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Influencer and content creator Gia Rutkowski explains the meanings & origins of Gen Alpha's most popular slang
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Are you a sigma? Do you have rizz? Do you know what the heck we’re talking about? If you said “No,” keep reading: we’ve compiled the ultimate list of Gen Alpha slang words and phrases to add to your everyday lexicon, from bussin’ to no cap to Ohio and more! We also spoke to content creators and an accent coach for more insights.

Popular Gen Alpha Slang Words

Influencer and content creator Gia Rutkowski says some popular Gen Alpha slang words include:

  • Bet: another way to say “OK” or “sure”
  • Fanum tax: to steal someone’s food
  • Gigachad: a traditionally masculine-looking man
  • Mewing: a tongue exercise to shape the jaw
  • Ohio: something that’s weird or strange
  • Rizz: to have charisma
  1. You might have heard kids say "41" either IRL or on TikTok lately and wondered what it meant—well, surprise, it means absolutely nothing. It's just a nonsense word that's fun to say, especially if you use the 41 hand movements (basically, holding your hands in front of you, palms down, and moving them from side to side while saying "41").
    • Origins: "41" originated with rapper Blizzi Boi's "41 Song," in which he claims he's 41 years old and has 41 of everything.

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    Gia Rutkowski is an Influencer and Content Creator who specializes in digital patterns and their behavioral implications.

    Tobi Nwodo is a Meme, Brainrot, and Slang Content Creator with 9+ years of social media experience and 600k+ followers across YouTube and TikTok.

    Patrick Bateman is an American Accent Coach and Podcaster based in Monterrey, Mexico.

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  1. "Ate" basically means you succeeded big-time. If your bestie aced her presentation, she "ate." If she did really well, she "ate that up" or "ate and left no crumbs."
    • Origins: "Ate" likely comes from African American and queer ballroom vernacular as a way to praise exceptional drag performances, similar to "slay" or "serve."
    • Example: Did you see her concert last night? She ate and left no crumbs!
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  1. This term is more often used in online spaces than in real life. If you've got a negative aura, you're pretty cheugy, Ohio, or sus. If you've got a positive aura, though, you might be a sigma dripping with rizz. In other words, positive aura = good, negative aura = bad.
    • According to meme, brainrot, and slang content creator Tobi Nwodo, “aura” is often used in a funny way to describe certain actions or behaviors.[1]
    • You can gain or lose aura points through your actions: e.g., tripping in front of your crush? Minus 20 aura points. Acing a test? Plus a million aura points!
    • Example: Did you see Tommy pick his nose? Ugh, he's got such a negative aura.
    • Related term: Aura farming—the act of intentionally doing something to gain aura points.
  1. According to Rutkowski, bet “acts as an affirmative response, either in agreement, alignment, or friendly challenge.” She says the term is actually a shortened form of “You bet” or “You can bet on it.”[2] So instead of saying "totally" or "I’m down," you could simply say “bet” and sound a lot more Gen Alpha-y.
    • As accent coach Patrick Bateman notes, "Americans use a lot of slang. We try to say as much as possible with as few words as possible."[3]
    • Origins: Rutkowski says “bet” originated from AAVE (African American Vernacular English) slang in the 1980s. “This [term] isn't exclusive to Gen Alpha,” she adds, “as it has been consistently used for decades.”[4]
    • Example: “You want to grab some pizza tonight?” “Bet.”
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  1. Use "body tea" to compliment someone (typically a woman) or to make a friend feel good about themselves. You can also talk about your own body tea (or post about it in your thirst traps) when you're really feelin' yourself.
    • Origins: "Body tea" was first used by TikTok user @queenoppss in a July 2023 TikTok clip of a livestream in which she praised a friend by saying, "She get money. Her body tea. She's super thicc. She's super pretty."[5]
    • Example: Girl, your body is so tea, when you take a bath, the water turns into Lipton.
    • Related phrases: "so tea," "her body tea," "body is tea," "you got body tea"
  1. When a song is a total earworm, it's also a bop. Next time you can't get that hot new pop song out of your head, call it what it is: a major bop.
    • "Bop" can also refer to a promiscuous girl on the internet, so be careful how you use it. It's not typically used in a positive manner in this context, so it's best to stick to the musical meaning of the word!
    • Example: Ugh, I can't stop listening to "Pink Pony Club." That song is such a bop.
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8

