Scroll TikTok for ten minutes and you’ll hit at least three words that mean nothing outside the app — half of them borrowed from Gen Alpha slang, the other half describing an actual platform feature. Here’s what they mean, grouped so you’re not hunting through one giant alphabetical wall of text.
Platform features and mechanics
FYP (For You Page) — the main personalized feed you land on when you open the app, built from what you’ve watched, liked, and shared. “Made it to the FYP” means a video got real reach beyond the creator’s own followers.
Duet — a split-screen response format where your video plays alongside someone else’s original, usually reacting to it or building on it in real time.
Stitch — similar idea to a Duet, but instead of running side by side, you clip a few seconds of someone else’s video and continue directly into your own footage right after it.
LIVE Gifts / Diamonds — the tipping system on livestreams: viewers buy Coins, send them as animated gifts, and the creator’s share converts into Diamonds, which can be cashed out. (We’ve got a full breakdown of exactly how that math works if you’re curious, here.)
Creator Rewards Program — TikTok’s official payout program based on video views, which replaced the older Creator Fund in 2024 with notably better rates and stricter eligibility requirements.
Shadowban — an unofficial term (TikTok’s never confirmed it) for when your videos quietly stop reaching new people, even though nothing else about your account seems restricted.
Ratio — when a comment gets more likes than the video or post it’s replying to, generally taken as a sign the comment landed harder than the original content.
Video formats you’ll see constantly
POV (Point of View) — a video shot as if the viewer is a character in the scenario, rather than a narrator explaining something to camera. “POV: you just got home and your dog won’t stop staring at you.”
GRWM (Get Ready With Me) — exactly what it sounds like: a creator films their routine (makeup, outfit, morning routine) while narrating or just vibing to music.
OOTD (Outfit Of The Day) — a quick showcase of what someone’s wearing, often paired with a trending sound.
Storytime — a video format built entirely around narrating something that happened, usually with the creator talking directly to camera over B-roll or a static shot.
Slang you’ll hear in comments and captions
No cap — “no lie,” “seriously,” used to underline that something isn’t exaggerated. (“That restaurant is actually amazing, no cap.”)
Rizz — charisma, specifically the kind that helps you flirt or connect with someone. Short for “charisma,” oddly enough.
Gyatt — an exclamation of surprise, most often reacting to someone’s appearance.
NPC — borrowed from “non-player character” in video games; on TikTok, it describes a specific livestream format where the creator repeats scripted phrases and gestures in response to gifts, acting deliberately robotic.
Sigma — describes someone framed as independent and detached from social hierarchies altogether, often used half-ironically at this point.
Delulu — short for “delusional,” usually self-deprecating, describing an unrealistic belief (often about a crush) that the person kind of knows is unrealistic.
Mid — mediocre, unremarkable, neither good nor bad. “The movie was mid.”
Bussin’ — really good, most commonly used to describe food.
Slay — doing something impressively well, often about appearance or a bold move.
It’s giving [x] — describes the vibe or impression something gives off. “This outfit is giving 2014 Tumblr.”
Understood the assignment — used when someone nailed exactly what a moment, trend, or role called for.
Main character energy — carrying yourself like the protagonist of your own story, usually meant as a compliment about confidence.
Brain rot — a self-aware, slightly self-mocking term for the effect of consuming too much low-effort, chaotic short-form content in one sitting.
Girl dinner — a meal made up of small, mismatched snacks instead of a proper cooked dish — half a joke, half a genuine eating pattern people relate to.
Frequently asked questions
Does using #fyp in my caption actually help my video reach more people?
Not really — the For You Page is personalized per viewer, so tagging it doesn’t influence the algorithm the way people hope. It’s more of a superstition than an actual ranking factor.
What’s the actual difference between a Duet and a Stitch?
A Duet keeps the original video playing the whole time, side by side with yours. A Stitch only uses a short clip from the original before cutting entirely to your own footage.
Is this slang the same across every region and language?
Not exactly — a lot of these terms originated in English-language TikTok and spread unevenly, so you’ll see plenty of local slang mixed in depending on the region and language of the content you’re watching.