Gen Z Slang List
Explore popular Gen Z slang terms with definitions, examples, and cultural insights. Perfect for marketers, educators, and curious parents.
NPC
Borrowed from “Non-Player Character” in video games, it’s used to describe someone who seems to lack independent thought or unique personality.
Contextual Example:
“He just repeated the same phrase—total NPC vibes.”
Synonyms / Related Terms:
- Background character
- Bot
Alternate Spellings / Variations:
- NPC behavior
- NPC energy
History & Evolution:
In gaming, NPCs are AI-driven characters with scripted lines. Internet culture turned “NPC” into an insult meaning someone who follows the crowd without critical thinking.
Cultural Relevance:
Reflects Gen Z’s tendency to reduce overly conformist or unemotional individuals to “NPC status.” Sparked controversies about dehumanizing language.
Practical Usage:
- Appropriateness & Tone: Typically mocking or sarcastic.
- Platform Popularity: TikTok, gaming forums, Twitter roasts.
- Trend Status: Trendy but also criticized for oversimplifying people.
Dos and Don’ts:
- Do understand it’s a joke about someone being “programmed.”
- Don’t use it to bully or degrade someone’s identity.
Common Misconceptions:
- Some think it means literal in-game NPC. Online slang refers to real humans acting repetitively or “scripted.”
Example in Pop Culture or Media:
- Meme videos calling certain public reactions “NPC interactions.”
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No Cap
Means “no lie” or “I’m not lying,” used to emphasize truthfulness or sincerity.
Cap
To lie or exaggerate, often used in phrases like “That’s cap” to call something untrue.
Periodt
An emphatic way of saying “period,” used to finalize a statement with firm conviction.