Gen Z
Word of the Day

“Cheugy” (pronounced chew-gee) can be used, broadly, to describe someone who is out of date or trying too hard.
Cheugy is just the latest in a long line of niche identifiers that have gained traction on the internet, where people relentlessly categorize highly specific archetypes. It’s no coincidence that cheugy gained traction on TikTok, a platform that has functioned as an escape from Instagram’s once dominant aesthetic, which is the pinnacle of cheugy.
A deeper look into cheugy is rooted in gen-z’s non-conformance to millennial style and generational pillars. To put it simply, “cheugy” refers to anyone who exudes or is brought-into the #girlboss aesthetic, is heavily inspired by Pinterest moodboards, having a penchant for pumpkin spiced lattes or gravitates towards overused inspirational quotes like “live, love, laugh”.
‘Thrifting, making your own clothes, handmade products, Levi’s jeans, Birkenstocks, home decor not found at Target. “Looking good for yourself and not caring what other people think, that confidence exudes non-cheugyness,” said Gaby Rasson, 23, a software developer in Los Angeles who coined the term.
Sources: Urban Dictionary, New York Times