The 2023 Holiday Guide to understanding ‘The Kids’

As your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family friends, etc. get together with their newly minted vernacular, here’s your vocabulary test list so your very first reply won’t be, “I’m sorry, could you say that again?” 

Rizz: Short for charisma. Charming, attractive, swagger. As Tom Holland said in an interview back in July, “I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz.” Zendaya disagrees, me thinks. 

Sus: Short for suspicious. If you have kids in the house that play Among Us, you probably have heard this word a lot. “Aww, that dude looks hella sus.” or “That’s kinda sus.” 

Cheugy: (pronounced choo-gee) Encompasses a broad scope with both positive and negative connotations depending on context. Used as a replacement for “basic”, which was initially popularized to describe someone who was kind of mainstream and boring, unoriginal. It’s also used to describe something that’s out of date, or “last season.” In a positive context, someone who is self aware and owning their cheuginess. “Someone said wine culture was cheugy and if that’s real then #cheuglife on, sis.”

But I hear that Cheugy has now been replaced with Cringe — embarrassing, awkward. “Teach won’t stop talking about [insert] and it’s so cringe.” 

Fire: Amazing, cool, exciting and new. “Yo, that outfit fire.” 

No Cap: It’s a way to emphasize that something is “really real” or “true.” For Millennials or Gen Xers, the analog is “for real.” Anytime you would amend a comment with “for real,” replace it with “no cap.” “I just saw J. Lo walking down the street in UGGs, no cap.” (If you’re following along, UGGs are #cheuglife too apparently).

Snatched: You/that looks great, amazing, flawless. Literally every workout app social media ad is using a line like this, “Snatch your waist by Dec. 31” or “Look snatched without the fillers.” Also, snatural, which is often used to describe an elevated but more natural glam look.

Dead: in shock, no response possible, or also “so funny.” As Taylor Swift once commented in an interview on the Graham Norton Show, “I love [my fans] so much because they always talk about dying. Like, ‘RIP me, I died, DEAD.’” 

Living Rent Free: obsessively thinking about something. “Not me living rent free in my exes’ head” (My ex still thinks about me all the time).

Bruh: a vocal reaction to something that’s surprising, shocking, not cool, disappointing. Like when you tell your kid that they have to finish their meal before they can go see if so-and-so can play, and they respond with, “come on bruh.”

ASF: initialism for “as f*ck.” Millennials broadly used AF instead of ASF. “It’s cold asf” versus “It’s cold AF.”

Bussin’: Yummy, delicious. “Mama that mac is bussin’.”

XYZ: basically a replacement for etcetera. 

Ate/Eats: great job, praise. “She ate that and left no crumbs.” Some used to say “She killed that presentation.”

It’s Giving: Means a few things depending on context. A person, thing, situation is giving off or embodying a feeling or “vibe”. “It’s giving” used alone is a compliment. “It’s giving cringe” is like saying “you’re embarrassing me.” or “it’s giving kindergarten” is like saying “you’re being so childish.” 

Delulu: Shortened from delusional, but not in a bad way. More like someone being extreme or odd. “It’s giving delulu” is like saying “you’re being delusional” and I’m told this is usually used in a romantic context. 

Bet: Shortened way of saying “you bet” or yes, confirming you will do or agree with something.

I know, there are so many more. Maybe in a few months I’ll come back with a new vocab test for you — because we are in this together. Give it some practice and impress your neighbor’s kids, comment with how it goes. Hope your holidays are lit asf with all the good vibes.

Annie Tsai is chief operating officer at Interact (tryinteract.com), early stage investor and advisor with The House Fund (thehouse.fund), and a member of the San Mateo County Housing and Community Development Committee. Find Annie on Twitter @meannie.