It’s hard to keep up with Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang these days: by the time you finally understand exactly what “skibidi ohio rizz” means, your tween or teen is onto the next wave of random words that make zero sense. The latest craze is Italian brainrot, and it’s not just slang—it’s a whole universe taking the Gen Z and Gen Alpha world by storm.
According to Mr. Lindsay, our favorite SPED teacher and all-around Gen Z slang word expert, it’s a trend that started around January 2025 and has picked up steam in the last month or so. In a recent Instagram post, Lindsay explains where Italian brainrot comes from, what it is, and how kids are using the terms in their daily conversations.
Related: 29 Middle School Slang Words Parents Should Know
What Is Italian Brainrot?
In the simplest terms, Italian brainrot is a series of AI-generated videos and images that blend animals and everyday objects like planes, bananas, and cups of coffee to create what Lindsay explains as “ridiculous characters with ridiculous names. What are the words saying? I don’t know. I don’t speak Italian. I don’t know if they’re saying offensive things, nonsensical things, good things, or bad things. As best I can tell, it’s the epitome of brainrot, which means it is funny, simply because it is so absurd.”
In a recent Forbes article, senior contributor Leslie Katz states that it’s called Italian brainrot because “they’re given rhyming, Italian-sounding names uttered in an exaggerated male text-to-speech voice alongside nonsensical phrases. Some of the names draw from real Italian, while others simply mimic the rhythm of the language.”
These characters have become such a trend that kids have created actual backstories, quizzes, ranking systems, songs, and short video clips of this universe. Some are married, some are enemies, some work together, and some are just there.
@patapimai The full track has already been released and is available on Spotify Tung tung tung sahur and ballerina cappuccino
#tungtungtung #italianbrainrot #ballerina
♬ I am tung tung tung sahur and I love ballerina – PatapimAi
Related: Why Are Kids ‘Mewing’ in Class?
What Are the Most Popular Italian Brainrot Characters?
There are lots of these AI-generated characters floating around the internet, but after a quick look for ourselves and listening to Lindsay’s breakdown, here are a few your kids are probably watching.
Ballerina Cappuccina
This character is a ballerina with, yep, a cappuccino as a head. She’s so popular that Lindsay did a separate video for her.
Here’s what he had to say: “Ballerina Cappucina is one of the most popular Italian brainrot characters taking the internet by storm. Let me tell you, she has quite the story. She has had children with and is married to a cappuccino that is also an assassin.” Lindsay elaborates by explaining she’s got a trending sound that tweens and teens are using to “model strut their stuff.”
Bombardiro Crocodilo
This guy is a cross between a crocodile and a vintage warplane.
Tralalero Tralala
This Italian brainrot character was one of the first. He’s a great white shark that wears Nike running shoes on his fins.
Chimpanzini Bananini
He’s a mashup of a chimpanzee and a banana.
Lirili Larila
She’s half elephant, half cactus and wanders around the desert wearing Birkenstock-like sandals.
Tung Tung Tung Sahur
This character is particularly mysterious, but internet pros have determined that “tung tung tung” is a beating drum played in Indonesia during Ramadhan, and Sahur is the meal Muslims eat before the sun comes up during Ramadhan. This AI-generated character is a wood log-looking creature that carries a baseball bat.
Is Italian Brainrot Bad?
While it does seem to be just good fun and mindless entertainment, according to an article in Parents, teachers and parents are simultaneously trying to figure out what the heck this trend is while recognizing it can be a distraction in the classroom. In the same article, it was noted that some critics raise concerns about kids repeating “gibberish” that might contain offensive language without them knowing.
All in all, it seems that this latest Gen Z and Gen Alpha trend is harmless and fun, but like with all exposure to social media and the internet, it’s best to be upfront with your kids about what they’re watching and repeating and to always be aware of their internet activities.