In case you didn’t know, Grammy-winning Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying and his handsome fiance Mark Manio are relationship goals. The couple has been dating for the last five years, and six months ago, Hoying got down on one knee in the beautiful Bahamas to ask his partner to be with him forever.
To celebrate their love, we have created a list of 11 adorable and funny moments from the couple’s relationship.
Omniromantic is an emerging term that many people associate with the concept of being omnisexual. However, who omniromantics are emotionally attracted to may not be the same people they are attracted to sexually. So, what does the term mean, and where did it come from? This quick guide will tell you everything you need to know about being omniromantic.
The term “omniromantic” describes someone romantically attracted to all genders. The prefix “omni-” means “omnis/omnia,” in Latin, which translates to “everything/all.” However, unlike pansexuals, omnirom people are not considered gender-blind and consider gender when navigating romantic feelings. Omniromantic people might be attracted to one or more genders over others.
The person behind the term is unknown, but “omniromantic” first appeared on UrbanDictionary in early 2015.
What Does The Omniromantic Flag Look Like?
The omniromantic flag appears identical to the omnisexual flag, which has five horizontal stripes. However, the omnirom flag also features a heart in its center.
From top to bottom, the stripes are light and dark pink, dark and light purple, and light blue, representing all the genders omniromantic people feel attraction toward. The pink colors represent female-leaning genders, while the blue colors represent male-leaning genders.
It is also unknown who created the omniromantic flag, but it was first posted online on May 9, 2016.
Distinctions From Other Orientations
Omniromantics are sometimes confused with other orientations that may have similar characteristics. These include the following:
Omniromantic vs Asexual
Omniromantic people are romantically attracted to all genders. While asexual people feel little to no sexual attraction to anyone.
Omniromantic vs Demisexual
Like omniromantics, demisexual people can potentially feel attraction to any and all genders. However, demisexual people can only feel sexual attraction once they have developed an emotional bond with a specific person. This emotional bond does not have to be romantic – in some cases, the bond can be platonic.
Omniromantic vs Pansexual
While the two orientations may seem interchangeable, people who identify as pansexual can be attracted to others regardless of gender. In the case of an omniromantic, a person’s gender plays a role in their attraction to them.
Do Omniromantic People Have Specific Pronouns?
The term “omniromantic” describes a person’s romantic orientation, not gender identity. Thus, an omnirom person’s gender pronouns can be whatever they want!
Omniromantic people may identify with any and all genders, so they may use she/her, he/him, or they/them pronouns, as well as rolling or neo-pronouns. Whatever the case, you should always ask any person (omnirom or not) the pronouns they prefer to use.
Being attracted to more than one gender can be confusing. Especially for someone exploring their romantic orientation for the first time. Plus, with so many labels to use, how do you know which one suits you best?
If you think you might be omniromantic but aren’t sure about it, try asking yourself the following questions:
Do you find yourself attracted to people of all genders? Do you feel more intensely for one gender than you do for another gender?
Do you find yourself attracted to people because of their gender regardless of their gender?
When you think about why you are attracted to someone, does their gender matter?
Even if most of your answers to these questions are “yes”, keep in mind that your journey towards self-discovery could take time, so be patient!
How To Support Someone Who Is Omniromantic
Discovering your romantic orientation can be an enriching journey, but it can be challenging for people without the appropriate support. If someone you know is omniromantic, here are a few ways you can show them you care.
Know The Difference Between Romantic & Sexual Attraction
Remember, just because someone is interested in a person romantically, it does not mean they are sexually attracted to them. Someone who is omniromantic may not necessarily be omnisexual. An omnirom person can form emotional bonds with someone without ever developing a sexual relationship.
Debunk Myths About Being Omniromantic
Because omnirom people are attracted to all genders, some might assume they are always in relationships with multiple people. However, omniromantics are not predisposed to be more promiscuous than others just because they feel romantic attraction to a broader range of people. Unless an omniroman person is practicing polyamory, they can maintain monogamous relationships just like anyone else.
It is also a common misconception that there is a “cause” for being omniromantic. Like other romantic orientations, there is no underlying reason that someone may identify with this label.
