What does “guez” mean? The Generation Z slang explained

Over the years, the word “guez” has become widely used on social media and has worked its way into the vocabulary of younger people. But do you know what it means? Let’s take a closer look.

Have you spent time outside a secondary school lately? If so, you have probably felt suddenly ancient. In truth, the language used by newer generations can leave plenty of people baffled. Alongside “goumin”, “pain” and “chokbar”, the phrase “c’est guez” is especially popular with Generation Z.

If somebody tells you that your idea is guez, it is hardly a compliment. Still, try not to take it personally: it happens to the best of us. Not sure you understand? Stay put - we will explain.

What does “guez” mean?

If your pain tells you that you are guez, we have some bad news for you… You could be in goumin pro max for a while. When something is guez, it is anything but positive. Put simply, it means it is rubbish. Washed up. Poor. Completely terrible. If you think that something - or someone - is uninteresting or mediocre, you can call it “guez”.

How “guez” is used online

On X, formerly Twitter, one user says they enjoy the romantic comedies available on the Prime Video streaming platform, which they consider brilliant. However, they regret that its interface is so poor despite the catalogue containing some pleasant surprises.

Elsewhere, another internet user shares their enthusiasm for the game Crimson Desert, while admitting that its story is not particularly good. In their view, everything else is incredible, and they cannot understand why fans of the The Legend of Zelda franchise might not have enjoyed it.

Where does the term “guez” come from?

Unlike most currently popular expressions, “guez” does not originate in another language - neither English nor Ivorian Nouchi. Instead, it comes from French. The term “guez” is thought to have been inspired by the word “merguez”, which is sometimes used in a derogatory or mocking way. Sometimes, it is better not to investigate too closely. Other theories suggest that it is a distortion or shortened form of the word “dégueulasse”.

That is another word to add to the long list of expressions so often used by younger generations. You can now tell your nephew that it is guez when he refuses to help clear the table after a meal.