From OG to Aura What Happened to Our Language?

From OG to Aura: What Happened to Our Language?

I got the idea for this while listening to Mr. Modi’s speech at Shri Ram College of Commerce’s centenary celebrations in Delhi. He used words like “OG” and “flex” while speaking to young people.

And I thought: I need to know what’s going on here.

When the Prime Minister keeps up with Gen-Z vocabulary, none of us can afford to be completely clueless.

As someone who loves languages, I find this fascinating. Words are borrowed, shortened, repurposed and turned into slang. Before long, millions are using them.

For those who grew up in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, the change is remarkable. We lived through cassette tapes, landlines, pagers, computers, mobile phones, smartphones and now AI. Our vocabulary has had a software update too.

Gen Alpha didn’t enter the world.

They logged in.

They arrived with iPads, Wi-Fi and a vocabulary that sometimes needs translation.

“OG” can mean original, legendary or respected.

“Flex” means showing off.

“Rizz” means charm.

“Delulu” means unrealistically optimistic.

“Cooked” means being in serious trouble.

“NPC” describes someone operating on autopilot.

And then there’s “aura”. Apparently, you can gain it, lose it and even keep an aura ledger.

“Mewing”? Our generation took photographs. This generation manages its jawline.

Imagine a family conversation:

Grandpa: “Can someone make me tea?”

Grandson: “Grandpa wants to spill the tea?”

Grandpa: “No! I want to drink the tea!”

“Vibe check passed.”

Meanwhile, a child with an iPad announces:

“Welcome back to my vlog! Today we’re reviewing three outdated humans.”

Dad: “Put that iPad down!”

Child: “Dad, you’re being cringe. You’re acting like an NPC.”

Dad: “What’s an NPC?”

Child: “Exactly.”

At this point, the adults are cooked.

But this isn’t new. Every generation has had expressions that confused the one before it. The words, technology and slang change, but the instinct remains: we want to belong, sound current and impress people a little.

So I learned a few terms myself:

“That’s fire.”

“No cap.”

“Bro has rizz.”

“+1000 aura.”

I may use them appropriately—or not.

That’s the joy of language. It never sits still. Some words disappear, some stay, and a few enter dictionaries. Then another generation arrives with new vocabulary and wonders why we ever spoke the way we did.

Maybe they’ll communicate through AI, holograms or something we haven’t invented yet.

Maybe one day a child will say, “That’s so 2026.”

I’ll smile. I’ll have done my research, learned the slang and earned my aura.

You don’t have to understand every new word immediately. You just have to stay curious.

We thought we were the bridge between generations.

Apparently, we are the subtitles.

And honestly, I’m happy with that.

No cap.