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Slang vocabulary: gen Z terms and pirate words

This list is for anyone curious about informal, fun vocabulary, from current gen Z slang to classic pirate lingo. Use it to decode a text message from a younger relative, add flavor to a pirate-themed story, or just enjoy how English keeps inventing new words.

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Slang vocabulary: gen Z terms and pirate words

30 words
WordMeaningIn a sentenceSave
rizznounSlang for charisma or skill in attracting a romantic partner, especially through charm and conversation.Everyone joked that his confident smile and easy jokes gave him serious rizz.
susadjectiveInformal slang for suspicious, questionable, or likely to be dishonest.That excuse he gave for being late sounded pretty sus to me.
capnounA soft, brimless or peaked head covering, or an upper limit placed on something.He pulled his baseball cap low to block the afternoon sun.
lowkeyadjectiveDeliberately kept quiet, modest, or understated; used informally to mean somewhat or secretly.They kept the wedding lowkey, with just close family attending.
flexverbTo bend a joint or tense a muscle, especially to display strength or flexibility.He flexed his arm proudly to show off his new muscle definition.
saltyadjectiveTasting of or containing salt.The soup was too salty, so she added more water to balance the flavor.
glow-upnounA dramatic, positive transformation in someone's appearance, confidence, or lifestyle, often over time.Fans were amazed by the actor's glow-up between his first film and his latest one.
stannounAn extremely devoted and enthusiastic fan of a celebrity, band, or franchise.Online stans flooded social media with fan art after the singer's album dropped.
ghostingnounThe act of ending a personal or romantic relationship by suddenly cutting off all communication without explanation.After three dates, he started ghosting her and never replied to another text.
simpnounSlang for someone, especially a man, who shows excessive attention or submission to a person they are attracted to.His friends teased him as a simp for texting her back within seconds every time.
yeetverbTo throw something with great force or speed, often used humorously or casually.He yeeted the empty can across the room straight into the recycling bin.
hangryadjectiveIrritable, short-tempered, or angry as a result of feeling hungry.He gets hangry around noon if he skips breakfast and lunch runs late.
savageadjectiveExtremely violent, fierce, or brutal in behavior or attack.The report described a savage attack on the small village by armed raiders.
cringeverbTo flinch or shrink back slightly from fear, disgust, or embarrassment.I cringed when I heard my recorded voice played back.
cloutnounPersonal power or influence, especially the ability to affect decisions or opinions.The senator's endorsement carried real clout with undecided voters.
buccaneernounA pirate, especially one of the sailors who raided Spanish ships and settlements in the Caribbean during the 17th century.The museum exhibit told the story of a famous buccaneer who terrorized colonial trade routes.
plunderverbTo steal goods or valuables from a place, typically by force during war or chaos.Soldiers plundered the ancient temple, carrying off its gold statues.
doubloonnounA former gold coin used in Spain and its colonies, especially between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries.The divers found a chest of doubloons scattered across the sunken ship's hull.
maroonedadjectiveLeft stranded and isolated, typically on an island or in a remote place, with no way to leave.The sailors were marooned on a deserted island after their ship sank.
scurvynounA disease caused by a severe lack of vitamin C, marked by bleeding gums, fatigue, and weakness.Sailors on long voyages once suffered from scurvy before citrus fruit became common on ships.
galleonnounA large, multi-decked sailing ship used mainly from the 15th to 18th centuries for trade and warfare.Spanish galleons once carried enormous amounts of silver across the Atlantic Ocean.
mutinynounAn open rebellion by soldiers or sailors against the authority of their officers.The crew planned a mutiny after months of unpaid wages and cruel treatment.
swashbucklernounA swaggering, adventurous character, especially a daring pirate or fighter in fiction.The old film starred a charming swashbuckler who dueled his way across the seas.
landlubbernounA person who has little experience at sea and is regarded as clumsy or unfamiliar with ships.The old sailor teased his nephew, calling him a landlubber for getting seasick so quickly.
scallywagnounA mischievous or dishonest person, often used lightly to describe a playful rogue.The old man laughed and called his grandson a little scallywag for hiding his glasses.
cutlassnounA short sword with a slightly curved blade, historically used by sailors and pirates.The pirate captain waved his cutlass as he boarded the enemy ship.
Jolly Rogerproper nounThe traditional black flag bearing a white skull and crossbones flown by pirate ships.The pirate crew raised the Jolly Roger as they approached the merchant vessel.
corsairnounA pirate or privateer, especially one who historically operated along the Barbary Coast of North Africa.The novel follows a daring corsair who raided merchant ships along the coast.
privateernounA privately owned ship authorized by a government to attack and capture enemy vessels, or its captain.During the war, the privateer captured several merchant ships for profit.
crow's nestnounA small lookout platform fixed near the top of a ship's mast.The sailor spotted land from the crow's nest before anyone else on deck.

Gen Z slang

Gen Z slang moves fast, but some terms have stuck around long enough to enter dictionaries. Rizz refers to charisma or flirting skill, cap means a lie while no cap means telling the truth, and sus is short for suspicious. Lowkey describes something done quietly or without much attention, and a glow-up describes a dramatic positive change in someone's appearance or confidence.

Pirate slang

Pirate slang comes from centuries of sailing tradition and pirate fiction. A buccaneer or corsair was a type of pirate, and plunder meant stolen goods or the act of stealing them. Someone marooned was abandoned on a deserted island, a landlubber was an inexperienced sailor, and the jolly roger was the skull-and-crossbones flag flown by pirate ships.

Frequently asked questions

What does 'no cap' mean?

No cap is gen Z slang meaning 'no lie' or 'I'm being honest,' the opposite of cap, which means a lie.

What is a scallywag?

A scallywag was a mildly disreputable or mischievous person, a word often used playfully for pirates and rascals alike.