11 Hottest Slang Phrases of 2025 Decoded

Your Guide to Staying Culturally fluent, Before These Terms Vanish

Language is constantly evolving, and slang is at the forefront of that change, shaping how we communicate, connect, and even define culture.

As we navigate 2025, a fresh wave of trendy phrases has taken over social media, group chats, and everyday conversations. But if you’ve ever found yourself scratching your head at terms like “That’s so glitch!” or “I’m in my zizz era,” you’re not alone.

This year’s slang reflects a mix of tech influence, nostalgia reboots, and Gen-Z’s love for playful absurdity. Some words are born from viral TikTok sounds, others from gaming subcultures, and a few from unexpected meme revivals.

But one thing’s for sure: if you don’t keep up, you risk being “left on read” in more ways than one.

In this guide, we’ll break down 2025’s most popular slang, exploring their origins, meanings, and how to use them without sounding like you’re trying too hard.

Whether you’re a curious parent, a trend-conscious professional, or just someone who wants to stay linguistically relevant, consider this your ultimate cheat sheet to speaking fluent “2025.”

Ready to decode the latest lingo? Let’s dive in.

(P.S.: Definitions here might expire faster than a carton of oat milk. Use them wisely.)

11 Hottest Slangs of 2025

1. Delulu: The Art of Blissful Self-Deception

Delulu means being delusional, but with ✨sparkles✨. It’s about leaning into wild, unrealistic hopes while knowing they’re ridiculous. Think of it as optimism’s chaotic cousin.

Why it trends: K-pop stans (shoutout to BTS’s ARMY) coined this to laugh at their own over-the-top fantasies. Dr. Elaine Schmidt, a linguist who studies internet subcultures, told me in an interview: “Delulu is a coping mechanism. It lets people romanticize life without fully disconnecting from reality.”

Usage Examples:

• “I’m delulu enough to think my ex will text me after I liked their cat meme.”
• “My delulu era: applying for jobs that require ‘5 years of experience in ChatGPT.’”

Slangwise Tip (watch out): Overuse it, and you’ll sound like you’re avoiding therapy. As my friend Jamal (a diehard K-pop fan) says: “Delulu is fun until you start believing your own fanfics.”

2. Sigma: The Lone Wolf Trope (And Why It’s Problematic)

Sigma is that guy who “transcends” the alpha/beta hierarchy by rejecting society. In theory, cool. In practice? Often code for “I hate women and love Andrew Tate.”

The origin story: This term mutated from toxic Reddit forums. According to a 2023 study by the Pew Research Center, “sigma male” content spiked by 200% in male-dominated online spaces, often linked to anti-feminist rhetoric. Here are 7 surprising meanings of what the sigma…

How to use it (carefully):

• Ironically: “Dave’s such a sigma, he microwaves fish in the office and calls it ‘self-actualization.’”
• Contextually: Reference fictional lone wolves like Batman… not real-life influencers.

Slangwise take: Sigmas are just alphas with a superiority complex. As Dr. Rebecca Lee, a sociologist, warns: “These labels reinforce harmful gender binaries. Don’t let jargon disguise regressive views.”

3. Bedrot: When Your Mattress Becomes a Coffin

Gen Z’s way of physically or mentally “rotting” in bed for hours/days. It’s Gen Z’s darkly humorous take on burnout, depression, or just needing a really long nap.

Why it resonates: Blame pandemic fatigue. A 2024 CDC report found that 65% of Gen Z admits to “bedrotting” weekly. It’s not laziness, it’s a survival tactic in a chaotic world.

How to use it:

• “My bedrot marathon: 14 hours, 3 TikTok drafts, and a family-size bag of Hot Cheetos.”
• “Bedrot + doomscrolling = my personality this quarter.”

Slangwise tip: If someone says they’re “bedrotting,” don’t judge. Bring snacks. Mia Chen stated and I quote; “Humor helps Gen Z articulate mental health struggles without stigma.”

4. Fanum Tax: The Snack Heist You Didn’t See Coming

Playfully stealing someone’s food, named after Fanum, a streamer from the YouTube group AMP. It’s the digital age’s “finder’s keepers.”

The backstory: Fanum became infamous for sneaking bites of his teammates’ meals mid-stream. Clips of him yelling “FANUM TAX!” while swiping wings went viral, amassing 50M+ views.

How to use it:

• Steal a fry? “Fanum Tax, baby. It’s the law.”
• Roommate eats your leftovers? “You owe me a Fanum Tax refund, with interest.”

It’s impact: Fast-food brands like Wendy’s now tweet about the “Fanum Tax.” It’s a rare case of slang influencing corporate marketing (and yes, it’s as weird as it sounds).

5. Skibidi: Chaos, Nonsense, and Singing Toilets

Skibidi means: Pure, unhinged chaos. No literal definition, it’s the vibe of a room after someone yells “Fight!” at a yoga class.

