Bestie

Pronunciation: /’bɛsri /

Noun

Extended Definition:

1) (informal) A nickname to address someone that is your best friend

2) (informal) To address someone that can be a complete stranger or someone that you barely know, because you like their vibes. Normally used to make a statement or draw attention to the fact that you like their vibe. 

Extended Analysis

The word bestie got added to the dictionaries as a slang term a little after 2010. However, the word shorthand for “best friend” was popular decades ago and would be used for people addressing their closest friends. Yet, the term became a border and was used more loosely in the 2020s. In August 2020, Dixie D’Amelio and Noah Beck were spotted together and D’Amelio’s response to people saying they were together was just a “couple of besties.” Her response sparked a trend where people would call their significant other “besties.” Then, in January 2021 tik toker @tiktosh posted a video where she said “bestie vibes only” several times. The video went viral with more than 70,000 videos being created using that sound. It’s led to people commenting on random people's tik toks addressing them with besties. Examples are “Looking good bestie” or “Bestie I cannot keep defending you.” In recent years, the term bestie has become broad and generalized no longer referring to just someone you are close to. One article talked about how people will call each other besties if you like something about them. I think part of the reason why people want to use besties is because of the impacts of covid. People were separated from social interactions, and it was a time period when everyone felt lonely. The usage of the word bestie might make them feel closer to the person even if they are just acquaintances or friends. 

Examples:

1. “I miss my bestie”

2. “Bestie, oh pal, why would you do that?”

3. “Ayo bestie where you at”

4. “Yes of course bestie I’m always here for you”

5. "What's up, bestie"

The video below plays off the idea of calling someone bestie vs best friend. 

Sources (APA format): 

• ALEXIA. [@lexdelvalle]. (2021, September 22). No bbg I call everyone bestie🥲😩 @monitoocrazy #bestie #bff [video]. TIkTok  https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTREYp82C/

• Bestie. Wiktionary. (n.d.). https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bestie#:~:text=From%20German%20Bestie%2C%20from%20Latin%20b%C4%93stia%20(%E2%80%9Cbeast%E2%80%9D). 

• Bestie - definition, meaning & synonyms. Vocabulary.com. (n.d.). https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/bestie#:~:text=The%20word%20bestie%20is%20an,term%20some%20time%20after%202010. 

• Sulc, B. A. (n.d.). 21 gen Z slang words and phrases, decoded. 21 Gen Z Slang Words and Phrases, Decoded. https://www.familyminded.com/s/gen-z-slang-words-phrases-c746bb1fb63d412b 

• Weekman, K. (2021, March 26). Here’s why Gen Zers are so obsessed with calling each other “bestie.” In The Know. https://www.intheknow.com/post/bestie-meaning-tiktok-tiktoshh/ 

Bio: 

My name is Nicole Morris, and I’m a first-year student at SCC. I’m majoring in Biology and want to transfer to UC Davis to major in Animal Science. One day I hope to become a veterinarian. :)