thicc
A stylized spelling of thick, used to describe a full, curvy body as attractive or, more broadly, something noticeably substantial.
By Cal Hewitt, Gen X · Researched from public sources · ·
What it actually means
Thicc is an intentional spelling of thick used as admiration for a full, curvy figure, often with a focus on hips, thighs, or buttocks. It can be playful or humorous and is also applied to nonhuman things that look unusually bulky. Because it comments on someone’s body, it can feel objectifying or unwelcome when directed at a person without a clear, welcome context.
See the quick definition in the thicc dictionary entry.
Where it came from
Merriam-Webster calls thicc an intentional misspelling of thick and dates its use in African American English to at least the 1990s. The spelling appears in the early 2000s, spread into mainstream use by the mid-2010s through hip-hop, and gained further meme prominence in the late 2010s. No single coiner is documented.
No single person is credited, the origin is well-documented.
Where it's popular
African American English and hip-hop-connected culture, then English-language meme, gaming, and social-media communities.
The word’s mainstream meme use should not erase its African American English roots.
How it caught on
- At least the 1990sMerriam-Webster documents thick used in African American English for a voluptuous woman.
- Early 2000sThe deliberate thicc spelling appears in writing.
- Mid-2010sHip-hop use helped thicc spread into mainstream slang.
- Late 2010sMemes applying thicc humorously to cartoon characters increased its visibility.
How to use it
“The artist used thicc as a playful caption for a deliberately oversized cartoon character.”
The meme-oriented nonhuman use.
“That compliment describes someone’s body, so it should only be used when it is clearly welcome.”
A context note rather than a body-focused example sentence.
Common mix-ups
Thicc is not a new spelling invented by a single meme or celebrity. It is rooted in African American English and is not automatically a neutral compliment; its body-focused meaning can be sexualized or unwelcome depending on context.
Do you actually know it?
Get thicc’s timeline right
0/31. How is thicc pronounced?
2. Which community is documented in thicc’s origin?
3. What helped thicc become more mainstream by the mid-2010s?
Related slang
Questions people ask
What does thicc mean?
It is a stylized spelling of thick used for a full, curvy body, often as admiration, and sometimes for anything comically bulky.
How is thicc pronounced?
It is pronounced like thick.
Where did thicc come from?
Merriam-Webster traces the use to African American English from at least the 1990s, with the spelling spreading online in the early 2000s.
The three c’s are not a different pronunciation: thicc is still said exactly like thick.
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