Filenews 18 January 2026 - by Panagiotis Evripidou
It is a fact that the language of the new generation, the so-called Gen Z, contains characteristic phrases that combine Greek with English, using a kind of "hidden language" in their spoken and written speech. Personalities and influencers are now influencing the way young people speak and write, through social media and the influence it has on youth. "F" spoke with the linguist Dr. Georgios Georgiou, the student of the University of Cyprus, Konstantinos Tsokos, and the first-year MS student, regarding the language of young people, the words and expressions used by young people in their vocabulary, wanting to explain this phenomenon on a theoretical and practical level.
Linguist Dr. Georgios Georgiou spoke to us about the fact that the so-called "language of young people" is not a "separate language", but a set of vocabulary choices, styles and ways that function as a social signal within specific groups, communities and digital environments. Dr. Georgiou also explains that as a phenomenon, "youth slang" does not disappear, but is constantly renewed: each generation "receives" some forms and "shapes" others, depending on social trends. To the concerns that the words and phrases used by young people alter the Greek language, Dr. Georgiou clarifies that in reality, the language of young people "can be a source of enrichment rather than danger for the language in general".
Young people have always had the need to diversify
– Where do the words used by young people come from and why do they become fashionable?
-The so-called "language of young people" (slang/youth dialect) is not a "separate language", but a set of vocabulary choices, styles and ways of use that function as a social signal within specific groups, communities and digital environments.
Words and phrases arise from many mechanisms: borrowings, abbreviations, acronyms, playful variations, metaphors/exaggerations, but also the "recycling" of older words with a new meaning, because innovation gives a sense of "ours" and sets the team apart. Young people have always had the need to differentiate themselves from what they understand as the "established" class.
They become "fashionable" when an expression begins to circulate frequently in peer networks and gains prestige within the youth community, often reinforced by popular cultural products and by the linguistic "economy" (a short word that finds uses in many situations is more easily disseminated).
-Is the language of youth something static or does it change over time? Is it a phenomenon that is here to stay or will it disappear?
-The language of youth is not static; It is changing rapidly, because adolescents are in a phase of intense identity and experimentation and, therefore, are key vectors of linguistic innovation and diffusion.
As a phenomenon, "youth slang" does not disappear, but is constantly renewed: each generation "receives" some forms and "shapes" others, depending on social trends, communication technologies and local contexts.
Is there a risk of alteration of the Greek language?
-Concerns are expressed that the words and phrases used by young people alter the Greek language. What is your opinion?
-The concern that young words "alter" Greek is understandable, but linguistic research in general shows that the variety of textures coexists with the pattern and that change is a normal and lasting characteristic of any language, while the crucial thing (especially at school) is the cultivation of the ability to choose the appropriate style for each occasion.
In practice, several youthful innovations quickly fade away, while others spread to the wider public and become less "youthful" over time, because language changes can start in small networks and then move socially. In the end, in reality, the language of young people can be both a source of enrichment rather than a danger for the language in general.
Creative, playful and evaluative character
-What character would you give to the language of young people?
-I would give the language of young people a creative, playful and evaluative character: short shapes, intensity, irony/humour, and often multimodality (e.g. writing modes and digital semiotic means).
-What qualitative characteristics does this phenomenon have and for what reasons does it exist if we can characterize it as such? Can we characterize it as a kind of mysticism, the secret language?
-Qualitatively, it tends to have high productivity (creation of new types), intense pragmatic function (what a word "does" socially) and sensitivity to the micro-difference that shows "inside" or "outside" the group. This is linked to the fact that in adolescence language selection is a tool for inclusion and differentiation, while new elements (e.g. new speech markers) can emerge and spread quickly.
Today, the digital environment accelerates the process: written communication on platforms often functions as "orality in text", with rapid exchanges, code mixing and stylistic "staging" of identity, while so-called memes offer moulds of expression that are massively disseminated.
We can only speak of "hidden language" with reservations: some expressions function as an internal code, but more often the goal is identity, intimacy and a sense of community, not "mysticism".
-Do young people continue to use the same expressions when they grow up?
-Young people when they grow up usually abandon many elements that were tied to the teenage company/platforms, but keep some that were generalized, and strengthen the ability to adapt style to each occasion.
For parents and teachers, the most effective attitude is to understand and teach style, not to ridicule, so as not to disrupt communication.
– Would you urge young people to continue to have their own differentiations in the Greek language? What is your advice to them?
-I would urge young people to continue their differentiations creatively, it recommends linguistic health, with practical advice to read and write in a variety of genres of speech (literature, articles, essays), so that slang is an option within a rich linguistic repertoire, within which the language of young people can very well function.
The new "electronic colonialism" and the norms they adopt
With the student of the University of Cyprus, Konstantinos Tsokos, we discussed the phenomenon of the "language of young people", who explained to us from his personal experiences and his interaction with young people, due to his age, how new words are adopted in the vocabulary of the youth.