People don’t become omniromantic because of genetics or trauma. However, people might be more likely to express being omniromantic if they have robust support systems and an open community.
Talk To Other Omniromantic People
One of the best ways to understand someone discovering their romantic orientation is to talk to people who identify the same way. After all, they will likely have the answers to your questions.
If you aren’t sure about how someone identifies, ask them. If you aren’t sure what pronouns they prefer, ask them. You are better off avoiding damaging assumptions by letting others take the lead when it is most appropriate.
@lgbt_positivity_central/instagram.com
The Bottom Line
If you feel romantic attraction towards all genders and consider gender when navigating relationships, you might be omniromantic. When interacting with other omnirom people, remember to avoid misconceptions by leaving your judgment at the door and never assuming.
Being omniromantic doesn’t mean you deserve less respect and understanding than someone who is bisexual, pansexual, or of any other orientation. If you are unsure how to approach someone omniromantic, just ask them for tips and lead with respect.
Have you ever felt like the way you experience attraction isn’t quite the same as most people? Are you only ever attracted to people whom you know are attracted to you as well? If that is the case, there may be a name for how you feel: reciprosexual. Here, we explain everything you need to know about what it means to be reciprosexual, from its definition to what it’s like to identify as such.
Reciprosexual people are those who only experience sexual attraction when they know that the other person is sexually attracted to them. The term is rooted in the word “reciprocate”, which means “to give and take mutually” or share the same feelings with someone.
Reciprosexual people can be gay, straight, bisexual, or otherwise. It can be a standalone sexual orientation or be combined with other orientations. That said, reciprosexual is a micro-label that falls on the wide asexual spectrum.
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com
What Is The Asexual Spectrum?
Wait, asexual spectrum? Micro-label? If those terms have left you with even more questions than answers, don’t worry. We’re here to shed light on those concepts.
The asexual spectrum (or ace-spec) describes a range of orientations or identities for people who experience varying degrees of sexual attraction. Some asexual people feel no or very little sexual attraction, while others only experience sexual attraction under certain circumstances.
Micro-labels exist to provide asexual people with the language to communicate their boundaries, needs, desires, and capabilities in the bedroom. These labels help asexual people understand what they’re willing to give or take in their relationship and help them navigate their place within the ace community.
For instance, a gray-asexual person may experience sexual attraction from time to time but have a low sex drive. Meanwhile, demisexual people can only experience sexual attraction for people with whom they’ve formed a strong emotional bond. Cupiosexual people may not experience sexual attraction but have a desire to engage in sexual activities or be in a sexual relationship.
How do personal attitudes toward sex further define us?
On top of this, there are different personal attitudes and comfort levels when it comes to sex. The Asexual Visibility & Education Network (AVEN) breaks it down as so:
Sex-favorable: This describes people who have a “positive willingness” to engage in sexual activity, albeit with some compromises. Some sex-favorable people may find that, although they don’t enjoy receiving it, they do enjoy giving sexual stimulation.
Sex-indifferent: This describes people who do not seek out sexual experiences or find sex particularly enjoyable but are not repulsed by the idea of engaging in it as well. They could be open to trying new things in the bedroom, depending on the partner, the circumstances, or how they’re feeling at the time. However, sex doesn’t bear much weight in how they approach relationships.
Sex-averse: For these types of people, sex is not only unpleasant but is something they hope they don’t have to experience at all.
Sex-repulsed: These are people who find the mere idea of engaging in sex disgusting. While sex-averse people may not find sex enjoyable, many sex-repulsed people get uncomfortable at the mere thought of sex.
So, where do reciprosexual people fit into all of this? Again, there is no one way to be asexual, as is there no one way to identify as reciprosexual. But, for the most part, reciprosexual people may be sex-indifferent or sex-averse to most people – that is, until they find out that the other person is attracted to them.
Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock.com
How Do I Know I’m Reciprosexual?
There isn’t a lot of reciprosexual representation out there, and it’s not as well-known as being gay or bisexual is. So, how do you know if you’re reciprosexual? The following signs could help you discover whether you might be reciprosexual:
You rarely feel sexually attracted to others.
You only start to feel attracted to someone once you find out they’re attracted to you.
