Ah, Gen Z. The internet’s gifted linguistic architects, casually constructing new slang like they’re building a Lego set, piece by perfectly-placed piece. It’s only a matter of time before we see TikTok users casually exchanging words like “slay” and “vibe” with all the ease of a 2008 MySpace profile update. But as the TikTok algorithm continues to chug along, a new slang term has emerged from the digital ether—one that’s equal parts confusing, clever, and…well, a little chaotic: waethicc.
In the age of TikTok trends that seem to pop up faster than the latest viral dance, waethicc has emerged as one of the most perplexing (and highly relatable) new terms on the platform. For those of you still unsure whether this is a typo or a new artist you’ll never hear about again, allow me to break it down.
What Exactly is “Waethicc”?
The term waethicc is a mash-up of the words “waifu” (a term for a fictional character from anime or video games that fans obsessively “love”) and “ethicc” (yes, it’s a playful take on “thicc,” the term for having a body type with curves that can stop traffic). Essentially, waethicc describes a fictional character—often an anime or video game character—who embodies the internet’s ideal of a “thicc” body type. But here’s the twist: it’s about more than just physical appearance. It’s also about how those characters align with the values and vibes of a specific, sometimes chaotic, fanbase.
In simpler terms, waethicc is thicc for the weebs. It’s body positivity meets the world of anime fan fiction, but wrapped in a hilarious digital bow of humor that makes you question if anyone knows what they’re doing or if we’re all just going along for the ride.
The Internet’s New Love Language
Now, you might be wondering why waethicc has caught fire in the first place. Gen Z is no stranger to turning anything—yes, anything—into a viral phenomenon, but there’s something especially resonant about this term. It’s simultaneously a joke and a way to connect with a very niche but deeply passionate fandom. By combining elements of online anime culture and body-positive humor, waethicc is less about physicality and more about ownership of the way people express attraction—whether it’s to anime girls or whoever’s the latest thicc meme icon.
The rise of waethicc also underscores how Gen Z’s sense of humor has evolved. Forget the days when internet humor was solely about niche, sarcastic comments or the “I can’t believe you said that” culture. These days, humor is about ownership, self-awareness, and exaggeration. The only thing more fitting than calling a cartoon character “waethicc” is the self-aware irony of it all. The people who post these terms don’t always expect you to take them seriously—but they do expect you to laugh and maybe rethink your standards for body image and attractiveness.
TikTok and the Aestheticization of Identity
Let’s not forget that TikTok is the birthplace of virtually every microtrend in 2023 and 2024. And if TikTok is any indicator of where digital culture is headed, it’s safe to say that the internet’s standards of humor and self-expression are getting increasingly fluid. You can have an entire joke built around niche, anime-based language and it will, somehow, make perfect sense in the context of a 15-second meme.
But here’s the real kicker: waethicc is not just a trend about bodies, anime, or humor. It’s an aesthetic movement in its own right. Think about the days of MySpace or early Instagram when people defined their identities through profile pictures and filters. Now, Gen Z is doing the same thing—but with whole internet communities, inside jokes, and subcultures like anime and meme culture. Every meme, every phrase like waethicc is just another way for users to assert their place within this absurd digital ecosystem.
But more than that, the waethicc trend is about giving space for people to define beauty standards on their own terms. It flips the script on traditional media’s unrealistic standards, giving anime characters (and real people) a chance to take center stage as idealized figures of affection. It’s less about replicating reality and more about creating new, self-sustained universes where thicc is an aesthetic worth celebrating—whether it’s a hyper-stylized drawing of an anime character or the idealized way someone imagines themselves in the world of digital fantasy.
Gen Z’s Humor: Self-Aware, Inclusive, and Wild
The waethicc phenomenon is part of a larger cultural shift in how Gen Z uses humor to deal with the everyday weirdness of life. You can see it in the memes, the TikToks, and the viral trends. It’s all about being self-aware, inclusive, and not afraid to poke fun at our own expectations—of body image, of identity, and of fandom culture itself.
In fact, waethicc is so much more than just a word. It’s a cultural symbol. It encapsulates how Gen Z is reshaping humor into something more fluid, more expansive, and, often, more inclusive. The rise of waethicc demonstrates a hilarious contradiction in humor: It takes something as stereotypically serious as body image and turns it into a laughing matter. And that’s something that only Gen Z, with their boundless energy and irreverence, could pull off with such finesse.
The Future of Slang and Humor
As the waethicc meme continues to permeate TikTok, you can bet that more hybrid phrases will follow in its wake. You might wake up tomorrow to see some new slang combining two internet subcultures you never thought would exist in the same sentence. Frogpilled anyone? Or maybe the next waethicc will take shape in a totally unexpected place, like… what, veganbruh? Only time will tell.
But one thing is for sure: Gen Z is redefining how we understand humor. They’ve perfected the art of humor through absurdity and inclusivity. And if there’s one thing we know about their ability to create new slang, it’s that they’re just getting started. So get ready for more bizarre, body-positive, anime-infused humor to hit your feed. It’s going to be a wild ride.