Sus, lit, fire: Translating Gen Z's most-used office slang

February 28, 2023 1:28 PM

Having a hard time understanding your Gen Z employees? Have no fear — a recent survey from e-learning platform Preply can help you wade through unfamiliar terms and confusing slang.

The generational divide in offices has never been more pronounced than it is now, with up to four generations working at a time. But with Gen Z slated to make up over 60% of the workforce in the next decade, it's important to be able to understand and communicate effectively. To avoid getting lost in translation, Preply surveyed over 1,000 working professionals to find out which buzzwords Gen Z uses the most.

The word "vibe" was ranked the most commonly used phrase by Gen Z — the term usually refers to the kind of atmosphere or overall sentiment they have for the subject they're talking about.

Other popular slang includes "no cap" (said when they're telling the truth), "bet" (when they're accepting a challenge), "lit" (when they think something is cool) and "basic" (for when they think something isn't). This compares to baby boomers' favorite phrase, which was "ducks in a row."

Preply warns older employees to be careful when trying to decipher the meaning of words they don't understand. Even buzzwords can change meanings, and sometimes Gen Z will use them ironically. For example, if a Gen Z coworker suggests that your office party is "going to be lit," it might not be a good thing, if meant sarcastically. As with all workplace jargon, it's always best to always ask before making an assumption.

See what other words you can expect to hear regularly from your Gen Z coworkers, with definitions from EBN's own resident "Gen Z expert."

"Vibe"

Referring to the atmosphere or overall sentiment they have for the subject they're talking about.

Example: "I like the vibe of our team."

"No cap"

Emphasizing the truth behind a statement, no matter how outrageous it may sound.

Example: "He forgot to turn his audio off when he went to the bathroom, no cap."

"Bet"

Accepting a challenge or responding to an assigned task.

Example: "Could you update the spreadsheet?" "Bet."

"Lit"

Expressing excitement over something, or as an adjective for whether an event is supposed to be fun or not.

Example: "The ERG meeting is supposed to be lit."

"Basic"

Describing something that is lackluster in nature or boring. Most commonly used as a mild-mannered insult.

Example: "I didn't like her powerpoint presentation — it was so basic!"

"Sus"

An abbreviation of "suspicious;" playfully referring to behavior or activity Gen Z considers to be abnormal.

Example: "They called an emergency manager's meeting. That's sus."

"Bro"

The noun could be both friendly or serious, depending on the context of a situation.

Example: "Thanks, bro!" or "My deadline is tomorrow? Bro."

Slay

Referring to something impressive. Differs from 'lit' in the sense that 'slay' could apply to more than just an event; it could be in response to outfits, actions or life updates.

Example: "I finally signed that client I've been working on." "Slay!"

"Cancel"

To stop giving support to a person, place or thing, whether because it's problematic or simply because they no longer want to.

Example: "Only offering an unsustainable 401(k) option is canceled."

"Fire"

Referring to something they enjoyed a lot. Often interchangeable with "lit."

Example: "That corporate lunch was fire."