Brain Rot

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  1. Brain rot describes superficial or trivial online content, as well as the mental and intellectual effects of consuming that content. If you’re surfing social media all day long, you may experience some brain rot and need to do something more intellectually stimulating.[6]
    • Nwodo believes people love brain rot because there's a joy in the absurdity of it.[7]
    • Origins: Believe it or not, Henry David Thoreau coined the word “brain rot” in Walden in 1854.
      • He used it to describe the effects of society’s tendency to value simple ideas over more complex thought: “While England endeavours to cure the potato rot, will not any endeavour to cure the brain-rot—which prevails so much more widely and fatally?”[8]
    • Example: TikTok is just full of brain rot. Gotta get outside and touch grass, bro.
10

Bussin’

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  1. “Bussin’” can be used to describe anything that’s off-the-walls awesome, but it’s most often used in reference to delicious food.
    • Origins: "Bussin'" may originate from the AAVE (African American Vernacular English) "bursting" or "busting," as in "busting a move on the dancefloor" or food that's "bursting with flavor."[9]
    • Example: These tater tots are straight bussin’!
  1. When you hear your mom say “skibidi,” that’s cheugy, baby. “Cheugy” is an adjective used to describe something cringe-worthy or just utterly uncool, especially with reference to older generations or anyone trying too hard to be cool.[11]
    • Origins: The word was popularized in 2021 in a TikTok video by user Hallie Cain, who cited people who brag about being married at 20 or who use the word "girl boss" as examples of things that are "cheugy."
    • Example: Ugh, my teacher just said, "Totes magoats." She’s soooo cheugy.
  1. "Chopped" is an insulting descriptor frequently used in both serious and joking contexts, and it pops up a lot on TikTok. If someone calls you "chopped," your best response is to Karate chop them to the throat. Jk…but really.
    • Origins: "Chopped" first started circulating online in 2014, but has almost certainly been around longer than that. The term is believed to have come from New Jersey and New York AAVE slang.
    • Example: Dude I'm so chopped! My stylist totally messed up my haircut!
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  1. "I'm cooked" basically means, "I'm in trouble." TikTokers will often use it to describe relationship struggles, but it can apply to anything, from work to school to life in general. You can also "cook" someone, which basically means to humiliate or insult them.
    • Origins: "I'm cooked" has been around since at least 2009 and has roots in AAVE. It's common Australian and New Zealand slang for "I'm in trouble" (and also "I'm drunk").
    • Examples:
      • I totally forgot to study for this test. I am so cooked.
      • I can't even take care of myself—how am I gonna keep a girlfriend? I'm so cooked.
      • "I got an B+ on this test, yes!" "I got an A. Who are you bragging to?" "Ooh you cooked me."
    • Related terms and phrases: "Chat am I cooked?" "Someone cooked here"
15

Crash Out

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  1. When you're overwhelmed and exhausted to the point of losing your temper (and possibly doing something you'll later regret), you're "crashing out." Someone who's crashing out might even put themselves or others at physical risk. A crash-out is typically caused by some sort of drama or major stress.
    • Origins: The origins of "crash out" are murky, but it seems to have stemmed from Baton Rouge, Louisiana AAVE slang.[12]
    • Examples:
      • "Man, she hasn't texted me back in 2 hours, I'm so mad!" "Dude, you're crashing out!"
      • "Did you hear? The referee made a bad call last night at the game, but Justin totally crashed out and tackled him! It was crazy!"
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  1. “Drip” is a synonym for “fashion sense.” More specifically, “drip” describes a sense of style marked by confidence and trendiness.
    • Origins: The word seems to have originated from Atlanta rap culture in the early 2000s to describe expensive jewelry, designer clothes, or someone with a lot of confidence or swag.[13]
    • Example: Check out Mandy’s drip! She’s got the freshest look around.
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18

Fanum Tax

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  1. Rutkowski says fanum tax refers to “any situation involving taking something or committing a minor transgression.”[14] So, when you swipe a French fry off your bud’s plate, you’re fanum taxing them.
    • Origins: Rutkowski explains that fanum tax “originated from [the] streamer Fanum, who ‘taxed’ his friends during streams by taking bites of their food.” The term got popular, and the rest is history.[15]
    • Example: Gerry, stop fanum taxing me on my Kit-Kats, I swear to God.
20

