What Is A "Simp" And Why Is It Trending?

Simp. You've probably been seeing this word a lot lately, but what does it mean and why do we keep reading it. Let's dive in.

What Is A Simp?

"Simp" is a slang expression used to ridicule men who are perceived as being overly invested in and submissive to women. Like most slang, though, "simp" has a number of definitions. Some believe it to be an acronym for "Sucker Idolizing Mediocre Pussy." Others, like the Academy Award-winning rap group Three 6 Mafia, who helped popularize the phrase in 1999, use it as an antonym for "pimp." They rap: "I'm trill working the wheel, a pimp, not a simp." It has also been used as a portmanteau of "sissy" and "pimp." They all mean the same general thing.

In some online communities, "simp" exists in the same solar system online as words like "cuck," "soyboy" or "beta" with some distinctions. While "cuck" is a pejorative used to emasculate, a "simp" is used to call out behavior associated with "white knights" or "nice guys". In these cases, men who simp believe that they are owed sex for their good behavior. However, while the term may be used to highlight this behavior, it is also used for comedic effect, so it would not be unheard of to see people use the term facetiously. Irony, after all, is the fuel that runs the internet.

Why Is Simp Trending?

Simp's online currency has exploded over the last few months. Like many other slang expressions focused on emasculating men, the term "simp" has bounced around sexist circles on Reddit and 4chan. According to KYM, the term has been used more than 10,000 times on the anti-feminist /r/MGTOW subreddit and more 12,000 times on 4chan with 1,800 coming from /pol/.

The phrase crossed over to an ironic self-deprecating usage in late 2019 with the rise of "Simp Nation," a TikTok meme in which a man exhibiting "simp behavior" is immediately met with the phrase "welcome to Simp Nation." Like "Simp Nation" the re-appropriation of "Simp" has made it the subject of numerous memes, which usually feature the subject pointing and calling someone "Simp." Still, it's worth acknowledging that the term has been associated with some of the darker parts of the Internet and can be used ironically or sincerely.

On Twitter, many have pointed out that "simp" had been used long before its recent surge in popularity, attributing this change to white people suddenly "discovering" the slang term. Along with this mass adoption has come criticism that the word is quickly losing its meaning and will be become a dead meme faster than you can say "OK Boomer."

Of course, when a meme trends, that usually has something to do with the release of a PewdiePie video. Few things have as much impact on a meme's lifespan like one of his meme reviews, and wouldn't you know it, he released one on Simps just yesterday. With more than 4 million views in less than 24 hours, it's not surprising that we're seeing a sudden simp spike.

So there you have it. A "simp" is a man who shows overt, bordering on pathetic, displays of affection to a woman in hopes of receiving romantic love in return, and it's trending because PewdiePie made a video. You may all return to your daily simping.