Are you a parent confused at what your kids are saying? A teacher perplexed by what you hear in the halls? Or even a teenager just trying to keep up with all the new “brainrot” that has been going around? If any of those are true, then this guide may help. As a preface, brainrot is inherently meant to not make too much sense, so it is best to not think about it too hard, but this guide should be a good starting point.
Neutral Brainrot:
Skibidi
Comes from gen alpha’s favorite videos, “skibidi toilet,” which consist of a man’s head sticking out of a toilet. It doesn’t have a true meaning, so a child could be using it in a good or bad way. If used as an adjective, it could mean “silly” or “stupid”.
Example: “Skibidi Toilet”
Ohio
Refers to the state in the United States. Meaning comes from the joke that nothing normal happens in Ohio, only weird stuff.
Example: “Our teacher is so weird, she must be from Ohio”
Rizz
Short for charisma, especially meaning when someone is smooth and can flirt.
Example: “Look at the girl he swooned, he is the rizzler!” “I have so much rizz.”
Sigma/Alpha/Beta
A sigma is someone who is the coolest, a leader. An alpha is also cool, but not as much as a sigma. A beta is a normal, unimpressive person.
Example: “Josh is such a sigma, he has all the cool fortnite skins”
Mewing
The act of not talking and keeping one’s tongue touching the roof of their mouth. It originated as a way of getting a better jawline, but is no longer done for that reason.
Example: “Why isn’t Josh talking right now?” “He’s too busy mewing”
Mogging
The act of being better looking than someone else. To mog them is to look better than them.
Example: “Why is Josh all upset?” “Jake just mogged him”
Looksmaxxing
The act of bettering one’s appearance in order to look more attractive; usually includes mewing.
Example: “Hey man you’ve been looking good lately” “Thanks man, I’ve been looksmaxxing”
Crashing Out
When someone cannot handle a situation to a point they have a bit of a meltdown.
Example: “All this homework is going to make me crash out and throw my computer!”
Fanum Tax
Popularized by the streamer Fanum who would steal food from his friends during live streams, it is now used as a “reason” for why someone steals a small piece of your food.
Example: “Bro why’d you take my last fry?” “Fanum Tax bro”
Group Leader
Self explanatory, whoever leads whatever “group” they may be a part of.
Example: “Jake is so sigma” “Well that’s why he is group leader”
Glazing
The act of over-praising and over-complimenting someone, whether or not they deserve it.
Example: “I tried to have a normal conversation with Jake but he kept glazing Taylor Swift”
Let me Cook/Cooking
Someone who is trying to/is doing something well.
Example: “I am cooking on this AP Lit essay”
Cooked
The opposite of cooking. Someone who did something poorly.
Example: “I got cooked on that AP Lit essay”
Simp
Someone that is overly kind to someone else because they like them
Example: “All he does is compliment her and she doesn’t even care, he is such a simp!”
Feminine Brainrot:
Brat
Someone who is sassy, bold, loves to have some fun. Popularized by singer Charli XCX, she personally defines it as “You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says dumb things sometimes.”
Example: “Your outfit is so brat summer!”
Demure
To be respectful, modest, and sensible.
Example: “See how I do my makeup for work? Very demure, very mindful.”
Delulu
Delusional, but a little more silly.
Example: “Don’t worry about it, delulu is the solulu!”
It’s giving…
Describing something, usually a person. The tone and word used to describe is very important to decide if this is being used negatively or positively.
Example: “Your yellow dress? It’s giving… banana”
Slay
When something is amazing and impressive. Often said to someone when they did something good or they are looking good today.
Example: “I slayed in math today!” or “You look so slay.”
Yass
An exclamation like “yes” but with the A vowel to add emphasis and excitement.
Example: “I got a 98 on my chem test! “Yasss good job!”
Yassification
Making something look better than it did, oftentimes making something more “girly.”
Example: “I yassified my little brother by doing his nails and makeup.”
Queen/King
An empowering term to uplift someone.
Example: “Yass queen!” “Keep your head up king.”
Mother
A term of endearment. Calling someone mother means you think they are powerful, cool, respectable, and fierce. Similar to calling someone a queen.
Example: “Taylor Swift is so mother.”
Who is this DIVA
Often commented on TikTok videos showcasing a scene or edit of a character, but can be used in real life. It emphasizes the person and their diva-like attitude or appearance.
Example: The edit of Lola Bunny from Space Jam was filled with comments saying “WHO IS THIS DIVA” and “she ate!”
___-coded
Similar to “it’s giving…” as it describes a person or situation.
Example: “Her mom jeans and sweater are so millennial-coded”
