This GIF has been making the rounds and gaining popularity on TikTok. The spinning image of a cat has captivated audiences (and cats themselves), sparking what’s been dubbed “brain rot.” “Brain rot” describes a scenario where an internet trend, meme, or joke burrows so deeply into your mind that you can’t stop thinking about it. It replays on a loop in your head, often spilling over into your speech and actions in everyday life. A prime example would be kids who randomly shouting “skibidi toilet,” fully aware it makes no sense but loving it anyway.

• Aura – Overall vibe, energy, or personality.
• Bestie – Short for “best friend”.
• Brat – A term coined by singer Charlie XCX in a tweet, “brat” describes a person (often female) who is genuine, self-possessed, non-conforming, with a rebellious streak. It is represented by a florescent, chartreuse green, which symbolizes making a statement.
• Caught in 4k –  Refers to someone being caught doing something wrong or incriminating on camera or with evidence to prove it, referencing 4k resolution.
• CEO – Leader.
• Chat – Used to refer to a group of people, like friends.
• Cooked – Something or someone that is done, exhausted, or doomed.
• Crash out– To go insane.
• Drip – Sophisticated or stylish in appearance.
• Fanum Tax – To steal; typically describing the theft of food between friends. Originally coined by American streamer Fanum, the term has become an internet meme, particularly employed and popularized by Generation Alpha.
• Fire – Term used to describe that something is impressive, good, or cool.
• Fit/fit check – An outfit.
• Finna – Abbreviation for fixing to, or going to.
• Flex – To flaunt or brag about something.
• Fr – An acronym that means: For real, to agree with someone or to express seriousness.
• Hype – Excited, or something is good.
• Hit different – To be better in a distinctive manner.
• Ick – A feeling of disgust towards someone or something.
• In our ___ era – used to describe a specific period in someone’s life where they focus on a particular theme, activity, or vibe. It’s a way to highlight changes in priorities or habits, and can be used in a serious or humorous way.
• It’s giving – Used to describe an attitude or connotation.
• IYKYK – An acronym that stands for: If you know, you know.
• Keep it 100 – To be honest, genuine, and authentic.
• Lit – Something remarkable, interesting, fun, or amusing. Generally positive. Semantically the same as cool of earlier generations, but contradicts the former’s normative semantics.
• Living rent free – Things or people that are constantly in your thoughts.
• Locked in – To be completely focused, concentrated, and fully committed to something.
• Looksmaxxing – Trying to maximize attractiveness.
• L – Loss.
• Main character – Used to describe someone who is or wants to be the star of their own life.
• Out of pocket – To be crazy, wild, or extreme, sometimes to an extent that is considered too far.
• Periodt – Used as an interjection to indicate that the preceding statement is final and that there is nothing more to be said about it.
• Peep the deets – “Check out the details”.
• Pop off – Express oneself with enthusiasm or to excel in a particular situation, often used to describe someone who is doing something exceptionally well.
• Roasted – To be teased, often in a humorous way.
• Securing the bag – The act of someone working to reach their goals, usually referring to making money.
• Shook – Shocked or surprised.
• Sigma – Someone who is cool, successful, and popular.
• Skibidi toilet rizz – Skibidi Toilet is an animated YouTube series that depicts a dystopian world where mobile toilets with human heads popping out of their bowls war with humanoids who have cameras, speakers, or TVs for heads. By 2024, it has become popular with Gen Alpha and the youngest portion of Gen Z. Skibidi is a nonsense word that can mean “cool, bad, or evil”. It’s pronounced like “skippity” and its meaning depends on the word it’s paired with. Rizz is one’s charm and is derived from charisma. In this instance, skibidi toilet rizz means to have the ultimate level of charisma.
• Slap – Used to refer to something that is perceived to be good.
• Slay – To do something well.
• Spilling the tea – To share gossip, rumors, or secrets.
• Sus – Suspicious.
• Understood the assignment – To understand what was supposed to be done; to do something well.
• Very demure, very mindful –  a phrase that’s become popular on TikTok and is used to describe a refined, subtle elegance.
• Yap – To talk a lot.

100% Gen Z certified. It’s got all the slang, chaos, and just enough randomness to make your brain short-circuit.

Blame Rebecca. She let a Gen-Z take charge. This is what happens when you trust the chaos. We’re definitely having fun… maybe a little too much. But she said “Go wild” and I said “Bet.”