The most cringeworthy words, according to Gen Z - do you use them?

"'Gen Z's relationship with language is incredibly fast-moving. Unlike previous generations, they are growing up in a digital environment where new words can emerge, become popular or "cringe" within a matter of months...or even weeks! Platforms like Instagram or TikTok definitely accelerate this cycle: a phrase might start as a joke or trend within a niche community, go viral globally, and then quickly become overused.'"

"Across all respondents, '6,7' topped the list, deemed to be cringeworthy amongst 24.4 per cent of adults. This was followed by 'skibbidi' (21.6 per cent), 'preggo' (20.8 per cent), and 'sorry, not sorry' (18.1 per cent). '"Preggo" ranks third (20.8%), with respondents citing irritation at overly cutesy abbreviations for "pregnant".'"

"While it seems like only recently it was being thrown around, 'skibbidi' was deemed the most cringeworthy word by Gen Z respondents. Meaning 'cool' or 'bad', this word made more than a third (37 per cent) of Gen Z squirm. Other cringeworthy terms include 'wifey', 'holibobs' and 'Fri yay', as well as 'bussin', 'bae' and 'YOLO'."

A Preply survey of 1,502 UK adults identified which slang terms people find most cringeworthy. Across all age groups, '6,7' topped the list at 24.4 percent, followed by 'skibbidi' at 21.6 percent, 'preggo' at 20.8 percent, and 'sorry, not sorry' at 18.1 percent. Gen Z respondents ranked 'skibbidi' as most cringeworthy at 37 percent. Other embarrassing terms include 'wifey', 'holibobs', 'Fri yay', 'bussin', 'bae', and 'YOLO'. Language expert Yolanda Del Peso explains that Gen Z experiences rapid linguistic cycles through digital platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where phrases emerge, trend, and become overused within weeks or months, losing appeal once adopted by older generations and brands.

Read at Mail Online