Language changes faster than ever, especially with Gen Z (born 1997–2012) and Gen Alpha (born 2013 onwards). If you’ve heard your kid say something like “This game is peak” or “That’s a rizz god” and felt completely lost, you’re not alone.
Welcome to the world of Brainrot words — slang, memes, and expressions born from TikTok, gaming, and online culture. This guide will walk you through 50 brain rot words your kids might use so you can finally join the conversation instead of sitting there like, “Huh?”
Key Takeaways
- Brainrotwords are fast-changing slang from TikTok, gaming, and memes.
- Understanding them helps parents bond and communicate better.
- Most brain rot words are harmless, but a few can have hidden meanings.
- Stay curious and ask your kids what a word means before judging.
What Are Brainrotwords?
Brainrotwords are slang terms, often silly or exaggerated, that spread fast on the internet — especially on platforms like TikTok, Discord, and Roblox.
The name “brain rot” comes from the idea that spending too much time online can “rot your brain” — not literally, of course, but in the sense that you pick up a bunch of funny, random, and sometimes confusing phrases.
Most of these words aren’t harmful; they’re just part of online youth culture. But they can make it hard for parents to understand conversations if they’re not familiar with the brainrot words list.
Why Parents Should Care
Understanding brain rot words isn’t about being “cool” — it’s about connection.
- You can bond with your kids by recognizing the words they use.
- You can better spot if a slang term has a negative meaning.
- You’ll avoid misinterpreting harmless slang as something dangerous.
The Ultimate Brainrot Words List (50 Examples)
Here’s the complete brainrot words list with simple parent-friendly explanations.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
| Rizz | Charm or flirting skill | “He’s got mad rizz.” |
| NPC | Someone acting like a background character | “Bro’s moving like an NPC.” |
| Skibidi | Random nonsense from a meme trend | “Skibidi toilet is taking over.” |
| Gyatt | Slang for someone attractive | “Gyatt, she looks good.” |
| Ohio | Meme implying something weird or cursed | “Only in Ohio…” |
| Cap | A lie | “That’s cap, you didn’t do that.” |
| No cap | Truth, being serious | “I’m telling the truth, no cap.” |
| Bet | Agreement or okay | “You wanna play? Bet.” |
| Sus | Suspicious | “That’s sus, bro.” |
| Drip | Cool outfit or style | “Check the drip.” |
| Bussin | Really good | “This pizza is bussin.” |
| Ratio | Getting more likes than someone online | “L ratio, you lost.” |
| Sigma | Lone-wolf personality | “He’s on that sigma grindset.” |
| W | Win, success | “Got the job? Big W.” |
| L | Loss, fail | “That’s an L, man.” |
| Based | Confident opinion | “That’s based, I respect it.” |
| Cringe | Embarrassing | “That video is cringe.” |
| Corecore | A mood or aesthetic | “This video is pure corecore.” |
| Mid | Average, not great | “The movie was mid.” |
| Slay | Doing great, looking amazing | “You slayed that outfit.” |
| Fanum tax | Taking someone’s food | “He hit me with the fanum tax.” |
| Goofy ahh | Silly or weird | “That’s a goofy ahh video.” |
| Bruh | Expression of disbelief | “Bruh, are you serious?” |
| POV | Point of view | “POV: You forgot your homework.” |
| Vibe check | Assessing someone’s mood | “You failed the vibe check.” |
| Yapping | Talking too much | “Stop yapping, bro.” |
| Sheesh | Expression of surprise | “Sheesh, that’s a big win.” |
| Glow up | Positive transformation | “You had a serious glow up.” |
| Zesty | Playfully flamboyant | “He’s acting zesty.” |
| Slaps | Something that’s really good | “This song slaps.” |
| Ayo | Surprise or shock | “Ayo, what is that?” |
| Lowkey | Slightly, secretly | “I lowkey like that show.” |
| Highkey | Obviously | “I highkey want pizza.” |
| Bruh moment | Awkward or silly situation | “That was a bruh moment.” |
| Goated | Greatest of all time | “He’s goated at Fortnite.” |
| Shook | Shocked or surprised | “I’m shook right now.” |
| Yeet | Throw something or excitement | “Yeet that ball!” |
| Snatched | Looking good | “Your outfit is snatched.” |
| Bop | A good song | “This track is a bop.” |
| Chillax | Relax and chill | “Just chillax, dude.” |
| Catch these hands | Threat to fight | “Say that again, catch these hands.” |
| Oof | Expression of pain or loss | “Oof, that must’ve hurt.” |
| Dank | Cool or high-quality meme | “That’s a dank meme.” |
| Simp | Someone overly nice to someone they like | “He’s simping again.” |
| Main character | Acting like the hero of a story | “She’s having a main character moment.” |
| Alt | Alternative style | “He’s part of the alt crowd.” |
| AFK | Away from keyboard | “BRB, AFK for 5 minutes.” |
| IRL | In real life | “Let’s meet IRL.” |
| Pog | Excited or impressed | “That’s pog, man.” |
| Lit | Fun, exciting | “The party was lit.” |
| Bruv | Brother, friend | “Oi, bruv, what’s up?” |
How These Words Spread
Most brainrotwords start in:
- TikTok trends – short videos make slang viral fast.
- Gaming chats – games like Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft spread terms.
- Memes – an image or video becomes popular, and the caption turns into slang.
Kids use them to fit in with peers and express themselves in ways adults might not.
Should Parents Worry?
Not all brain rot words are bad. Many are just jokes, compliments, or playful phrases. However:
- Some words might have double meanings.
- Certain slang could be linked to inappropriate memes.
- Kids might overuse slang and struggle to communicate in formal settings.
Tip: Instead of banning words, ask your child what they mean. Often, they’ll happily explain.
FAQs
Q1: What are brainrotwords?
They’re modern slang terms popular among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, often born from internet memes, games, and TikTok trends.
Q2: Are brain rot words bad?
Not usually. Most are harmless, but some can have double meanings depending on the context.
Q3: How can I learn new brainrot words?
Follow TikTok trends, gaming chats, or ask your kids directly — they’re usually happy to explain.
Q4: Why do kids use so many slang words?
Slang helps them feel part of their peer group and express themselves in a way that feels fun and current.
Q5: Will these words go out of style?
Yes — internet slang changes fast. A popular word today might disappear in a few months.