When Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath got schooled on Gen Z lingo

It was just another routine meeting at Zerodha’s Bangalore office – the kind of chat where the founder, Nithin Kamath, drops a few light‑hearted comments and the team nods along. Except this time the conversation took an unexpected detour into the world of Gen‑Z slang.

As the Zoom screen flickered, Kamath tried to sound hip, throwing out phrases like “that’s lit” and “I’m vibing with it.” A bright‑eyed associate in his early twenties, who had been listening intently, raised an eyebrow and politely interjected, “Sir, actually ‘lit’ now means something different – it’s more about excitement, not just ‘cool.’” The room erupted into a low chuckle.

What followed was a rapid‑fire lesson in modern vernacular. The employee explained that “stan” isn’t just a typo for ‘stand,’ but a portmanteau of ‘stalker’ and ‘fan’ – meaning to support someone fervently. When Kamath tried to use “flex” in the context of showing off a new trading feature, the youngster laughed, “That’s a flex, sir, but you’re actually ‘capping’ if you’re exaggerating.”

Kamath, ever the good sport, responded with a grin, “Alright, I’m learning. So, no more ‘cap’ – I’ll keep it real.” The exchange, captured on a short video clip, quickly made its way to Twitter and Instagram, where users tagged the clip #KamathSchooled and riffed on the generational gap.

Even the founder’s wife, who happens to be a tech‑savvy professional herself, chimed in on the comment section, writing, “Don’t worry, love, we’ll get you speaking ‘yeet’ in no time!” It was a reminder that, beyond the serious business of discount brokerage, there’s room for a little levity and learning.

For many younger employees, seeing a high‑profile leader admit he doesn’t have the slang lexicon down to a tee was both relatable and reassuring. “It shows that even CEOs have to keep up with the evolving language,” said one junior analyst, who preferred to stay anonymous.

In the end, the Zoom call didn’t just result in a better understanding of words like “stan,” “flex,” “cap,” and “yeet.” It highlighted a broader point – that communication, especially in a fast‑moving startup, thrives when both sides are willing to teach and be taught. And as for Kamath? He’s reportedly adding a new bullet point to his daily to‑do list: “Read up on Gen‑Z lingo before the next all‑hands.”

So the next time you hear someone say they’re “still learning the slang,” remember it might just be a CEO, a founder, or even a seasoned investor trying to stay relevant in a world where language changes faster than stock prices.