Gigachad

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  1. Rutkowski explains that “chad” is slang for a traditionally attractive man (think Henry Cavill). She says the term was then “meme-ified and turned into a cartoon with the suffix of ‘giga-.’”[17] So, a "gigachad" is basically a chad taken to the extreme. The word is used seriously, humorously, or ironically.
    • Origins: According to Rutkowski, gigachad “originated from a fake photo of a man [that was] altered to look like a caricature of masculinity. The spread of this meme is theorized to be from 4chan red-pill [and] looksmaxxing corners, who popularized the image as the comical epitome of male attractiveness.”[18]
      • The term is also associated with Russian photographer Krista Sudmalis for her art project sleekntears, which features photoshopped images of stereotypically "masculine" male models.[19]
      • One of the photos—of model Ernest Khalimov—was submitted to an online messageboard in October 2017, where he was described as a "gigachad." Thus, the term took off online.
    • Rutkowski notes that while gigachad is used in joking contexts, it is “perceived as a valid representation of desirable male traits by the demographic that created it,” as it’s “appraising aggressive hyper-masculinity as attractive.”[20]
    • However, Rutkowski explains that “this has been proven to be false in the context of mating behavior,” as women largely display a preference for more "feminine" male faces (as noted in these articles by Dixon et al. 2016, Perrett et al. 1998, and Krejza et al. 2021). Rutkowski says, “It's theorized that this is because high facial masculinity signals anti-social traits.”[21]
    • Example: "Omg John Cena is SUCH a gigachad!"
    • Related terms: "chad"
  1. Nwodo says if you overly compliment someone, then you're glazing them.[22] Basically, you're flattering them in a really cringey, artificial way that's totally obvious to everyone involved. Think of how the sugar lays on a glazed donut—all thick and saccharine. That's what a glazer's compliments are like.
    • Origins: It's unclear where the term originated, but it gained virality with Twitch streamers like Kai Cenat in 2021.
    • Examples:
      • "I can't fail another test. I need to try and glaze Mr. Roth so I can get an A."
      • "You can glaze Tom all you want, but he's clearly not into you."
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  1. "Huzz" is slang for…well, "hoes" (or "women," as they're sometimes called). But the term is often used in the context of doing something "for the huzz," or doing something to get the attention of attractive women. The term is often used humorously on TikTok, but since it technically means "hoes," it's not a super appropriate word to use in every situation, and some people might take offense to it.[23]
    • Origins: The term's origins are unknown, but the word was popularized by Twitch streamer Kai Cenat in 2023.
    • Example: Brady would do just about anything for the huzz.
    • Related terms: "bruzz" ("bros"), "gruzz" ("grandparents"), "chuzz" (someone who is "chopped," or unattractive)
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24

"Just put the fries in the bag, bro."

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  1. Next time someone says something irritating or seems to think very highly of themselves, show you see them for who they are with a simple, "Put the fries in the bag, bro." The implication is that you're at a drive-through waiting on your food, and the person you're speaking to is the fast food worker.
    • This phrase isn't just pretty insulting to the person you're speaking to; it's also insensitive to fast food workers. So think twice before using it!
    • Example: "I'm going to drop out of school and focus on becoming a professional Twitch streamer!" "Just put the fries in the bag, bro."
25

