Is someone talking about “weebs” while chatting with you on Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat? This word is a fun nickname for hardcore anime and related comic lovers. Let’s get into details and explore further what weebs stand for along with examples.
What Does Weebs Stand For
Weebs is a slang used to describe a group of people who are highly passionate about anime, manga (comics), and related culture. Such people are not located in Japan or do not speak the Japanese language, however, they are obsessed with Japanese cultural things.
Sometimes, this word is utilized as a playful joke to tease friends. It is an informal shorthand term that covers a long meaning and is really quick to use in a conversation.
Examples
Example 1
Talia: I think you and your friends are weebs.
Cesar: Believe me we are not, we just talk with great energy and passion.
Example 2
Noelle: Stop being a weeb and focus on your studies.
Joaquin: I already have a D1 degree and I don’t think I need to strive for other ones.
Example 3
Beckett: One of my friends thinks I’m a weeb. What does it mean?
Miranda: Fans of anime are often called by this name. And I think your friend is right.
Example 4
Preston: Why are you crying over an anime again?
Carolina: Because you wouldn’t understand the pain of being a weeb.
Where Does Weebs Come From
Weebs is the plural of “weeb” which has evolved from the word “weeaboo.” The word was first introduced in a webcomic called Perry Bible Fellowship by Nicholas Gurewitch in the early 2000s. In the comic, “weeaboo” was a made-up nonsensical word with no connection to anime or Japanese culture.
Around 2005, this term was picked up by users on “4chan” which is an imageboard website. It replaced the slur “wapanese” which is a derogatory term as part of a filter to discourage its usage. With time, it evolved and became a word to describe non-Japanese individuals who were perceived as overly obsessed with Japanese culture, especially anime and manga.
These days, weeaboo is shortened to weeb or weebs to represent a person or a group of people who are hardcore lovers of anime and other related things. While it can still be used mockingly, however, it is easy to tell if it’s meant to be playful or mean depending on the context.
