While scrolling TikTok or Instagram, you see a comment, “Stay delulu, bestie.”
And you are stumped.
What does that even mean? Is it a new kind of snack, a term from a hit TV show, or a new band in town?
None of these are accurate. Delulu is a favorite term of Gen Z to call you out in a lighthearted way.
So what is delulu? Delulu is short for Delusional and means to cling to wildly unrealistic hopes. But it’s not as demeaning or negative as calling someone outright delusional.
For instance, you might call your friend delulu if he’s waiting for a date with Sydney Sweeney. Or you might call me delulu if I am dreaming of becoming a millionaire by writing blogs.
But here’s the twist: Unlike clinical delusion, delulu is playful, self-aware, and ownable. It’s the internet’s way of saying, “Let me dream, okay?”
The Rise of Delulu: From K-Pop Fandoms to Mainstream Slang
The term delulu takes its origin from K-pop fandoms back in 2013-2014. Back then, fans had this inside joke about ‘delulu’ fantasies like marrying Jungkook, the singer of the popular South Korean boy band BTS.
But this joke blew up to be so viral that by 2023 there were 2.1 million videos on social media with the hashtag #delulu. You can look it up on Merriam-Webster as well because delulu has that strong of a strong cultural grip.
Why the Hype
The term ‘delulu’ holds strong relevance for Gen Z. Delulu perfectly captures Gen Z’s blend of self-deprecation and optimism.
It’s like a Gen Z version of ‘Fake it till you make it.’ And in today’s digital era, the delulu meaning has become an identifying trait for Gen Zs.
Decoding the Delulu Meaning
Before we get into details, let’s see how delulu works in practice. I’ll paint you 3 scenarios -
- Scenario 1: Posting “Manifesting a promotion✨” after showing up late all week.
- Scenario 2: Swearing you’ll go viral from a video of your cat sneezing.
- Scenario 3: Believing your crush’s “you up?” text at 2 a.m. is true love.
What’s common in all 3 scenarios? Blissful denial.
So, what is delulu? It means viewing the world with rose-colored glasses and believing that reality is overrated.
Be So Fr - The Antagonist
Every protagonist has to face a villain. Be So Fr meaning is the one in this story. It drags delulu back to the Earth.
Let’s say your manager just gave you a 10-page report to write a week ago and you’ve started writing it just now. The deadline’s in a few hours and you say,
“I will finish this report in 10 minutes.”
Let’s be honest. You are being delulu here. But instead of using this term, your colleague beside you says,
“Bro, be so fr.”
Yes, you are right. You just got a reality check. Be so fr meaning expresses skepticism or disbelief. It’s the internet’s way of saying ‘I don’t buy it’ or ‘you are kidding me.’
Be so fr short for ‘be so for real’ bursts the daydream bubble of delulu. Together, they are the internet’s favorite couple.
Why Brands Are Becoming Delulu
Brands are increasingly focusing on incorporating Gen Z slang into their social media marketing. The rationale is to sound more relatable to the audience.
It’s a smart move because Gen Zs are more prone to engage with brands that speak their language.
Incorporating terms like delulu or be so fr and many others can help brands connect more with their audience.
What is Delulu - Harmless fun or Toxic Positivity
Young adults are likely to use humor as a coping mechanism. Think of it as something Chandler from Friends used to do.
But this harmless humor could also turn into toxic positivity if it's stopping you from paying bills on time or costing you your grades.
So be delulu, but don’t embrace it as a character trait and let it define your life. Maybe take a step back and be so fr bestie.
Delulu and Beyond: The Future of Internet Slang
The use of slang in marketing is nothing new. And it’s going to become even more prominent in the future as it’s becoming a popular content marketing strategy.
You have to give credit where it’s due. Brands are using slang in a smart and witty way to generate more organic reach.
What’s even cooler is, they’re incorporating social listening into the mix. Because you cannot just randomly use slang in your social media content to sound relevant. You have to get the context right. I mean, you wouldn’t want to get canceled for saying the wrong thing, would you?
So, how do you get around to understanding the current context among your audience – what are their interests or what are they talking about? Look into our guide on social listening tools in 2025 to start right away.
FAQs
What is ‘delulu is the solulu?’
Delulu is the solulu is a viral Gen Z joke that means being playfully delusional is the solution. Think of it as an unserious coping strategy, something that contrasts optimism with real-world problem solving. For instance, “I am down to my last 10 bucks, but I am planning a trip to Thailand.”
What is delulu and solulu?
Delulu means “delusional” (playfully unrealistic). “Solulu” isn’t widely recognized but may humorously mean “solution-oriented” or a delulu counterpart.
Why is everyone saying delulu?
It’s viral Gen Z slang for embracing absurd optimism, rooted in K-pop fandoms and TikTok’s #delulu trend.
How do you use delulu in a sentence?
“I’m delulu enough to think I’ll finish this project in an hour.”
What does be so fr mean in texting?
‘Be so fr’ is short for “be so for real.” It’s a sassy nudge to stop delulu thinking. For instance, “You’ll win the lottery? Be so fr.”
How to use be so fr?
Reply to unrealistic claims, “You’ll learn French in a day? Be so fr right now.”
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