Origin deep dive: A YouTube series called Skibidi Toilet features… wait for it… toilets with human heads singing “skibidi dop dop yes yes.” It’s absurd, addictive, and Gen Z’s inside joke. What does skibidi mean in every sense of it?

How to use it:

• “My group chat is skibidi today, 12 voice notes, 3 memes about corn, and a conspiracy theory.”
• “That party was skibidi. Someone brought a pet raccoon. Enough said.”

Dr. Trevor Park says, “Skibidi reflects Gen Z’s love for absurdist humor. It’s rebellion against making sense in a world that feels unstable.”

6. NPC Mode: When Autopilot Takes Over

NPC means acting like a non-playable character (NPC) from a video game, mindlessly following routines or trends without original thought. It’s the human version of “existing, not living.”

Why it’s trending: Thanks to gaming streams and Gen Z’s love for meta-humor, calling someone an NPC calls out their lack of self-awareness.

On this, a digital culture researcher, explains: “Labeling someone an NPC flips the script. It’s a critique of conformity in a world obsessed with viral trends.”

Usage Example:

• “Mark’s in full NPC mode today, same coffee order, same Zoom background, same sigh at 3 PM.”
• “My brain is glitching. I’ve been NPC-walking through meetings since Monday.”

Slangwise tip: Use this term lightly. As streamer Luna Rae warns: “Calling someone an NPC mid-rant? Sure. Using it to dismiss someone’s emotions? Not a vibe.”

7. Glowdown: When Life Hits the Unfiltered Button

Glowdown is the opposite of a “glow up.” It’s when your life, looks, or mental health take a nosedive. Think: “I used to meal prep; now I eat cereal for dinner.”

Origin: Born from TikTok’s #GlowDownChallenge, where users juxtapose past “peak” photos with current chaos. A 2024 Social Media Today report found the hashtag spiked by 150% post-pandemic, reflecting Gen Z’s exhaustion with perfectionism.

How to use it:

• “My glowdown era: yoga pants 24/7 and this is nking ‘dry shampoo is a personality.’”
• “Between work and my dying plant, I’m embracing the glowdown.”

Slangwise take: Glowdowns normalize struggle. “It’s a darkly comic way to admit, ‘I’m not okay’—which can be the first step to healing.”

8. Situationship: The “What Are We?” Purge

Situationship is a romantic limbo, more than friends, less than partners. No labels, just vibes and mixed signals. Source: Urbandictionary

Why it’s everywhere: Dating apps and pandemic isolation blurred relationship norms. According to a 2024 Bumble survey, 67% of 18–30-year-olds admit to being in a situationship, often due to “commitment phobia.”

How to use it:

• “We’re in a situationship. He texts memes but ghosts if I mention ‘feelings.’”
• “My situationship’s birthday gift? A ‘u up?’ text at midnight. Romance isn’t dead.”

Watch out: Situationships thrive on ambiguity. Dating coach Derek Miles jokes: “If you Google ‘are we exclusive?’ you’re either in a situationship or a horror movie.”

9. Plankton Mode: Feeling Microscopic in a Mega-Ocean

What it means: Overwhelmed by your smallness in the universe. It’s existential dread meets Finding Nemo references.

Origin deep dive: Viral tweets comparing adulting to “being plankton in capitalism’s ocean” blew up in 2023. Climate anxiety and TikTok existentialism kept it alive.

How to use it:

• “Watching rent prices rise while I earn $18/hour? Total plankton mode.”
• “Me trying to fix my sleep schedule: a single plankton battling the Mariana Trench.”

Slangwise insight: “Plankton mode reflects Gen Z’s fight to find agency in systems that feel too big to change.”

10. Mute Challenge: Ignoring Drama Like a Pro

Mute Challenge means Intentionally tuning out chaos, whether it’s group chat gossip or Twitter feuds. It’s self-care for the digital age.

The Origin: Coined during 2023’s “Deinfluencing” trend, where users urged followers to mute toxic content. A 2024 Journal of Digital Ethics study linked “mute challenges” to reduced anxiety in 58% of participants.

How to use it:

• “Starting a mute challenge: unfollowed 12 celebs, left 3 group chats. Peace unlocked.”
• “My ex posted a thirst trap? Mute challenge activated. I choose sanity.”

Slangwise tip: Pair this with “bedrot” for maximum zen. Social media strategist Ray Nguyen advises: “Curate your feed like a gallery, only keep what sparks joy.”

11. Girl Math/Boy Math: The Gendered Logic of Justification

Playfully rationalizing decisions, like splurging on a $200 bag because “it’s basically free if I use cash” (Girl Math) or refusing to buy a $5 coffee but spending $500 on headphones (Boy Math).

It’s less about math and more about meme-ifying gendered stereotypes around spending and logic.