You rarely feel compelled to initiate conversations or make the “first move” with others.
You’re only interested in sex if there is a specific person involved, and you already know that they feel positive about you.
You can’t quite relate to the way romances pan out in films, books, and TV shows.
You feel like you can relate more to asexuals than allosexual people but don’t feel sex-averse or sex-repulsed.
The term “reciprosexual” just feels like a good fit.
What Is The Reciprosexual Flag?
There is no official reciprosexual flag, but there are several proposals out there. One of the most popular flags is a five-striped flag that resembles the asexual pride flag. It consists of the colors pink, light pink, lilac, white, and black.
Some sources say that the pink stripe on top represents attraction, while the white stripe represents a lack of attraction. Meanwhile, the black stripe stands for asexuality, and the lilac stripe stands for the ace community.
@artbylittlemissluna/instagram.com
Final Thoughts
So, what does it mean to be reciprosexual? In short, reciprosexuals are people who can only be attracted to those who reciprocate their feelings.
Do you relate to this term? Or do you feel like your identity falls elsewhere on the asexuality spectrum? Feel free to explore our site to learn more about other ace-spec identities!
The HBO hit series Euphoria has been a major source of style inspiration, bringing graphic liner, glittery lids, and ‘90s/2000s glam back to clothing stores and Pinterest boards. Jules Vaughn from Euphoria is arguably the show’s biggest style icon, showing off dreamy looks that are vibrant but surprisingly wearable.
Wondering how to cop Jules’ Euphoria style? Read on to find out the trademarks of this character’s look and how you can plan a Jules-inspired outfit with the right palette and accessories!
Jules Vaughn – played by actress, model, and trans activist Hunter Schaefer – is one of the main characters of the show Euphoria. Carefree and adventurous, Jules started transitioning when she was 13 years old. By the time we meet her in the first episode, she is already a trans girl comfortable in her identity. However, we also see her struggle with her desire to be “more feminine”, as well as her exploration of her sexuality.
Jules is vulnerable and romantic, as seen in her Season 1 hookups with older married men. Though she struggles to find meaningful connections, she remains kind-hearted to the people around her. She’s also very artistic and creative, as seen in show segments highlighting her detailed sketches and unique fashion.
Instagram @hunterschafer1
What Is Jules’ Style In Euphoria Like?
Jules’ style in Euphoria Season 1 is best described as Y2K e-girl feminine, with plenty of items in pastel shades like bubblegum pink and baby blue. Her look is often compared to the style of the anime series Sailor Moon, channeling the “magical girl” aesthetic with delicate coordinates and colorful, dreamy makeup.
Jules is fond of layering clothing, often pairing sheer long-sleeved tops with strappy tanks. She’s also frequently spotted in Season 1 wearing miniskirts with crop tops. Jules accentuates these girly looks by dying her platinum blonde hair with baby pink streaks. The final touches for her looks are typically cute pastel backpacks, dainty chain necklaces, and lacy chokers. She goes for bold, neon colors when she isn’t wearing pastel hues.
While Jules’ Euphoria outfits in Season 1 can be seen as a nod to hyper feminism and dreamy 2000s fashion, her Season 2 looks are decidedly more androgynous. Season 2 Jules is no longer afraid to wear baggier styles or edgier, darker looks. Her outfits’ color palettes are more muted too, which some fans have taken as a nod to her growing vulnerability in the second season.
Perhaps the biggest change in her Season 2 look is most obvious in her new hairstyle. Instead of donning long blonde tresses with colorful streaks, Jules gets a blunt bob cut. Her style evolution reflects the emotional journey and inner turmoil of her character. Most significantly, it shows viewers her shift from desiring a hyperfeminine look to breaking away from the male gaze.
Instagram @fkng.youth
Must-Haves To Cop Jules From Euphoria Style
Inspired by her dreamy, ultra-feminine style? Jules’ Euphoria outfits are a snap to recreate, as long as you have these key pieces and keep these tips in mind.
Color-Coordinated Layers
Jules often layers her tops, which is a great way to showcase contrasting textures. If you’re going to showcase this tee-on-tee look, choose similar tones for the two tops. Note that her inner top is frequently long-sleeved and made of mesh or more textured than the short-sleeved outer top.
