thicc

Thicc means curvy or full-figured, usually as a compliment about someone’s body. It’s a respelling of “thick,” and online it’s also used jokingly for chubby animals and oversized objects.

What thicc means

Merriam-Webster defines it as attractively full-figured or curvy, and also as burly or strongly built. Dictionary.com says it most often refers to someone with a curvy figure, especially through the hips and backside. The extra “c” adds emphasis and a playful tone.

A big part of its life online is humor. A round cat, an extra-large sandwich, a chunky truck: all can be thicc. Variants include “thicc boi” for a hefty pet and “slim thicc” for someone slim but curvy.

Examples

• “Look at this thicc cat, he’s a loaf.”
• “That burger is thicc, I need two hands.”
• “She posted a gym selfie and the comments were all ‘thicc.’”

Is thicc a compliment?

It can be, but context matters a lot. Dictionary.com notes it’s used both sexually and humorously, and some women find it objectifying, or feel it’s a polite way of calling them fat. Merriam-Webster also points out that whether it’s appropriate depends on who says it and to whom. Between close friends hyping each other up, it’s usually fine. From a stranger in the comments, it often isn’t.

Where thicc came from

Merriam-Webster says it originated in African American English, where “thick” had been used for a curvy woman since at least the 1990s. The “thicc” spelling appeared in the early 2000s and went mainstream in the mid-2010s through hip-hop and social media. Dictionary.com links its rise as a compliment to the body positivity movement.

Related terms

• Gyatt: an exclamation at someone attractive.
• Snatched: looking flawless.
• Thirst trap: a post made to get attention.

See more terms like this in our Gen Z slang guide.