I Translated Gen Z Slang Into Audiophile Review Terms. It Got Wild!

The hi-fi world has long been a predominantly older Gentlemen's club. But as audiophiles age, the question arises: who will carry the torch and keep our passionate hobby alive? Enter Gen Z. I believe they are the future audiophiles—waiting to be inspired and guided toward an appreciation of the shared passion we have for great hi-fi sound and the music we love. My hope is that by incorporating Gen Z lingo into our reviews, we can attract a younger audience while also helping us veterans better understand their perspective. This editorial and related Youtube video aims to bridge the generational gap through a shared language and love for high-fidelity sound.

Gen Z Terms List

1. Slay – Amazing, flawless

2. Ate – Did it perfectly, looks great  

3. No crumbs – Executed flawlessly

4. Delulu – Delusional

5. Pick-me – Tries too hard to be chosen/liked (especially by opposite sex)

6. Ick – Instant turn-off

7. Rizz – Flirting game, charm

8. Dry texting – Boring or one-word replies

9. Cap – Lie

10. No Cap – Not lying, for real

11. Bet – OK, cool, deal

12. Bussin’ – Really good (usually food)

13. Skibidi – Chaotic humor, brain rot

14. Slaps – So good (usually music)

15. Mid – Mediocre, average

16. Go off – Pop off, do your thing

17. It’s giving – Feels like / gives the vibe of

18. Main character – Center of attention/energy

19. NPC – Boring, background energy

20. Sus – Suspicious, sketchy

21. Period – Final word, no debate

22. Stan – Hardcore fan/support

23. Vibe check – Energy test, good or bad

24. Girl dinner – Random, snacky meal

25. Core – Aesthetic/style (e.g., “audio-core”)

26. Gatekeep – Not sharing info/resources

27. Trauma dump – Oversharing heavy stuff

28. Slay era – A time of thriving

29. Ate and left no crumbs – Did amazing, flawless performance

30. Pushin P – Cool, positive behavior (from Gunna)

31. Mogging - to outshine, dominate, or assert superiority over someone, often in looks, status, or skill.

*32. That’s so Wizard – amazing

*33. Mint – excellent, awesome

*Note: #32 and #33 aren’t Gen Z slang, but they’ve earned honorary status in my world. #33, especially, has been part of my vocabulary since growing up in 80s Long Island—and yes, “That’s so Wizard” was 100% inspired by a legendary Transformers G1 parody by Dr. Smoov, where Optimus Prime—one of my childhood heroes—dropped that gem. It’s canon to me now, and I’m on a personal quest to make it the next big catchphrase in audio reviews. Roll out. 😎🎧✨

Conclusion

So let’s cut the snake-oil cables, embrace Spotify-hungry Gen Z, and stop treating vinyl butter like sacred scripture—because unless audiophiles adapt, our carefully tuned hobby might just end up louder… but lonelier. Sure, some of these Gen Z terms might sound a little gimmicky at first, but they could be the secret sauce to making hi-fi fun and relatable for the next generation. Got a favorite Gen Z term you'd love to see in a speaker or amplifier review? 

Drop it in the comments—and let’s talk about how we can keep the spirit of great sound alive for years (and ears) to come.