Internet slang moves fast — a term can go from niche to mainstream to “your uncle just used it” in a matter of months. This glossary covers the terms with real staying power, explained clearly.
Core Slang Terms
Rizz — Short for charisma; the ability to attract or flirt with someone smoothly. “He’s got no rizz” means someone is awkward when flirting.
Delulu — Short for delusional, usually used self-deprecatingly or affectionately about someone believing something unrealistic (often about a crush). “Delulu is the solulu” is a common ironic follow-up phrase.
Gyat — An exclamation, often used reactively, loosely tied to noticing someone’s appearance. Meaning has broadened and softened significantly from its origin.
NPC — Borrowed from gaming (“non-player character”), used to describe someone acting robotic, generic, or without independent thought — sometimes literally, referring to “NPC streamers” who repeat scripted reactions on livestreams.
Mid — Mediocre, average, unimpressive. “That movie was mid” means it was neither good nor bad.
Cap / No Cap — “Cap” means a lie; “no cap” means “I’m not lying” or “for real.”
Ate (and left no crumbs) — Means someone did something exceptionally well, with “left no crumbs” as an intensifier meaning they did it flawlessly.
Girl Dinner / Girl Math — Originally described informal, snack-based meals, “girl math” extended the joke to humorous, non-literal reasoning about spending decisions (e.g., “it was on sale, so it was basically free”).
Core (as a suffix) — Attached to words to describe an aesthetic, e.g., “cottagecore,” “goblincore,” “corecore” — signals a specific visual/emotional vibe rather than a literal category.
Understood the assignment — Means someone did exactly what was expected of them, and did it well — often used about outfits, performances, or content.
Reaction & Format Terms
POV — “Point of view,” used to frame short videos as if the viewer is experiencing a specific scenario.
Main Character Energy — Acting like the protagonist of your own story; can be used sincerely (confidence) or sarcastically (self-absorbed).
Ick — A sudden feeling of being turned off by someone, often triggered by something small and specific.
Beige Flag — A quirky, neutral personality trait, playing off “red flag”/”green flag,” used humorously for oddly specific habits.
Why Slang Moves This Fast
Most modern slang originates on TikTok or in gaming communities, gets tested in comment sections, and either dies within weeks or gets amplified by creators into mainstream use — a cycle that’s dramatically faster than pre-social-media slang formation.
This glossary is updated as new terms gain traction and older ones fade — bookmark this page for reference.