Why it’s viral: TikTok’s #GirlMath hashtag has 1.2B views, with users humorously “calculating” things like, “If I wear these jeans 10 times, each wear costs $3. That’s a ✨investment✨.”

Dr. Tara Chen, a behavioral economist, says: “These terms mock how society often dismisses women’s spending as frivolous, while men’s purchases are seen as strategic, even when they’re not.”

How to use it:

• “Girl Math says this $8 latte is free because I walked here instead of Ubering.”
• “Boy Math is thinking you’ll ‘save money’ by building a $2K gaming PC instead of buying a console.”

Watch out: The trend walks a fine line between satire and reinforcing stereotypes. As content creator Priya Rao notes: “Laugh at the absurdity, but don’t let it become an excuse for actual financial delulu.”

12. Quiet Quitting: When Your Job Gets the Bare Minimum
Quiet Quitting is doing exactly what your job description says, no overtime, no “above and beyond,” no emotional labor. It’s not laziness; it’s setting boundaries in a burnout culture.

Origin story: Though the term exploded in 2022, it’s evolved in 2024 to include “Act Your Wage” (refusing unpaid extra work). A 2024 Gallup poll found 59% of workers under 35 identify as “quiet quitters,” citing burnout and stagnant wages.

How to use it:

• “I’m quiet quitting my side hustle. Sorry, Karen, my ‘passion’ won’t pay my rent.”
• “Quiet quitting = turning off Slack notifications after 6 PM. My sanity thanks me.”

Slangwise insight: Career coach Derek Miles warns: “Employers are pushing back with terms like ‘quiet firing’, reducing hours or benefits. Know your worth, but tread carefully.”

13. Goblin Mode: Unleash Your Inner Chaos Gremlin
Goblin Mode is a way of rejecting societal polish to embrace messiness, think unbrushed hair, eating cold pizza in bed, or binge-watching Real Housewives at 3 AM. It’s the anti-“that girl” aesthetic.

Why it’s relevant: Oxford’s 2022 Word of the Year is still thriving because, as psychologist Dr. Amy Lee explains: “Post-pandemic, people are rejecting performative perfection. Goblin Mode is self-acceptance, minus the guilt.”

How to use it:

• *“My weekend plans? Goblin Mode: zero pants, 12 hours of *Dragon Age, and a family-size bag of gummy worms.”
• “Goblin Mode activated when I showed up to Zoom court in a Snuggie. No regrets.”

Slangwise tip: Pair this with “bedrot” for maximum cozy chaos. Just maybe shower occasionally.

14. Nepo Baby: Fame by Family Tree
This is someone whose success is fueled by famous or connected parents (e.g., “Did she book that role… or is she a Nepo Baby?”). It’s a jab at unequal access in industries like Hollywood, music, and even corporate jobs.

The drama: The term went mainstream after a 2023 New York Magazine cover asked, “Is Every Young Celebrity a Nepo Baby?” A 2024 UCLA study found 72% of actors under 30 in blockbuster films had industry ties.

How to use it:

• “That influencer’s ‘started from scratch’ YouTube series? Nepo Baby alert—her dad’s a studio exec.”
• “Nepo Baby privilege is having a trust fund but still claiming you’re ‘self-made.’”

Slangwise take: Nepo Babies aren’t new, but calling it out is. As filmmaker Ava DuVernay tweeted: “Talent isn’t inherited. Opportunity is.”

15. Dopamine Dressing: Outfit as Mood Booster
Dopamine Dressing is choosing clothes based on their feel-good vibes, not trends. Think bold colors, fluffy textures, or that Star Wars hoodie you’ve worn 14 days straight.

The science: Fashion psychologist Dr. Carolyn Mair confirms: “Colors and textures trigger emotional responses. Dopamine Dressing uses this to combat anxiety or low moods.” A 2024 Vogue survey found 68% of Gen Z buys clothes for “emotional utility” over style.

How to use it:

• “Dopamine Dressing today: rainbow socks, mismatched earrings, and a jacket that feels like a cloud.”
• “Wore my dinosaur pajamas to the grocery store. Judge me? IDC, my dopamine’s thriving.”

Slangwise tip: Follow TikTok’s #DopamineWardrobe for inspo. Spoiler: glitter is heavily featured.

Why Slang Isn’t Just for “The Youth”

Slang bridges gaps, between generations, cultures, and even mental health struggles. Terms like “Quiet Quitting” validate workplace exhaustion, while “Nepo Baby” challenges systemic privilege. As I always say: “Language is power. Master the slang, and you master the narrative.”

Final Thought

If you’re still confused about “Skibidi” or “Sigma,” don’t panic. Even Gen Z admits half these terms will be obsolete by 2025. Stay curious, stay kind, and maybe avoid shouting “Goblin Mode” in a job interview.