Don’t Let Your Brain Rot: A Brief Glossary Of Today’s Slang (As Best We Can Tell)

Etymologists, that is those who professionally study words, will likely look back at the glut of slang in 2024 with equal amounts of fascination, horror and laughter. This is primarily because of a phenomenon known as “brain rot” in which words or expressions are culled primarily from TikTok memes that often take flight on the wings of young kids (tweens and younger) who popularize these terms.  These expressions, seemingly churned out daily, often refer back to memes, like somebody stealing food off other people’s plates – i.e. a “Fanum Tax” — and are a kind of in-the-know nod amongst Gen Z’ers (born 1997-2010) and Alphas (2010-2024). Other words, like rizz (both W and L) or delulu have crossed over to more mainstream usage. Chronicling these terms at best, however, is a Sisyphean task as the meanings continually morph, though we must try for our NextGen issue. Here then, are some of the more popular slang and, as best we can tell, their possible meanings and origins.

Beige Flag
Possible Meaning: Neither good or bad, but gives pause.
Possible origin: TikTok

Brat
Possible meaning: Enjoying life as much as you can, 365 party girl.
Possible origin: Popularized by Charli XCX’s new album and Kamala Harris

Bussin’
Possible meaning: Great, cool, amazing
Possible origin: Popularized by a meme that made “nature’s cereal” (berries, coconut water and ice cubes).

Cap (No Cap)
Possible meaning: Lie (not lying).

Cheugy
Possible meaning: Opposite of trendy
Possible origin: Gaby Rasson

Delulu
Possible meaning: Delusional
Possible origin: K-pop fan community

Demure
Possible meaning: Elegant, understated
Possible origin: Popularized by Jools Lebron on TikTok

GYAT
Possible meaning: (Get Your Act Together), God damn
Possible origin: Popularized by Kai Cenat (Twitch streamer)

Heather
Possible meaning: Everyone likes you
Possible origin: Conan Gray’s song “Heather”

Ick
Possible meaning: Something you don’t vibe with
Possible origin: “Ally McBeal” TV series

Just Put the Fries in the Bag Bro
Possible meaning: Insult
Possible origin: Facebook meme from Nov. 2022

Livvy Dunne
Possible meaning: Attractive
Possible origin: Memes of LSU gymnast

Mewing
Possible meaning: An activity to accentuate your jawline and act like you’re doing something.
Possible origin: British orthodontist John Mew

NPC
Possible meaning: Non-playable character
Possible origin: Video games

Ohio
Possible meaning: Strange, weird, cringy or innocuous
Possible origin: Human-headed toilet memes

Rizz
Possible meaning: Short for charisma. W Rizz (winning charisma), L Rizz (loser charisma)
Possible origin: Popularized by Twitch and YouTuber Kai Cenat

Sigma
Possible meaning: Cool, also has toxic male connotations
Possible origin: On manosphere message boards

Skibidi
Possible meaning: An adjective that can mean cool, dumb or bad.
Possible origin: Memes of a head popping out of a “skibidi toilet.”