When asked if young people feel that they belong to a separate social group through their own "dialect", Konstantinos told us that the whole issue is a matter of fashion and norms that they acquire from the USA and the Western world, through algorithms and social media applications (Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook).
"This is because the use of the phone is part of our daily lives, it has even become an extension of our hand, while the internet is part of our lives. As a result, words are inserted from social media and become part of our lives," the student added.
A new "electronic colonialism"
Konstantinos expressed the opinion that the words introduced into the vocabulary of young people are a result of globalization, as is the case with the new and different standards adopted by the youth.
At the same time, Konstantinos compared the words adopted in the language with the words adopted during colonialism on the island, stressing that today there is a new "electronic colonialism", as a result of which these words are transferred to the daily lives of young people.
Generation gap even among young people
"I have the feeling that young people don't feel different. If we compare the range of youth, the ages are up to 33 years old. In 25-year-olds compared to 33-year-olds, there is a big gap between them in terms of dialect. Also, students compared to 25-year-olds, again have big differences," added Konstantinos.
Asked if he adopts these words, Konstantinos clarified that he tries to avoid it. "The Greek language is quite rich and can cover these words."
The problems, the cool and the new "trend"
In the event that the words that emerge from social media, over time, disappear, Konstantinos expressed the opinion that this will not happen. "New words will be introduced, which may prevent young people from expressing themselves in the Greek language. A word prevents a young person from expressing himself with correct Greek fluency of speech"
"Young people who use these words, in the context of social norms, feel cooler. If you hear words from Tik Tok and you don't know them, many of your peers will wonder how you didn't see the new trend, as a result of which they will be surprised that you don't use them too."
On the other hand, Konstantinos admitted that there is also a small portion of the youth that does not adopt and use new words in their vocabulary. "A small portion does not pay so much attention and does not include them in its vocabulary. The people who don't adopt them are the young people who don't follow the fashion in their vocabulary and are largely not users of social media and these apps that influence."
On whether he thinks that negative consequences arise in the Greek language with these words, Konstantinos said that he considers the replacement of words to be a problem. "If you use them in your daily life, in the spoken word, then it's okay. However, let's not get to the point of replacing them.
In the written word, things are worse. There, the tongue must remain intact. There cannot be young people, students and pupils, who spontaneously write with greeklish in their essays, both at school and at university.
This phenomenon also creates negative consequences for spelling. When someone learns to write with I or O in the messages he exchanges every day, then it will inevitably cost him his spelling."
From ghostly, to chillaro, vibaro, scroll and cringaro
Talking to students and pupils, regarding the above phenomenon, they mentioned some words that they included in their daily lives, both in their oral and written speech.
The MS told us, for example, that instead of the word daughter, she now uses "girl" when addressing a girl, especially her friends and best friends. In fact, he confirmed to us that most of the words they adopt are English.
Another example is the expression "scroll on the internet", when I am on the internet from my mobile phone and use the applications of Instagram and Tik Tok, explained MS. "Vibaro, we use it when we want to say we're having fun or when we're doing something we like."
Some other words or abbreviations of the words that young people apply are the weekend, when they want to place in one of their sentences for the weekend. "Instead of a weekend , we say SK or even PSK, when we want to talk about what you will do these days," said the MoU.
Another word is "ghostling", MS and Konstantinos Tsokos told us. This word comes from the word Ghost, i.e. ghost, and is used when they want to say about a friendly person who abruptly interrupted communication or daily contact with others.
"We use the word chillaro when we want to say that we are relaxing, either in messages or when we talk on the phone," explained the MoU, emphasizing the phenomenon of mutation of English words into the Cypriot dialect.
Also, a word used by young people is "cringaro" which comes from the English word "cringe". "I use it when we want to say that we felt embarrassed, ashamed or even disgusted about something we saw, heard or witnessed, in relation to someone who did something 'krinj', that is, something awkward, uncomfortable or exaggerated," explained MS.
It is worth noting the fact that youth, according to personal experience of the MOU, use shortcuts when writing greeklish. For example xmas (Christmas), klmr (good morning), enxro (I don't know), enktlva (I didn't understand). Therefore, the MS explained that in its written speech, the youth leaves out most vowels.
Searching the internet, we discovered some other words used by youth, influenced by influencers and content creators on social media. For example, the use of the word "bro", "67" etc.
Outdated words like YOLO
On the other hand, words and phrases that were popular with Millennials, such as the word "YOLO" (You Only Live Once), game, slay, on point, are considered obsolete.
Especially abroad, the Gen Z generation replaced the word YOLO, which was coined by rapper Drake in 2011, with the phrase "F*** it, we ball". Also, instead of saying the word "vibe", they now say "type beat", while the term "on point" was replaced by the term "locked in".
