--- title: "How every generation says that's excellent · GenZ Decoded" description: "How Gen Alpha says fire, Gen Z says dank, and older generations say awesome, da bomb, or groovy when they mean something is truly excellent in everyday talk." url: "https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/thats-excellent/" lang: "en" published: "2026-09-08" modified: "2026-09-14" image: "https://genzdecoded.com/og/crossgen-thats-excellent.jpg" alternates: es: "https://genzdecoded.com/es/como-se-dice/eso-es-excelente.md" --- ![How every generation says that's excellent](https://genzdecoded.com/og/crossgen-thats-excellent.jpg) # How every generation says that's excellent Calling something excellent can be a quick compliment, a full-strength endorsement, or a wink that the speaker knows the reference. The basic approval stays put across generations, while the word can make the message sound current, warm, nostalgic, or deliberately over the top. By [Cal Hewitt](https://genzdecoded.com/about/), Gen X · Published Sep 8, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 Generation by generation ## Saying "that's excellent" across the ages 1. Gen Alpha[fire](https://genzdecoded.com/dictionary/fire/) Fire means excellent, exciting, or especially impressive. Dictionary.com defines the slang use as cool or excellent; it is still current in teen speech and comments, although Gen Z uses it too. Saying something is fire is a strong, friendly compliment, not a warning. “That edit is fire, send me the link.” 2. Gen Z[dank](https://genzdecoded.com/dictionary/dank/) Dank is approval for something excellent, especially a meme that is strange, niche, or deliberately overripe. Dictionary.com traces the positive slang sense to 1980s Black, campus, and drug slang, especially for high-quality cannabis, a psychoactive drug; in meme talk it often carries irony. It is usually friendly, but outside that context it can sound a little 2010s. “This meme is so dank I had to save it.” 3. Millennial[awesome](https://genzdecoded.com/dictionary/awesome/) Awesome means excellent and expresses uncomplicated enthusiasm. Millennials use it as a warm, all-purpose yes for plans, food, work, or a favor; it is still current, though younger speakers may hear it as neutral rather than especially distinctive. It is safe with friends, family, and strangers in casual settings. “That brunch spot was awesome, I'm going back.” 4. Gen X[da bomb](https://genzdecoded.com/dictionary/da-bomb/) Da bomb means the best or an exceptional hit, usually said about a thing, a performance, or a plan. Merriam-Webster records bomb as slang for something striking or extraordinary; it now often reads as nostalgic or deliberately playful rather than current youth slang. “Your mixtape is da bomb, play that track again.” 5. Boomer[groovy](https://genzdecoded.com/dictionary/groovy/) Groovy means excellent, attractive, or enjoyable, with a relaxed, upbeat tone. Dictionary.com defines it as slang for something highly stimulating or attractive, and Etymonline dates the “excellent” sense to 1937 jazz slang. Today it often sounds knowingly dated or jokey. “That new record is groovy; put it on again.” The through-line ## What they all have in common Every version turns plain approval into a little social signal: the speaker likes the thing and shows how they want that approval to land. The newer terms tend to intensify the praise or attach it to online culture, while the older ones now carry the sound of their era. Want to translate a whole sentence between generations? [Try the generation translator](https://genzdecoded.com/translate/) Quiz ## Can you match the generation? ### Excellent, by decade 1. Which term most often gives praise a 1990s Gen X feel? - da bomb **(correct answer)** - dank - groovy - fire 2. Which term is especially tied to strange or niche online memes? - dank **(correct answer)** - awesome - groovy - da bomb 3. If someone says an outfit is fire, what do they mean? - It looks excellent **(correct answer)** - It is unsafe - It looks old-fashioned - It is disappointing 4. Which term now most readily sounds knowingly retro? - groovy **(correct answer)** - fire - dank - awesome FAQ ## Questions people ask ### What is the Gen Z way to say something is excellent? Dank can mean excellent, especially when a meme is unusually weird, niche, or funny; fire is also widely used by Gen Z and Gen Alpha. ### Does fire mean something is good? Yes. Calling a song, outfit, video, or idea fire means the speaker thinks it is excellent or especially impressive. ### Is dank still a compliment? Yes, mainly in meme-heavy or online contexts. It can be sincere, but it often carries an ironic sense of something pleasingly strange. ### Is da bomb still current slang? People still understand it, but it strongly suggests 1990s slang and is often used with affectionate irony now. ### What does groovy mean? Groovy means excellent, attractive, or enjoyable. It dates from 1930s jazz slang and often sounds playfully dated today. Keep reading ## More ways every generation says it - [How every generation says angry](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/angry/) - [How every generation says dancing](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/dancing/) - [How every generation says just kidding](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/just-kidding/) - [How every generation says looking good](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/looking-good/) - [How every generation says that's bad](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/bad-mediocre/) - [How every generation says agree](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/agree/) - [How every generation says attractive person](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/attractive-person/) - [How every generation says coolness and reputation](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/coolness-reputation/) - [How every generation says excited](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/excited/) - [How every generation says feeling sad](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/feeling-sad/) - [How every generation says fight or conflict](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/fight-conflict/) - [How every generation says gossip](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/gossip/) - [How every generation says money](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/money/) - [How every generation says relax](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/relax/) - [How every generation says that's hilarious](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/thats-hilarious/) - [How every generation says goodbye](https://genzdecoded.com/how-to-say/goodbye/) Translate ## Translate between two generations - [Gen X to Gen Z translator](https://genzdecoded.com/translate/gen-x-to-gen-z/) - [Boomer to Gen Z translator](https://genzdecoded.com/translate/boomer-to-gen-z/) - [Millennial to Gen Z translator](https://genzdecoded.com/translate/millennial-to-gen-z/) - [Gen Alpha to Gen Z translator](https://genzdecoded.com/translate/gen-alpha-to-gen-z/) - [Gen X to Gen Alpha translator](https://genzdecoded.com/translate/gen-x-to-gen-alpha/) - [Millennial to Gen Alpha translator](https://genzdecoded.com/translate/millennial-to-gen-alpha/) - [Gen Z to Boomer translator](https://genzdecoded.com/translate/gen-z-to-boomer/) - [Gen Z to Gen X translator](https://genzdecoded.com/translate/gen-z-to-gen-x/) - [Gen Z to Millennial translator](https://genzdecoded.com/translate/gen-z-to-millennial/) - [English to Gen Z translator](https://genzdecoded.com/translate/english-to-gen-z/) - [Gen Z to English translator](https://genzdecoded.com/translate/gen-z-to-english/) Sources - [https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fire](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fire) - [https://www.dictionary.com/culture/slang/dank-meme](https://www.dictionary.com/culture/slang/dank-meme) - [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awesome](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awesome) - [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bomb](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bomb) - [https://www.dictionary.com/browse/groovy](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/groovy) - [https://www.etymonline.com/word/groovy](https://www.etymonline.com/word/groovy) [More word deep-dives](https://genzdecoded.com/blog/)[Browse the dictionary](https://genzdecoded.com/glossary/)