The first time I heard someone say that they “got cracked,” two troubling scenarios came to mind: one involved a fractured skull, and the other involved cocaine. The last thing I expected my friend to be referring to was having sex. Somehow, I had become the old fart who was confused by (and a bit worried about) how we talk about sex. Although Gen Z is in the midst of an alleged sex recession, it certainly feels like we talk about it more. Yet, the way we talk about sex is subtly tinged with fears of intimacy and vulnerability. It steers us away from the scary and messy, but important, parts of romance. While our modern slang may pass for nothing more than humor, there seems to be something hidden beneath the jokes. Explaining a few terms could reveal the subtext of our modern euphemisms. Below is a brief glossary of Gen Z sex slang, defining how we talk about sex and what we might actually mean.
1. Crack
To have sex. Crack is typically used to refer to casual sex. It is certainly not a synonym for “making love,” but more closely related to “getting laid” or “smashing.” To use the term in a sentence, the action of cracking must be attributed to one person. The word is usually used in phrases such as “I cracked them” or “I got cracked,” but rarely is it the mutual “we cracked.” The word strips any emotion, connection, or vulnerability from sexual encounters, instead turning them into hollow actions.
2. Goon
To masturbate, usually excessively. There is typically very little real pleasure in gooning. Rather, a “gooner” (one who goons) is typically met with some disgust and shame. Labeling self-pleasure as “gooning” devalues what is supposed to be a natural part of sexual exploration by turning it into a joke. Variations include the aforementioned “gooner” to describe one who goons and “goonette” for the feminine variation of the noun.
3. Dih/Puh
Short for dick and pussy, respectively. These terms are used to talk about sex while cleverly avoiding actually naming genitals. It’s like we never left middle school, where “penis” and “vagina” were dirty words that elicited giggles and gasps. When talking about bodies plainly is made to feel dirty or embarrassing, the pursuit of sexual liberation becomes incredibly challenging.
4. Huzz
A romantic prospect. Derived from “hoes,” an already demeaning term, your huzz is someone you are pursuing, rarely someone you already have. “Huzz” suggests a goal or a conquest, not the pursuit of a genuine connection. Variations include “huzzless” for someone who is in a romantic dry spell and “chuzz” for someone who is unattractive.
