Do people say "bae" anymore?

Is "Bae" Still a Thing?

Remember when “bae” was everywhere? The term—short for “before anyone else” or simply a sweet nickname for your significant other—was practically the love language of the early 2010s. Millennials embraced it, Gen Z ran with it, and soon it was plastered across Instagram captions, song lyrics, and flirty text messages.

But language moves fast, especially among younger crowds. According to lingo experts and trend watchers, “bae” has officially lost its charm. As of early 2024, Gen Alpha—the generation born roughly from the mid-2000s onward—has all but retired the term. In fact, many younger teens now cringe at the word, seeing it as outdated, even cringey.

“Bae is not in,” one young voice declared flatly. “We just don’t do that.” And when Gen Alpha speaks, slang trends quake. Their preferences are shaping a new wave of casual, often ironic, digital communication—think “gyatt,” “rizz,” or “slay”—which leaves little room for the softer, sweeter nicknames of the past.

Still, language has a funny way of cycling back. While “bae” might be gathering dust in today’s slang closet, nostalgia could give it a comeback in a decade or two—just in time for a Gen Beta revival tour.

For now, though? If you're trying to stay current, skip “bae.” The kids have moved on.