This love for layering is evident even in the bottom half of her looks. Jules pairs textured tights, white fishnets, and colorful ankle socks with miniskirts and dresses with high hemlines. She’ll often wear tights and socks with her footwear, adding an extra dimension of texture to her outfit.
Jules also frequently matches the colors of her clothing and accessories from head to toe. Avoid wearing clashing colors, and think about how each hue choice complements or accentuates your look’s main color. Consider buttercup yellow accessories with a primarily strawberry pink drip or lavender coordinates with cream socks and heels.
Instagram @euphoria
Plaids, Tartans, And Florals
Apart from carefully color-coordinating her looks, Jules mixes up her outfits by wearing fun prints in bright or pastel colors. Remember her yellow tartan skirt when she first meets Rue in Season 1? Simple prints like tartan or plaid breathe freshness into an outfit that’s too plain and can break the monotony of a color-coordinated look.
Florals are another major hallmark of Jules’ style in Season 1. A sheer floral inner top or floral miniskirt complements plain tank tops and crop tops. Ideally, you’ll want to choose a floral print that adds subtle contrast and texture to your look.
Jules’ cutesy, anime-inspired looks frequently have her in miniskirts. Miniskirts symbolize how she’s chasing femininity and wants to be playful, bold, and appealing.
A swishy tartan A-line skirt or a tennis skirt is a flirty touch to a Jules-inspired outfit. Pair a pastel plaid miniskirt with white sneakers and pastel tights to serve Jules Vaughn’s signature girly style!
Instagram @fkng.youth
Comfy Sneakers And Practical Backpacks
Jules is frequently spotted in Season 1 with a trusty backpack that can carry all her essentials. But backpacks needn’t be boring – think of the fluffy bags or bright yellow and metallic pink totes she memorably sported in several episodes. Jules’ footwear is just as practical but cute. And she often completes her look with a pair of chunky white sneakers. Best worn with colorful ankle socks or playful textured tights, this versatile shoe is a must.
Instagram @euphoria_fits
Inspired By The Incredible Looks On Euphoria?
There’s no denying the huge influence that the hit show Euphoria has on current trends. Many people copy the show’s quirky makeup, the 90s/2000s-inspired items, and the daring styles to breathe new life into their looks. Jules’ outfits are noteworthy for their magical girl sweetness – follow our styling tips above to emulate her ultrafeminine style!
If you’re like most people, the word “heteronormative” probably isn’t one that you use every day. But it’s a term that we should all be familiar with. Because it describes a particularly insidious problem that pervades our society. But what exactly does Heteronormative mean? Read on to learn more about heteronormativity and all the ways it affects a large portion of our society.
The “heteronormative” definition in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “the attitude that heterosexuality is the only normal and natural expression of sexuality”.
The Oxford English Dictionary cites queer theorist Michael Warner as the first person to introduce the term “heteronormativity” in 1991 in his book Fear of a Queer Planet. In the book, Warner posits that heteronormative assumptions are embedded deep within many sociological concepts. Often unbeknownst to most people. Heteronormativity often appears alongside the term cisnormativity. This is the assumption that being cisgender—when your assigned sex aligns with your gender identity—is the norm.
Cisheteronormativity is the belief that being a masculine assigned-male-at-birth man who is only attracted to feminine assigned-female-at-birth women and vice versa is the “default”.
nito/shutterstock.com
What Is The Significance Of The Term?
Heteronormativity as a concept helps explain the immense privilege that cisgender and straight people enjoy. Conversely, it helps explain the obstacles that LGBTQ people face in their daily lives.
When we assume heterosexuality to be the only “normal and natural” expression of sexuality, we assume that to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or any other sexual orientation that cannot be categorized as straight means to deviate from the norm. Moreso, cisheteronormativity enforces the notion that there are only two sexes, male and female. And that these sexes have predetermined roles, functions, and purposes that must be followed.
This has not only led to stigma and discrimination of LGBTQ people but of women, too. It also puts pressure on men to fit into a narrow and toxic standard for what it means to be a man.
