If there’s one thing we know about Gen Alpha, it’s that they low-key delight in coining a new word (or five) and the odd nonsensical phrase.

Take six-seven for example. It became a global phenomenon in 2025 thanks to social media, but it didn’t ever really mean anything. Or, at least, nobody could agree on a meaning.

Some said it meant “so-so” (as kids used it with an up-and-down hand motion), others thought it meant a tall person, or a basketball term.

In the end it just became a response that kids made at every opportunity – especially if someone (a teacher, parent, classmate) happened to mention those two numbers in a different context.

A teacher could say “turn to page 67 in your books”, for example, and the classroom would erupt into “six-sevennnnnn”.

This disruption ultimately led to the phrase being banned in some classrooms.

Thankfully the bizarre phrase seems to have fizzled out, but teachers and parents are noticing that “lowkenuinely” has entered the chat instead.

Lowkenuinely is a combination of ‘lowkey’ and ‘genuinely’, which describes expressing something sincere in a casual, laid-back way, according to experts at language platform Preply.

Essentially, it is a TikTok-era way of saying something is real or heartfelt. So, an example might be: “I lowkenuinely love this song” or “I’m lowkenuinely not going to make it through this exam”.

Kids of the internet clearly love a portmanteau (that is, blending two words together to create a new one).

Choppelganger is another recent creation hot off their keyboards, combining ‘chopped’, typically used by teens to describe someone as ugly; and ‘doppelganger’, which is a person who resembles someone else.

A choppelganger, then, is an uglier version of a doppelganger. One parent noted their kids had referred to them as “Uncle Fester’s Choppelganger”. Harsh.

There’s also been chat, clock it and glazing, as well as aura farming and crash out. Honestly, they’ve been busy.

Gone are the days of LMAO and CBA, nowadays kids are all about SYBAU, PMO and ATP.

Generations Z and Alpha are the creators of an entirely new language – from glazing and gurt, to tuff and six-seven.

But what on earth do the acronyms they share in social media comments and messages even mean? Here’s a quick breakdown…

In a video on the words kids are using this summer, teacher and content creator Mr Philip Lindsay said SYBAU – which kids are actually pronouncing as ‘SI-BOW or SI-BOO’ – is the number one word they’re using right now.

According to the teacher (and various explanations online), it’s an acronym that stands for “shut your b**** ass up”. Delightful. “They’re using it in a text form and out loud,” he added.

Nope, they’re not discussing a project management office. Generally this means “piss me off”. Although some people have noted it could also mean “put me on”.

People are using TS as an abbreviation of “this shit” but some are simply using it as a replacement for “this”.

This one’s relatively simple. According to USA Today, ATP stands for “at this point”. The site adds: “Broadly, the slang term is associated with something that is happening currently or a recent development.”

But it can also stand for “answer the phone” (just to keep you on your toes).

In his recent video, Mr Lindsay noted that loads of kids are talking about “checking the UV” right now – and yes, that’s exactly what you think it is, they’re discussing the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

But it’s not about keeping out of the sun, rather they’re discussing whether the UV rays are strong so they can go out and get a tan. Dermatologists are understandably worried about the health risks associated with this and advise against it.

The more you know (TMYK)….