Looksmaxxing

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  1. "Looksmaxxing" (or "looksmaxing") usually refers to men who put in time and attention to looking more physically attractive, but is applicable to all genders. Rutkowski adds that people use it to talk about improving themselves, or use it as a joking reference.[24] "Softmaxxing" refers to simple good hygienic practices like flossing or showering, while "hardmaxxing" refers to more intense efforts to improve your physical attractiveness, like getting plastic surgery.
    • Origins: Rutkowski says looksmaxxing came from mostly male Reddit and 4chan communities that were focused on appearances. She says the members “believe in the superiority of appearance over all other traits and committing great amounts of time, money, and even…dangerous methods (see: bonesmashing) to ‘beautify’ themselves.” The communities have hierarchies of beauty that are based on internet memes, but are referenced with semi-seriousness.[25]
      • "Looksmaxxing" as a slang term originated in the 2010s, but grew in popularity when it caught on on TikTok in the 2020s.
    • Rutkowski explains that the looksmaxxing communities have “a strong overlap with red-pill [and] incel-adjacent subgroups, working hand-in-hand with alt-right pipelines.” She says these men (who often cite gigachad as the prime example of male desirability) “tend to accuse women of being superficial, having hypergamic tendencies, and spreading harmful rhetoric about the ‘nature’ of women.”[26]
    • “Over time, looksmaxxing has diffused to the rest of youth internet culture,” Rutkowski says. So, she explains that “the majority of those who reference it…do not abide by the ideology it represents, and are often unaware of its origin.”[27]
    • Example: Have you seen Chad today? He's really been looksmaxxing lately and he looks great!
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  1. Rutkowski says "mewing" describes a specific tongue posture that you practice to improve your jaw structure and appearance. It involves holding the tongue to the roof of the mouth. She says that while it’s a viral looksmaxxing trend that some people do as a real practice, “its humor comes from its origin in looksmaxxing circles.”[28]
    • "Mewing" may also be shorthand for "looking good."
    • Some people mew sincerely to try to reshape their jaw, but many youths do it ironically, or even as an excuse to get out of talking to someone, since you can't talk while you're mewing.
    • Origins: Mewing as a beauty technique originated in the 1970s from failed orthodontist John Mew, but took off on social media in the early 2020s, when it was dubbed "mewing" in Mew's honor.
    • Example: Can't talk right now. Too busy mewing.
  1. If you're "mogging," you're taking steps to improve your appearance and overall attractiveness. If someone tells you they're "mogging you," they're telling you they think they're better-looking than you (so be ready to fight if that happens). "Mogging" is part of the looksmaxxing trend, which involves doing everything you can to become the hottest version of yourself possible.[29]
    • TikTokers use the term in videos of hot celebrities whom they believe "mog" everyone they're photographed with.
    • Origins: The term comes from the acronym "AMOG," or "Alpha male of the group." This acronym was coined by the pickup artist community, who touted the effectiveness of "mogging" as a way to get more women (lol).
      • "Mog" gained virality in "manosphere" subreddits and fitness forums in the late 2010s, and the "mogging" trend took off on TikTok in late 2021.
    • Examples:
      • Whitney said she's mogging you. Want me to slap her?
      • Michael B. Jordan mogs everyone 100% of the time. What a dreamboat.
    • Related terms: "Heightmogging," "jawmogging," "chinmogging," "skullmogging".... There's a "mogging" for every physical feature.
  1. When something is surreal or uncanny, it's Ohio, according to the kids. (It can also mean “uncool” or “cringey,” but we attest that while Ohio is strange and haunting, it’s not as cheugy as alphas may believe.)
    • Origins: Ohio as a synonym for “surreal” or “uncanny” stems from the Ohio memes that were popular in the early 2020s (like the one with the astronauts looking at the Earth from space and seeing that it’s “All Ohio”).
    • Rutkowski adds that “Ohio was likely the target of internet meme culture because it’s seen as a ridiculous state.” Lots of silly occurrences happen in Ohio, she says, hence the “only in Ohio” meme. It also has a higher population (in comparison to other “silly” states, like Arkansas), so most people know at least 1 person from there.[30]
    • Rutkowski also believes that Ohio is “funnier phonetically.” She says, “Its pronunciation is much more entertaining to say than a state like Wyoming, and so it became a joke.”[31]
    • Example: We stayed at a creepy old cabin in the woods all weekend. It was so Ohio.
    • If you really want to insult someone, call them "Skibidi Ohio rizz," which just means that they're ultra weird.
    • Rutkowski explains that “skibidi toilet” was created alongside the Ohio meme, so these terms are often used together.[32]
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  1. "Opp" is short for "opposition" or "opponent" and refers to someone you're in conflict with. It can also be used as a verb, as in "opp someone" or "opp out," meaning "engage in conflict."[33]
    • Origins: "Opp" has its roots in AAVE hip hop and gang culture, but after rappers like Chief Keef and Tavis Scott started using the term in their songs in the 2010s, it took off among Gen Z internet users.
    • Examples:
      • Ugh why do you have to fight me on everything I say? You're an opp, for real.
      • I'm low on sleep and high on energy and I'm ready to opp someone.
  1. If you’ve got rizz, you’ve got lots of charm, and you can’t help but draw people to you. As Rutkowski explains, “rizz” is a shortened form of “charisma.”[34] The word is usually used in the context of dating and romance. And if you've got a lot of rizz? Why, that'd make you a rizzler.
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  1. "Sendy" is most commonly used in the phrase "Let's get sendy," which basically means "Let's go big" or "Let's do something adventurous or risky." It's often used specifically to refer to consuming something without hesitation (as in shotgunning a beer or other alcoholic beverage), but can be used to describe engaging in risky behavior generally.
    • Origins: The term "sendy" originated from the Full Send podcast hosted by the Nelk Boys, who are known for their fratty lifestyle and crazy pranks. They started using "Let's get sendy" in 2023 to hype each other up pre-wild antic.[37]
    • Example: Yo the fridge is fully stocked with the champagne of beers! Who's ready to get sendy? 🤙
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  1. Skibidi is a pretty versatile word, and can be used to describe just about anything, but it usually refers to something that’s crazy or surreal, typically in a funny or entertaining way.[38]
    • Origins: The word originated with the YouTube series Skibidi Toilet, a show about people who live in toilets. OK.
    • Example: Monica’s party was totally skibidi. 10/10.
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  1. "Unc" is an AAVE term that's short for "uncle" and is often used to refer to an old (or older) male member of a Black family or community, or someone who just acts older. If you're referred to as "unc," it means you have "uncle" vibes—you're probably a little older and maybe eccentric and goofy.
    • Origins: The precise origins of "unc" are unclear. It's an AAVE term that grew popular in the 2010s when it appeared in songs by rappers like Gucci Mane and J. Cole.
      • It gained virality on TikTok in 2021 when user @callmechosen85 uploaded a TikTok video captioned, "When You Realize You've OFFICIALLY Reached 'Unc Status…'" The video featured someone calling him "unc" as they passed by before showing him sitting on the sidewalk deep in thought.[39]
    • Example: Jerome is always talking about joint pain and needing to get home in time for Jeopardy! He's such an unc.
43