As a heteronormative society, we pass moral judgment on those who do not fit into the standards that heteronormativity imposes. Ultimately, forcing us to push anyone who deviates from these standards into the margins of society. And all of this isn’t just an abstract concept as well. There is enough evidence to suggest that heteronormativity ruins people’s lives. It strips people of opportunities and creates a massive disparity between cishet and LGBTQ people.
For example, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 20% of homeless youth in the US identify as LGBTQ. This is even though LGBTQ youths only make up 10% of the US youth population. This staggering figure can be attributed to family rejection and discrimination brought upon by notions that being queer or transgender is sinful, morally wrong, or somehow a danger to other members of the household.
Sharaf Maksumov/Shutterstock.com
Examples Of Heteronormativity At Play
Perhaps the biggest problem with heteronormativity is that it is, quite literally, everywhere. In most cultures, overarching assumptions create expectations about how people should live their lives. Here are some concrete examples of what heteronormativity looks like:
1. Cishet vs LGBTQ Representation In The Media
Think about the films and TV shows repeatedly portraying the same old love stories. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, marry, have kids, and live happily ever after. These narratives typically reinforce certain heteronormative and cisnormative roles, often stripping feminine characters of their agency.
In fact, The Guardian pointed out that many of the actresses who won Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards did so, portraying “stoic, loyal wives or partners of great and/or troubled men” – often in a biopic.
“All these characters are developed only insofar as they aid the arc of a male protagonist, with nary a scene or story strand to call their own,” writes Guy Lodge for The Guardian. “That may seem part and parcel of a supporting actor’s function, though comparatively rare is the man who has been celebrated for playing second fiddle to his onscreen wife.”
Most mainstream films and TV shows leave out LGBTQ people altogether. Relegating any exceptions to the background. Or used for comic relief, or sanitized to the point where they lose their sexuality entirely Consider how two recent biopics about queer icons like Freddie Mercury and Elton John rarely portrayed the artists having sex or maintaining a queer relationship. More often than not, writers quickly kill off queer characters who do enjoy on-screen romances. This trend is so pervasive it even has a name: “Bury Your Gays”.
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2. Monogamy And Marriage
Monogamy is inherently heteronormative. The institution of marriage started as a means of forming strategic alliances between the wealthy. And, for centuries, women had no say in whom they were to marry. Their fathers decided for them, treating them as mere gifts or items to trade for a better standing in society.
Until recently, heteronormative assumptions of your “place” in our society dictated how you acted. They dictate the rights afforded to you in marriage. Until 1974, most banks wouldn’t even allow women to get their own credit cards without their husbands’ permission.
Hyejin Kang/Shutterstock.com
3. Non-consensual Medical Interventions On Intersex Children
Cisheteronormativity perpetuates the belief that one’s gender identity should correspond to their assigned sex. To be ambiguous in any sense would be to deviate from the norm.
As such, many parents of intersex children—children who are “born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies”—make their kids go through non-consensual procedures. These medical interventions attempt to “correct” children’s anatomy to appear more “normal”. Or at least in the way that we typically understand binary anatomy.
However, intersex advocates say that these procedures are often medically unnecessary. In fact, they can be incredibly damaging to an intersex person’s overall well-being and sense of self. Irreversible procedures like these do not always require the consent of the child. And many children whose gender identity does not match the sex chosen for them by their parents may grow up thinking there is something “wrong” with them.
Sandra van der Steen/Shutterstock.com
The Bottom Line
Heteronormativity is like an invisible force that influences who we date, who we find attractive, how we express our gender, and what our parents and institutions expect from us. But this pervasive problem has proven to be damaging and limiting for everyone, including those who identify as heterosexual.
By becoming more aware of what heteronormativity is and how it manifests in our lives, we can work together to dismantle this system that benefits no one.
Much like any other social media platform, TikTok is home to a wide variety of internet slang. One such slang term that has gained quite a bit of popularity is “YT”. TikTok users have started using this term in both their content and comments. They’ll typically use it as part of their captions, within the video itself, or via the text-to-speech feature.
But what does the term “YT” mean exactly? In this article, we’ll go over the meaning of the term, its origin, and how it’s used on TikTok.
