Bridging the Gap

BRIDGING

the Gapwith Jasmine Bennett

When a Gen Zer talks, do you often find yourself trying to decode their lingo? It can be confusing when you hear words and phrases like “spill the tea” or “no cap.” No, these phrases don’t mean that tea has really been spilled or that we’re no longer wearing our baseball caps. Navigating through this lingo can be tough, especially when trying to communicate with teenagers. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place to learn just what your teenager is saying and even get a chance to engage in conversation using his/her lingo. Here are three popular phrases and words Gen Zers are using right now!

CAP: to tell a lie

Common Phrases: “No cap” / “Capping” / “Cap” / “Cap Talk”

HOW TO USE:

If your teen is telling a lie and you know that it’s a lie, you can simply say, “cap” or “that’s cap” after they finish telling the lie. If you’re explaining the truth to your teen and want to emphasize that you’re not lying, you may insert “no cap” after you finish telling the truth.

EXAMPLES:

“I’m sending an email to your teacher about your failing grades, no cap.” “That’s cap. You didn’t do any of your chores for the past week.”

SHADE: to

speak disrespectfully about someone or something behind their back

Common Phrase: “throwing shade”

HOW TO USE:

If you happen to overhear your teenager talking about you to his/her friends, this is the perfect time to acknowledge that they were speaking about you behind your back or “throwing shade.” You can also use this phrase when discussing social interactions with your teens or even your friends.

EXAMPLES:

“I heard you throwing shade earlier when you were on the phone.” “Last time I talked to Barb, she was throwing shade about Dianne, can you believe it?”

GO OFF: to

encourage one’s decision either sarcastically or supportively

Common Phrases: “go off then” / “go off girl” / "go off, I guess”

HOW TO USE:

(Sarcastically) It’s comparable to saying “good job” to someone you know didn’t work hard. (Supportively) It’s like complimenting someone on a really amazing outfit. You want to be over-the-top and a little excessive when using this phrase supportively.

EXAMPLES:

(Sarcastically) “If you don’t study for your midterm tomorrow, you’ll probably fail it, but you already knew that… so go off, I guess.” (Supportively) “You made straight A’s this semester and haven’t been in any trouble, go off!”

If you find yourself wondering what the meaning of everyday words are or thinking that TikTok is the sound a clock makes, head on back to this column as we bridge the gap between Gen Zers and the rest of the world.