L | A
By Carly Owens
Adjusting to the ever-changing language of Generation Alpha (born after 2010), has become a common challenge. Gen Z has become the newest old as Gen Alphas hit their pre and early teen years. Twelve-year-old Kentucky Local Braxton Falin’s newest favorite word is “rizz,” but many are scratching their heads wondering what that even means.
Other terms commonly used among Alpha are: preppy (girly), gyatt (big butt), sussy (suspicious), fanum tax (taking bits of someone’s food), mewing (model face) and alpha (superior). He said their language appears to be contextual, hence its inability to be well-defined.
Former Head of Activity Staff at Camp Webb in Knoxville, Brycen Hazelip, knows all too well about emerging Alpha culture, as he worked with this group closely.
“I think they enjoy that a lot of adults don't get it at all,” Hazelip said. “You can get many different explanations from many different kids [about what these terms mean].” The variety of responses by Alpha kids was not only noticed by Hazelip, but others as well.
When 11 year-old Drew Smith was asked what the term “skibidi” meant, he said it was a brain-rot term from his generation with no real meaning. When 12 year-old AJ Hazelip was asked the same question, she said, “I more use it as ‘dang it’ or (to be) funny.” Falin said it just means something is cool or happy.
Before Falin explained what ‘skibidi’ meant, he asked reporters if they were 'alpha' enough to know.
The origin of the term ‘skibidi’ actually comes from Bulgarian artist Biser King’s song “Dom Dom Yes Yes.” The inspirational line that sparked its popularity is, “shtibididob dob dob dob dob yes yes.”
The relationship between Z and Alpha isn’t the same as neighboring generations have had before.
“It does seem that there is more cooperation between Z and Alpha, than there was that I witnessed with Z and millennial,” Hazelip said.
Alpha is the first generation to entirely be born in the 21st century, which also means they will be the first generation to be born after the creation of Apple’s first iPhone in 2007. Much of the generation has grown up surrounded by digital technology, unlike Z who had a more hybrid experience between digital and traditional.
Hazelip said he may have a better capability to understand their new terminology because he is Gen Z and also grew up with the internet for a portion of his childhood.
In the United States, Basis Technologies reported that there are over 36 million kids aged zero to 11 that are active internet users. Alpha are digital natives, and Hazelip believes that their slang comes about because of influencer content that they consume on the internet.
Although he experienced Gen Alpha as their camp counselor, the children weren’t allowed to have any screen time. However, his involvement in working with these kids isn’t over as he is currently a lead instructor at Tiger Rock Martial Arts Studio in Knoxville.
At the studio, the children are granted tablet time during breaks in instruction. Hazelip has noticed a trend in the children who spend break time on their tablets typically being the same children using the newest Alpha slang.
Their slang is new, but can also be inappropriate.
“They love using ‘ahh’ as a replacement for ‘a**,’” Hazelip said.
He speculated that these types of terms are typical boundary pushing in adolescence, and the kids saying them are just trying to spark a reaction.
So as new as it seems, the linguistic tradition is old. Baby Boomers popularized the phrase “groovy,” Gen X popularized “gnarly,” Millennials had “YOLO,” and Gen Z created “and I oop.”
Whatever the case is for these new terms and phrases, they might just be a generational right of passage.
By Carly Owens
Adjusting to the ever-changing language of Generation Alpha (born after 2010), has become a common challenge. Gen Z has become the newest old as Gen Alphas hit their pre and early teen years. Twelve-year-old Kentucky Local Braxton Falin’s newest favorite word is “rizz,” but many are scratching their heads wondering what that even means.
Other terms commonly used among Alpha are: preppy (girly), gyatt (big butt), sussy (suspicious), fanum tax (taking bits of someone’s food), mewing (model face) and alpha (superior). He said their language appears to be contextual, hence its inability to be well-defined.
Former Head of Activity Staff at Camp Webb in Knoxville, Brycen Hazelip, knows all too well about emerging Alpha culture, as he worked with this group closely.
“I think they enjoy that a lot of adults don't get it at all,” Hazelip said. “You can get many different explanations from many different kids [about what these terms mean].” The variety of responses by Alpha kids was not only noticed by Hazelip, but others as well.
When 11 year-old Drew Smith was asked what the term “skibidi” meant, he said it was a brain-rot term from his generation with no real meaning. When 12 year-old AJ Hazelip was asked the same question, she said, “I more use it as ‘dang it’ or (to be) funny.” Falin said it just means something is cool or happy.
Before Falin explained what ‘skibidi’ meant, he asked reporters if they were 'alpha' enough to know.
The origin of the term ‘skibidi’ actually comes from Bulgarian artist Biser King’s song “Dom Dom Yes Yes.” The inspirational line that sparked its popularity is, “shtibididob dob dob dob dob yes yes.”
The relationship between Z and Alpha isn’t the same as neighboring generations have had before.
“It does seem that there is more cooperation between Z and Alpha, than there was that I witnessed with Z and millennial,” Hazelip said.
Alpha is the first generation to entirely be born in the 21st century, which also means they will be the first generation to be born after the creation of Apple’s first iPhone in 2007. Much of the generation has grown up surrounded by digital technology, unlike Z who had a more hybrid experience between digital and traditional.
Hazelip said he may have a better capability to understand their new terminology because he is Gen Z and also grew up with the internet for a portion of his childhood.
In the United States, Basis Technologies reported that there are over 36 million kids aged zero to 11 that are active internet users. Alpha are digital natives, and Hazelip believes that their slang comes about because of influencer content that they consume on the internet.
Although he experienced Gen Alpha as their camp counselor, the children weren’t allowed to have any screen time. However, his involvement in working with these kids isn’t over as he is currently a lead instructor at Tiger Rock Martial Arts Studio in Knoxville.
At the studio, the children are granted tablet time during breaks in instruction. Hazelip has noticed a trend in the children who spend break time on their tablets typically being the same children using the newest Alpha slang.
Their slang is new, but can also be inappropriate.
“They love using ‘ahh’ as a replacement for ‘a**,’” Hazelip said.
He speculated that these types of terms are typical boundary pushing in adolescence, and the kids saying them are just trying to spark a reaction.
So as new as it seems, the linguistic tradition is old. Baby Boomers popularized the phrase “groovy,” Gen X popularized “gnarly,” Millennials had “YOLO,” and Gen Z created “and I oop.”
Whatever the case is for these new terms and phrases, they might just be a generational right of passage.
