well, whether the words are banned in one school or not, they could be with us for a while.
So here’s the rundown.
Skibidi: is a reference to a meme of a head emerging from a toilet. It means “weird.”
Sigma: has nothing to do with the Greek alphabet but everything to do with assessing the leadership status of males. Sigma is a little less and little more humble than alpha.
Rizz: has been borrowed from Gen Z and it is an abbreviation of “charisma,” and is the ability to draw others to you through personal magnetism.
Mewing: is literally delivered to stop bellyaching about unimportant things, Gen Alpha’s way of saying “forget the small stuff.” Kids use it on parents and teachers to drive them crazy.
Gyatt: if you’re really excited or shocked, gyatt expresses these emotions, especially when focused on a particularly stunning woman.
Bet: is used to express agreement or understanding, like saying OK.
Bussin’: refers to food that is exceptionally tasty.
Ohio: a real slight to the state of JD Vance, Ohio is used to describe something bad based on the perception that there isn’t a lot happening in that state.
Baddie: isn’t obvious at all. No it doesn’t mean bad or evil. It means a woman who is not only attractive but in control.
Language continues to be politicized and part of the political process. Elon Musk has criticized Microsoft for a feature that criticizes users who don’t use “inclusive” language. The FBI has suggested that some slang terms are covers for “violent extremists.”
