Gen-Z and Gen Alpha brainrot has taken over the internet, but what exactly is “brainrot”? It’s a term used to describe content that is chaotic, repetitive, unhinged, and is typically found on TikTok or Instagram Reels.
Despite existing solely to destroy your attention span, it somehow gives us some of the funniest and most frequently used words in everyday conversation.
Every week, there are new terms or jokes, and I’m constantly being asked by adults or people who use social media less than the average person what they mean or where they come from. Some of my friends will even ask me what they mean. So, here’s your cheat sheet of popular brainrot terms and their backstories!
6-7
First, why is “6-7” the funniest thing on the planet right now? Well, 6-7 came from “Doot Doot,” a song by the rapper Skrilla. It’s usually said while moving both palms up and down, as if weighing something.
It’s hard to say why “6-7” is so funny; it just is, and I think that’s the point; that it means nothing, and if you’ve caught yourself pointing out random 6-7s around campus, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Rizz
Now, what’s rizz, and do you have it? Rizz refers to the amount of “game” someone has, or the amount of charm, charisma, or confidence they have whilst flirting. If you have rizz, you’re smooth. If you have no rizz, you’re probably fumbling your shot in someone’s Instagram DMs.
Gyatt
Have you ever heard a twelve-year-old yell “Gyatt!” Or maybe even a twenty-one-year-old guy say it? Gyatt is just an exaggerated way of saying someone looks good, usually if someone is wearing something a little crazy or noticeable. The word took off from streamer iShowSpeed, and now it’s all over TikTok. If someone hits you with a “gyatt,” take it as a ridiculous Gen Z compliment.
Unc
Are you unc? If you’re completely lost by this point… probably. “Unc” is a shortened form of “uncle” used to call someone old. Unc became popular from rap music and has now taken on a life of its own. College seniors? Sorry, but by this point, you’re basically unc.
Fanum Tax
Have you ever been victimized by a fanum tax? This term was started when a Twitch streamer named Fanum would “tax” his friends by taking a bite of their food. Now, it refers to either eating a bite of someone’s food or taking other items, like saying “My usual seat in Strozier just got fanum taxed,” meaning your seat was taken.
Let him cook
Another essential brainrot phrase is “let him cook,” which is used when someone is doing something questionable, bold, or chaotic, but you kind of want to see where they’re going with it.
If your friend is about to post a diabolical YikYak at 2 a.m., hopefully, everyone in the room will whisper, “let her cook.” The phrase literally means don’t interrupt, don’t intervene, don’t judge, just let the masterpiece (or disaster) unfold.
Alpha, Sigma, and Beta
The triplet terms of alpha, sigma, and beta are a huge part of the brainrot community. Sigma and alpha have pretty much the same meaning of being a leader or “being cool,” while beta, in turn, means “not cool” or inferior. The origins of these terms are technically from the study of wolf packs, but they’ve now become nonsense names to call other people.
Huzz
Who are the huzz and where did they come from? Huzz is a new term coined by internet personality Kai Cenat that is a spin on the word “hoes.” For example, you may hear a frat guy ask, “Where the huzz at?” directly translating to “Where are the cute girls?” Simple, right? An important thing to note about huzz is the variations, such as “chuzz” (chopped huzz), “fuzz” (freshmen huzz), or “bruzz” (bro huzz).
Ohio
One of the first brainrot terms that came from younger generations is Ohio. If something looks cursed, strange, or straight-up unexplainable, someone is guaranteed to comment, “Only in Ohio.”
The joke started from memes about the state being an alternate universe where bizarre things happen. Now it’s used to describe anything weird or unhinged, like the performative male contest on Landis Green. If it gives YikYak potential, most of the time it’ll be Ohio-coded.
Understanding brainrot
Hopefully, with this guide, you can avoid sounding unc by not knowing these terms. Actually, maybe this newfound (or already known) knowledge will help you rizz up some huzz?
Whether you plan on using these terms or would prefer them to be burned from your memory, at least now you can communicate with the average 8-year-old!
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