What does it mean if a younger person calls you ‘unc’? Expert decodes the latest Gen Z slang
It’s the new slang word taking Gen Z by storm – but do you know what it means if someone calls you ‘unc’?
The description has spread like wildfire on social media in recent months, appearing across TikTok and being used by superstars including Sabrina Carpenter.
Unless you’re familiar with the latest lingo, it can be hard to tell if it’s meant as an insult or in a friendly way.
Now, experts have revealed the slang - a shortened version of the word ‘uncle’ - is the Gen Z equivalent of ‘OK Boomer’.
Unlike its predecessor, which was commonly used to mock older people, this new term is more affectionate.
It can be used to either signal respect or as a way to gently tease someone who is a bit older.
Anna Pyshna, spokesperson for language learning site Preply, says: 'Anyone, even someone in their early 30s, can be called "unc" if they carry a certain older-sibling or uncle-like energy.
'Essentially, "unc" can just mean someone is operating with a laid-back, or older, vibe.'
Gen Z's latest slang term, 'unc', is spreading like wildfire online. But do you know what it would mean if someone said you had unc status?
According to experts, unc is Gen Z's version of the phrase 'OK Boomer'. It is an abbreviation of 'uncle', used to say that someone is old or out of touch (stock image)
According to an analysis conducted by Preply, 'unc' has now well and truly replaced 'OK Boomer' as the go-to insult for older generations.
Internet searches for the phrase 'unc meaning' have soared by 74 per cent in the last month, hitting 167,000 monthly searches.
Searches for 'OK Boomer meaning', meanwhile, have plummeted by 82 per cent in a clear sign of 'cultural fade-out'.
Likewise, searches including the word 'unc' have now peaked at 5.9 million per month, while 'OK Boomer's peak in June 2021 was only 94,000 searches per month.
But if you feel left behind by this latest cultural trend, you are far from alone.
TikTok users as young as their early 20s have posted complaints that younger members of Gen Z have taken to calling them 'unc' without any explanation.
In one post, a user wrote: 'Just had to Google what "unc" means... which made me realise I'm so unc.'
While another complained: 'Alright, can someone tell me, please, what is an unc. Because whenever I'm on a stream, y'all be on there calling me an unc... I'm 21!'
Even celebs like the 26-year-old superstar Sabrina Carpenter (left) have started using the phrase, calling producer Jack Antonoff 'unc' in an Instagram story (right)
However, being called an unc doesn't necessarily mean you are that old. On Reddit, members of Gen Z explained that it can be used to describe someone who is only a few years older
Even people in their early 20s can be described as 'unc' if they have habits or attitudes that seem old
Meanwhile, one social media user posted on Twitter: 'Some guy in SF asked me my age last night. I told them I was 24. The entire group started laughing and calling me an unc.'
As younger members of Gen Z have explained on social media, this is one of the big differences between 'unc' and 'OK Boomer'.
As one 20-year-old Reddit user wrote: 'OK Boomer was genuinely used for boomers, unc is used for someone who's only like 3 years older than you.'
'If you were born before 2000 you are unc,' added one young Reddit user.
While another user born in 2010 wrote: 'People my age are calling 20 year olds uncs lol.'
However, unlike being branded as a boomer, getting 'unc status' is not necessarily a bad thing.
Ms Pyshna says: 'OK boomer became a cultural shorthand for dismissing older viewpoints.
'By contrast, ‘unc’ is a softened update. It still refers to someone slightly older, but the tone is more playful than confrontational. It can signal respect, familiarity, or gentle teasing rather than dismissal.'
On TikTok, even younger users have complained that they are being called 'unc' and that they have had to look up what the term means
However, the term 'unc' is not necessarily derogatory, as it can be used as a term of respect for older people
Likewise, on Reddit, one user asked: 'Is "unc" the new "OK boomer"?'
The response from older and younger users alike was unanimous - although the terms are similar, they have very different intentions.
One user explained: 'It was never intended to offend people like ok boomer - Unc is somewhat of a right of passage if that makes sense.'
Another added: 'Young people call me this all the time (I'm 35) and it doesn't seem like it's intended to be offensive. These are mostly younger people I have a good relationship with and Unc seems, if anything, to be like a term of endearment.'
While one user chimed in: 'It depends on how it’s being used. Some people use it as a sign of respect for those older than them and some use it trying to shame someone for being older. I’m 27 and I get “auntie” a lot.'
According to Ms Pyshna, this newer way of referring to older people could represent a shift in the relationships between generations.
While the phrase 'OK Boomer' is antagonistic and pushed Millennials apart from their elders, the gentle mocking of 'unc' has the opposite effect.
Ms Pyshna says: 'It’s the difference between calling someone out and calling someone in. This tonal shift, from combative to affectionate, is precisely why “unc” feels like the natural successor, not just a replacement.'
