Gen Z have a new word to insult people and it's bad news if you're called one
Gen Z have coined a new phrase – and it's bad news if you're called one.
It's a rite of passage for every generation to come up with baffling slang terms to confuse and bewilder their elders. Millennials had terms such as 'YOLO', 'bae' and the infuriating 'adulting' during their heyday; however, the generational torch has been passed forward and it's now time for Gen Z, anyone born between 1997 and 2012, to leave everyone confused.
So far we've had phrases such as 'rizz', 'aura farming' and the x-rated 'cracked' enter the lexicon.
The latest addition is the word 'choppelganger' and trust me, it's not something you want to be referred to.
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So, what does it mean if you're described as a 'choppelganger'?
Gen Z phrase 'choppelganger' explained
The term is an amalgamation of the words 'chopped' and 'doppelganger', which requires an established understanding of Gen Z lingo in order to fully understand.
To call someone 'chopped' is to infer they are unattractive or unfortunate looking and is already pretty commonplace across TikTok videos and comment sections.
Meanwhile, doppelganger is much more straightforward, as it's a well-known term to describe two people - usually strangers of no relation - who look exactly alike.
Add the two meanings together and choppelganger is basically saying you're the ugly version of another person.
For example, if you were to say somebody was Sydney Sweeney's choppelganger, you would be describing them as an uglier version of the Euphoria star - which is just lovely.
Where does choppelganger originate from?
Like most pieces of slang, it's nearly impossible to pinpoint an exact origin for choppelganger, as most phrases emerge from distant corners of the internet and become near-universal, like '6-7', before becoming uncool and disappearing once more.
This appears to be the case with choppelganger as well, with the first reported usage appearing to come from a comment left under a video of someone who looked like Kendrick Lamar, which read: "My dyslexic a** read this as 'choppelganger' and I think I just made a word for someone who looks like u but very slightly and subtly worse."
It's since gained traction on TikTok, as people search for unfortunate souls to be declared choppelgangers of celebrities or more genetically blessed folk.
As to whether you're the original or the choppelganger, that's entirely down to luck.
"Everyone has a choppelganger it’s like someone who almost looks like you but chopped," one person wrote, adding: "Or maybe you’re someone’s choppelganger idk. Food for thought."
On the bright side, at least the phrase makes sense, unlike most of the stuff Gen Alpha churn out.
Topics: Gen Z, Community, Viral, Social Media
Brenna Cooper