For most Millennials, “YT” is an abbreviation of YouTube. However, on TikTok, the term “YT” is a term (often derogatory) used for light-skinned people of Caucasian or Western European descent. This is derived from the fact that, when pronounced, the letters Y and T sound like “white” or “whitey”.
While it’s spelled similarly, this is different from the Millennial understanding of “YT” as an abbreviation of YouTube.
The shorthand “YT” is a relatively newer iteration of an older term. “Whitey” as an insult has been around since at least the early 19th century. Originating in the US, the term “whitey” was used by African-Americans as a disparaging term for white people. This was typically in reference to racial oppression and discrimination.
In the mid-2000s, the term “YT”, meaning “whitey”, started appearing in various online spaces such as Twitter. Social media platforms are typically monitored by moderators to censor or remove content that violates their rules of usage. Since the full spelled-out term “whitey” already has a known history as a derogatory term, it is likely to be flagged by moderators. As a way to circumvent this and make it harder for mods to track, social media users shorten the term to just the two letters, Y and T.
Sometimes, you’ll see additions to the term “YT”. You might see it written as “yt people”, “yt folx”, or “yt girl” meaning “white people”, “white folks”, and “white girl” respectively.
The popularity of the term “YT” in internet spaces eventually reached TikTok. On TikTok, users typically use “YT” in content that includes themes and topics involving race. Since it is an established derogatory term, it’s most commonly found in content about racial tensions. And in many cases involving white people or people of Western European descent.
A common way content creators use this term is in the form of social or cultural critique via observational humor. For example, a content creator might feature the way an African-American might react to a certain situation versus how a white person might. While this example is executed mostly in jest, it’s also used in more serious content.
Other creators use this term in content that talks about the social inequality minority groups face in the US, particularly the African-American, Latino, and Asian communities. This is typically discussed in contrast with the heightened privileges the majority, who are white, enjoy.
Of course, there are other ways this term is used by users on TikTok. These are but two common examples of how this term is used in content on the social media platform. You might also find this term being used in the comments section of certain videos. While the video may not necessarily talk about social inequality directly, it may be perceived as an actual real-life example of it. It is also sometimes used as a hashtag.
XanderSt/Shutterstock.com
What Did People Think YT Meant?
There was quite a bit of confusion when the term “YT” first started being used on TikTok. The reason for this is that the acronym had already been known as shorthand for YouTube, particularly by Millennials. And since TikTok content creators are typically part of the younger Gen Z crowd, there was quite a bit of confusion among the older generations about what the term meant. Some millennial content creators even created videos that directly addressed this confusion.
Interestingly, the term “YT” as a derogatory term seems to be much more heavily used in TikTok regions located in the West, particularly in the US. If you search for the term in other regions, such as Asia or Europe, you’ll still see it more commonly being used as an acronym for YouTube. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, considering the long history of racial inequality that is still present in the US.
Chubo – my masterpiece/Shutterstock.com
Conclusion
The term “YT” is a newer version of a term that has existed for quite some time. It has recently gained popularity on the social media platform TikTok as a disparaging term used against white people. Often used by the African-American community and other racial minorities when talking about the various forms of social inequalities they face daily. The term, however, is sometimes confused with a shorthand version of YouTube, and many people on the internet still use it as such – especially Millennials and older generations.
Like the birth of most Internet slang, the definition of “yeet” wasn’t immediately obvious. Was it a noun? A verb? A mere exclamation with no actual meaning? At the time, “yeet” circulated at the speed of light yet left many without context.
Now, the word is a regular part of today’s Internet lexicon and has more meanings than one. If you’re still struggling to grasp the word “yeet”, this guide will tell you what it means, where it came from, and how to use it.
The basic meaning defines it as a verb that means “to throw” (e.g., “I am going to yeet this thing out the window”). It also emphasizes the sheer aggression with which the item is thrown. If you were to yeet something, you wouldn’t do it gently. As of 2021, Urban Dictionary’s top-rated definition described “yeet” as “discarding an item at high velocity”.
Another definition is an exclamation of excitement, enthusiasm, or surprise.
