“Skibidi toilet,” “rizz,” and “no cap” - sound familiar? For many teachers, they don’t. Teachers might have mastered grammar, but student slang is a whole new language. A new British Council survey has found that 85 per cent of teachers have to look up some of the words used by their students. Lily McCluskey takes a closer look.
Teachers admit they’re often left scratching their heads over phrases like 67, sigma, and bussin, struggling to keep up with the language buzzing through UK classrooms.
Most teachers, more than four in five secondary school teachers, say they have to check the meaning of the slang or online expressions their students use.
The findings come from a survey of 1,000 secondary school teachers across the UK, investigating how technology and AI are reshaping communication skills and classroom practices.
What the sigma? Teachers checking up on digital slang
More than 85% of teachers report looking up expressions and slang their pupils use in class. Unsurprisingly, older teachers aged 45–54 are more likely than younger colleagues to check expressions. Regional differences also stand out: teachers in the East Midlands seem to be particularly keen to decipher their pupils' slang, as they are more than seven times as likely as teachers in Wales to “always” check meanings.
Teachers say they are hearing their pupils use slang in a variety of ways. These are the top five:
1. Social media abbreviations - think LOL, GOAT, TBH
2. TikTok slang - terms like delulu, NPC, rizz, skibidi, aura
3. Gaming lingo – from GG, sigma, XP, respawn
4. Meme references or catchphrases – the language of the internet is clearly seeping into lessons
5. Visual slang – pupils are even mixing memes, images or gifs into written work.
No cap: teachers are concerned about AI and tech changing student communication
It’s no surprise that six in ten teachers say they’re concerned about how AI is affecting students’ communication skills. What is interesting, though, are the main changes they’ve observed:
• Decline in writing quality - thanks to AI tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly.
• Difficulty understanding complex texts - pupils are finding challenging material harder to follow.
• Shorter attention spans - staying focused during lessons has become tougher.
• Narrower vocabulary - predictive text and AI seem to be limiting the words students use.
These shifts suggest that while AI can be a helpful tool, it’s also subtly reshaping how students read, write, and express themselves in the classroom.
While these trends raise concerns, teachers are also noticing positive shifts in students’ communication skills. Over a third report improvements in listening, nearly a quarter say pupils are gaining greater cultural awareness and creative expression, and many note that classrooms are now buzzing with phrases from different languages and cultures.
Flipping the script: teachers revamp homework in an AI world
Nearly eight in ten teachers surveyed said they have had to rethink the way they set assignments in response to AI - either to stop students from using it or to build it in deliberately. Of these, 38% now design tasks specifically to avoid AI use, while 59% create assignments that incorporate it appropriately.
Younger teachers, aged 25–34, are the most likely to adapt their assignments, but even among those aged 55+, a strong majority report making changes.
Interestingly, older teachers are also more likely to deliberately block AI: 40% of those aged 55+ do so, compared with 33% of younger teachers, aged 25–34, hinting at a greater wariness about the role of AI in learning among more experienced staff.
Mark Walker, British Council Director of English and Exams, told us: “AI is a powerful tool, but it cannot replace human interaction. AI and digital culture are changing the way young people learn and communicate. Teachers are adapting fast - rethinking assignments, responding to new slang, and questioning what’s gained and lost in student writing. The challenge now is to make sure students develop the critical thinking, originality and focus that will remain essential in education and beyond, while also making the most of the creative and cultural opportunities AI can offer."
Here are a few handy definitions of some of the slang found in today’s UK schools!
• 67 (“six seven”) – A phrase from the 2024 hip hop song Doot Doot by Skrilla, which went viral on TikTok. Often used with a hand gesture as if “weighing options.” It spread as a nonsense reply to almost any question (“How tall are you?” “What time is it?”). Its appeal lies in being versatile and meaningless, making it funny and meme-able.
• Firm it – Means to “deal with it” or endure something difficult with strength or determination. Example: “I know you don’t feel well, but you just have to firm it and get through the day.”
• Alpha / Beta / Sigma – Internet slang describing male social hierarchies: alpha = dominant/leader, beta = submissive, sigma = independent “lone wolf.” Among teens, “alpha” and “sigma” are often used interchangeably as compliments meaning “cool” or admirable, without reference to hierarchies.
• Bussin – A term of strong approval, usually describing food or experiences that are exceptionally good.
• High-key / Low-key – Adverbs that express intensity of feeling. “Low-key” = slightly/kinda; “high-key” = very/definitely. Example: “I’m lowkey stressed about this exam.”
• Skibidi / Skibidi Toilet – A nonsense term from the viral YouTube animated series Skibidi Toilet. Used with varied meanings such as “cool” or “bad,” or simply as a humorous in-joke.
• Bet – Means “yes,” “okay,” or “I agree.” It can also be used to signal confidence (“watch me”) or sarcasm.
• Cap / No cap – From African American English. “Cap” = exaggeration/lie; “no cap” = truth/seriousness. Example: “Best pizza ever, no cap.”
• Rizz – Short for “charisma.” Refers to charm or romantic appeal, especially the ability to attract others. Popularised on TikTok; named Oxford Word of the Year 2023.
• Flipping the script – to do something in a totally different way