What Is ‘Brainrot’? It May Not Mean What You Think It Does

Being so "online" that it changes your slang is apparently a thing.

Fact checked by Sarah ScottFact checked by Sarah Scott

Every new generation develops their own slang. But today’s young people—younger segments of Gen Z and, more prevalently, Gen Alpha—have such a unique vernacular that it has its own name: "Brainrot".

Brainrot: Gen Alpha Slang Explained

Brainrot is a special segment of Gen Alpha slang that comes from spending a ton of time online—usually in spaces like TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, or even gaming communities like Roblox or Minecraft.

Vanessa Croft, mom of three and middle school teacher with an MA in English Language defines it as “any collection of phrases or words which are understood purely in the context of their use on social media platforms.”

She adds that it’s almost a measurement of how “online” someone is.

“Extensive knowledge of brainrot words/phrases is a key indication that the speaker is deeply immersed in online culture,” she says. “Many Gen Z/Gen Alpha users will speak in full sentences comprised of brainrot vocabulary, which can seem difficult for others outside of their online community or generation to understand.”

25-year-old communications pro Tess Coward who works with the agency SolComms admits she may be a little too well-versed in brainrot slang, but simplifies the concept further.

“Brainrot is when internet trends and jokes are going through your mind constantly. It's the inability to form sentences without internet slang,” she says. “It infiltrates your life and you don’t even know you’re doing it at some point.”

Trying to Make Decipher Happen

So what makes Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s slang different and confusing for us millennials and Gen X-ers who are stuck trying to decipher it? First, there’s the ambiguity of it all.

Previous generations of slang terms usually had one-to-one translations to, for lack of a better word, normal English. "Bling" means jewelry and shiny stuff. "Take a chill pill" means relax. But "Skibidi Ohio rizz"? It’s meta, it’s a little unhinged, it’s context-dependent. It can mean a lot of different things or nothing at all. And that’s kind of the point. There’s an element of intentional trolling to it, and the fact that most people don’t get it is a feature, not a bug.

“I feel like terms like ‘swag’ and hashtags like #YOLO were way more harmless and easier to understand for older generations," says Coward. "Recently, the brainrot slang has gotten so unhinged that even though I might use them, I struggle to understand what they actually mean.”

The next big difference is the source of brainrot language. Instead of new terms coming from, say, a popular song on the radio, it’s coming from some random teenager’s viral TikTok, or a reaction vid to that TikTok, or a top-rated comment on a reaction vid to a viral TikTok (really!).

It’s almost not even worthwhile compiling a list of brainrot vocabulary to study because it changes and transforms so quickly, although there are a few hilarious “translator” websites and apps out there that translate Gen Alpha phrases into equivalent Gen X or millennial slang.

For older Gen Z and millennials still struggling to grasp the concept, you can compare brainrot to meme culture. Not only are there countless memes going around, but they get remixed and transformed constantly; memes referencing other memes and then new memes referencing variations of those. It can get really confusing and inaccessible unless you’re up on all the lore (there’s another brainrot term!) that came before.

Is 'Brainrot' Actually Bad?

Academic institutions in many parts of the world are reportedly banning brainrot slang terms from the classroom. It’s easy to see how some of the lingo might annoy teachers, who encourage proper spelling, grammar, and diction—but is brainrot really all bad?

Language teacher and owner of Think Languages, Stefano Lodola put it really well.

“[These terms] become a shorthand for expressing complex ideas or emotions. This kind of language is not just random; it often reflects the humor, values, and experiences of the generation using it.”

So just because their secret internal language came from Snapchat doesn’t make it any less valid than the slang from generations that came before. But while that’s great for the kids, what about the parents that are left trying to keep up?

Lodola say the best thing parents can do is ask their kids about the lingo and use those learning conversations as a way to form a deeper connection.

“Instead of dismissing it as nonsense, ask [your kids] what these terms mean and how they use them. This can open up conversations that help bridge generational gaps and offer insight into the digital culture your children are part of. Embracing the curiosity that language naturally provokes can turn what seems like a barrier into a shared learning experience.”

And if you want to try slipping the occasional "rizz" or "gyatt" into your speech, more power to you.

Croft adds, “While my own children cringe when I use their brain rot slang on them, I find it to be a useful tool for connection. Language, after all, is the one thing that can both unite and alienate us.”

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