You can also use the word in the context of sports. User Bubba “Skoal” Johnson published an alternative meaning on Urban Dictionary, defining as a “term used to express excitement; especially used in basketball when someone has shot a three-pointer that they are sure will go into the hoop”.
While not necessarily a nonsensical word, many use the term out of context or to mean whatever they want it to mean.
@entescobar/instagram.com
Origins Of The Word “Yeet”
“Yeet” made its first rounds on the Internet in 2008. Initially, Urban Dictionary defined it as “an excited exclamation, particularly in sports and sexual contexts”. It also compared the word to other interjections like “Yeah!” and “Ayt!”
However, the word didn’t garner international attention until 2014 when YouTuber Milk Fullilove called out “yeet” as he danced to personal choreography. Fans dedicated an entire Facebook page called Yeet Dance to honor the choreography, and it amassed nearly 30,000 likes by the end of March 2014.
Soon after, the word made its way onto other platforms like Vine when hip-hop musician Quill released a song entitled “YEET” featuring other upcoming artists like Showtime and Yung Cyph. Yeet’s virality was unstoppable and became even more exponential when Vine user Lil Meatball recreated Fullilove’s original dance to the song “YEET”. The Vine garnered over 122,00 re-posts and 104,000 likes in just two weeks.
Internet users then released variations of the original dance, which inspired dozens of yeet memes.
“Yeet” As A Meme
After a temporary lull following its initial boom, it again became viral in 2016 when a video of a woman exclaiming, “Yeet!” while tossing an empty can into a crowd of high schoolers made its rounds on the Internet. It then regressed into its original meaning, with many people using the term as an exclamation when playfully tossing something at someone.
Controversial YouTube Logan Paul coined a variation of the term, using “ya yeet” as a catchphrase. It then reached a second lull until 2018, when it entered Reddit space under the subreddit r/dankmemes. Users discussed its sudden obscurity, using it in extreme contexts outside its original meaning.
Despite its fluctuation in popularity, it won the award for Slang/Informal Word of the Year by the American Dialect Society in 2018.
@memeroaster8/instagram.com
Where Is “Yeet” Today?
Since making its first appearance on Urban Dictionary in 2008, “yeet” now has over 270 pages of definitions on the website. The word also has official entries on Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster.
It’s is also commonly used in games like Fortnite, which features animation from the original yeet dance as a character’s “emote”. However, most users refer to the move as “the dip”.
Some people also use “yeet” interchangeably with the word “sheesh” to express irritation at something or if you simply don’t know what to say. For example, “Did they really just say that to you? Yeet!”
How To Use The Word
While once tied to black culture, it is now universally incorporated into everyday language. You can use it spontaneously and in a positive context, as in “That’s awesome! Yeet!” It is comparable to other high-energy exclamations like “boo ya” or “hell yes!” Think of it like shouting out a meme.
You can also use it when you want to throw something, as in “Watch me yeet this into the trash bin.” As for what you are throwing, you can also yeet yourself, as in “I’m going to yeet myself into bed as soon as I get home.”
If you are using the word to mean “to throw”, the context in which you use it will also depend on the velocity at which the item or person is thrown. For instance, it might also mean to fly (e.g., “If you don’t slow this car down, I’m going to yeet right out the window.”)
However, you can technically use it in whatever context you want, as it lacks a standardized definition. For example, “I don’t really have yeet going on today. Do you want to just bum around?” or “I guess it’s time for me to yeet on home.” That said, you’ll want to avoid using it in a professional setting.
Some people have gone as far as conjugating the word. For example:
Present: Yeet (e.g., I yeet this cat.)
Past/imperfect: Yeeting (e.g., I was yeeting this cat.)
Past/perfect: Yote (e.g., I yote this cat.)
Pluperfect: Yought (e.g., I have yought this cat.)
Future: Yeet (e.g., I will yeet this cat.)
Future perfect: Yought (e.g., I will have yought this cat.)
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The Bottom Line
Since its humble beginnings in 2008, the word “yeet” has become a staple in everyday vocabulary (at least for younger generations). It’s most commonly used to refer to the act of throwing something but can also be used as an exclamation of joy or excitement.
However you decide to use the word, just remember to avoid using it in professional settings. You never know when you’ll get “yeeted” out of your meeting.