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How every generation says that's excellent

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, Gen X · ·

Generation by generation

Saying "that's excellent" across the ages

  1. Gen Alphafire

    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 Zdank

    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. Millennialawesome

    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 Xda 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. Boomergroovy

    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.

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Quiz

Can you match the generation?

Excellent, by decade

0/4

  1. 1. Which term most often gives praise a 1990s Gen X feel?

  2. 2. Which term is especially tied to strange or niche online memes?

  3. 3. If someone says an outfit is fire, what do they mean?

  4. 4. Which term now most readily sounds knowingly retro?

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

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Sources
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