What the sigma?

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  1. "What the sigma?" is a phrase that's used semi-nonsensically, but often translates to "What the heck?" It's usually used somewhat ironically, as alphas who use it are pretty fully aware of just how silly it is.
    • Origins: This phrase began with a viral TikTok audio in which voices sounding like Spongebob and Squidward repeat the phrase.
    • Example: "You're such a skibidi Ohio rizz." "Erm, what the sigma?"
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References

  1. Tobi Nwodo. Meme, Brainrot, and Slang Content Creator. Expert Interview
  2. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  3. Patrick Bateman. Accent Coach. Expert Interview
  4. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  5. https://trending.knowyourmeme.com/editorials/guides/what-is-body-tea-the-meaning-of-the-viral-she-got-money-her-body-tea-meme-explained
  6. https://corp.oup.com/news/brain-rot-named-oxford-word-of-the-year-2024/
  7. Tobi Nwodo. Meme, Brainrot, and Slang Content Creator. Expert Interview
  8. https://corp.oup.com/news/brain-rot-named-oxford-word-of-the-year-2024/
  9. https://7esl.com/bussin-meaning/
  1. https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/no-cap/
  2. https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/cheugy-pronunciation-meaning-say-tiktok-b1842019.html
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/style/crashing-out-slang.html
  4. https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/drip/
  5. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  6. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  7. https://www.planoly.com/glossary/fire
  8. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  9. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  10. https://www.dailydot.com/memes/gigachad-meme/
  11. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  12. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  13. Tobi Nwodo. Meme, Brainrot, and Slang Content Creator. Expert Interview
  14. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/huzz-slang
  15. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  16. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  17. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  18. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  19. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  20. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/mogging
  21. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  22. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  23. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  24. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/opp-opps
  25. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  26. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  27. Gia Rutkowski. Influencer and Content Creator. Expert Interview
  28. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/lets-get-sendy
  29. https://www.vcstar.com/story/life/2024/10/23/skibidi-toilet-meaning-origins-and-how-to-use-it/75807075007/
  30. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/unc-unc-status

About This Article

Patrick Bateman
Reviewed by:
Accent Coach
This article was reviewed by Patrick Bateman and by wikiHow staff writer, Dev Murphy, MA. Patrick Bateman is an American Accent Coach and Podcaster based in Monterrey, Mexico. With over 7 years of experience, Patrick offers custom lessons coaching the American accent habit development to clients and is the author of the American Pronunciation Handbook. He also hosts the AccenTraining Podcast, with over 250 episodes serving as an open resource for non-native English speakers learning the American accent. This article has been viewed 5,003 times.
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Co-authors: 8
Updated: October 28, 2025
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