A new piece of slang is taking Generation Z by storm, leaving many outside their cohort scratching their heads. The term 'unc' has exploded across social media platforms like TikTok, used by everyone from everyday users to superstars like Sabrina Carpenter.
From 'OK Boomer' to Affectionate 'Unc'
Language experts have stepped in to decode the trend. According to Anna Pyshna, a spokesperson for the language learning platform Preply, 'unc' is a shortened version of 'uncle' and acts as the natural successor to the once-ubiquitous 'OK Boomer'. However, the tone has shifted dramatically.
Unlike the dismissive and often confrontational 'OK Boomer', 'unc' carries a more affectionate, playful energy. It can signal respect, familiarity, or be used to gently tease someone perceived as slightly older or out of touch, without the outright hostility of its predecessor.
'Anyone, even someone in their early 30s, can be called "unc" if they carry a certain older-sibling or uncle-like energy,' explains Pyshna. 'Essentially, "unc" can just mean someone is operating with a laid-back, or older, vibe.'
The Data Behind the Trend
This isn't just anecdotal. Data analysis from Preply reveals a stark cultural shift. In the last month alone, internet searches for the phrase 'unc meaning' have skyrocketed by 74%, reaching 167,000 monthly searches.
Meanwhile, searches for 'OK Boomer meaning' have plummeted by 82%, indicating a clear 'cultural fade-out'. The scale of the new term's dominance is even more pronounced when comparing search volumes: phrases including 'unc' now peak at a staggering 5.9 million per month. In contrast, 'OK Boomer' hit its peak in June 2021 with just 94,000 monthly searches.
Who Really Gets Called 'Unc'?
One of the most surprising aspects of the trend is the youthful age at which someone can attain 'unc status'. It's not reserved for Baby Boomers or even Generation X. On social media, users in their early 20s have expressed bewilderment at being labelled with the term.
'Just had to Google what "unc" means... which made me realise I'm so unc,' lamented one user. Another, aged 21, complained online: '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...'
This sentiment is echoed on platforms like Reddit, where Gen Z members clarify the usage. 'OK Boomer was genuinely used for boomers, unc is used for someone who's only like 3 years older than you,' wrote one 20-year-old. Another user born in 2010 noted, 'People my age are calling 20 year olds uncs lol.'
A Softer Generational Dynamic
This tonal shift from 'calling someone out' to 'calling someone in' may signal a change in intergenerational relationships. Pyshna suggests that where 'OK Boomer' was antagonistic, 'unc' has a unifying, almost endearing quality.
'It’s the difference between calling someone out and calling someone in,' she says. 'This tonal shift, from combative to affectionate, is precisely why “unc” feels like the natural successor, not just a replacement.'
Many who have been on the receiving end agree. A 35-year-old Reddit user shared, 'Young people call me this all the time... 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.'
So, if you find yourself newly christened as an 'unc', don't panic. It might just mean you're viewed with a mix of respect and playful teasing by a younger generation seeking a less combative way to bridge the age gap.
