Is it all just gibberish? Gen Alpha now has its own language. But some critics think it shows that young people spend too much time online.
What the sigma! Top slang revealed
Is it all just gibberish? Gen Alpha now has its own language. But some critics think it shows that young people spend too much time online.
How many of these words do you know? Mog. Sus. Cap. Negative aura. Fanum tax. If you scored five out of five, well done! You might well be a member of Gen AlphaPeople born between 2010 and 2025. .
British children have revealed their top slangVery informal language. It is usually spoken rather than written. words of 2024 in a new survey. The word "slay" took the top spot, followed by "sigma" and "skibidi".
Many of these new slang words were born on the internet. After all, 65% of this generationA big group of people who were all born at the same time. spend four or more hours a day on social mediaSocial media is defined by websites, apps and social games that connect people to each other through the sharing of pictures, thoughts, ideas, articles, and other content. .
For instance, Fanum tax refers to Fanum, a popular content creator on TwitchA video streaming service which broadcasts video game livestreams and esports competitions. . When friends are eating in Fanum's presence, he insists that they share their food.
The same is true for "sigma". It is based on an out-of-date idea about wolves that became popular online: alphas rise to the top of the pack, whereas sigmas become "lone wolves". But now Gen Alpha has claimed the term, meaning someone popular or cool. Meanwhile, skibidi, which came from a YouTube series, has no clear meaning at all.
But meaning is not always the point of slang. It can also be used for showing how you think or who your friends are. This is the argument of linguistSomeone who studies the development and workings of languages. Some linguists study how modern languages work, while others study how languages developed historically; still others try to translate ancient languages. Julie Coleman, who points out that informal languages are common in minorityA group of people from one race, social group, culture etc that is distinct to most other people in the area or situation. groups. They bring people together, separating them from outsiders.
When it comes to children and teenagers, words like sigma, skibidi and rizz allow them to move closer to their friends. While parents might be confused, expertsSomeone who knows a lot about a particular subject. say, using slang is an important stage of growing up. By making their own language, they argue, Gen Alpha is creating its own identityThe qualities, beliefs, personality traits, memberships of social, religious or cultural groups that make a person who they are. too.
Is it all just gibberishMeaningless speech or writing. Nonsense. ?
Yes! Gen Alpha has grown up online and spends large amounts of time on social media. Its slang is based on memesA funny image, video, text or idea etc that is shared quickly online. , streamers and influencersPeople who influence others on social media. , which is why it sounds so weird.
No! Slang is not really about what the words actually mean. It is about showing you belong to a group. Gen Alpha slang achieves this very well.
Gen Alpha - People born between 2010 and 2025.
Slang - Very informal language. It is usually spoken rather than written.
Generation - A big group of people who were all born at the same time.
Social media - Social media is defined by websites, apps and social games that connect people to each other through the sharing of pictures, thoughts, ideas, articles, and other content.
Twitch - A video streaming service which broadcasts video game livestreams and esports competitions.
Linguist - Someone who studies the development and workings of languages. Some linguists study how modern languages work, while others study how languages developed historically; still others try to translate ancient languages.
Minority - A group of people from one race, social group, culture etc that is distinct to most other people in the area or situation.
Experts - Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject.
Identity - The qualities, beliefs, personality traits, memberships of social, religious or cultural groups that make a person who they are.
Gibberish - Meaningless speech or writing. Nonsense.
Memes - A funny image, video, text or idea etc that is shared quickly online.
Influencers - People who influence others on social media.
What the sigma! Top slang revealed

Glossary
Gen Alpha - People born between 2010 and 2025.
Slang - Very informal language. It is usually spoken rather than written.
Generation - A big group of people who were all born at the same time.
Social media - Social media is defined by websites, apps and social games that connect people to each other through the sharing of pictures, thoughts, ideas, articles, and other content.
Twitch - A video streaming service which broadcasts video game livestreams and esports competitions.
Linguist - Someone who studies the development and workings of languages. Some linguists study how modern languages work, while others study how languages developed historically; still others try to translate ancient languages.
Minority - A group of people from one race, social group, culture etc that is distinct to most other people in the area or situation.
Experts - Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject.
Identity - The qualities, beliefs, personality traits, memberships of social, religious or cultural groups that make a person who they are.
Gibberish - Meaningless speech or writing. Nonsense.
Memes - A funny image, video, text or idea etc that is shared quickly online.
Influencers - People who influence others on social media.