Whatever (slang)
Encyclopedia
Whatever is a slang
term meaning "whatever you say" or "I don't care what you say". The term is used to dismiss a previous statement and express indifference and is usually considered offensive and impolite. In the late 20th century and early 21st century, the word became a sentence in its own right; in effect an interjection
, it is used as a passive-aggressive conversational blocking tool, leaving the responder without a convincing retort. Anything they do or say can simply be blocked by the retort of "whatever".
s" of California in the 1980s, it was known to be offensive as in saying, "I don't think what you are saying is relevant" (as used in the film Clueless), according to slang expert Tony Thorne
, who first recorded it there. It was a term used by WAGs
- the wives and girlfriends of movie stars and producers but picked up as part of the code of the 'valley girls'. When said by valley girls it is usually said while making a "W" with the hands. The word is mentioned in the 2008 thriller film Lakeview Terrace
and described in racial terms of white people doing/taking whatever they want regardless of the morality of their actions.
A shorter version, "Evs", made it into American
pop consciousness when used by Australian rocker Toby Rand
on the American reality television
series Rock Star: Supernova.
In internet slang
it is sometimes abbreviated as "w/e".
An example of the word used in a sentence is as follows; "Whatever Nicole. That's like, your problem, man."
polls of 2009 and 2010, whatever was voted as the phrase that is "most annoying in conversation."
On the TV show All in the Family
which premiered in 1971, 'whatever' was frequently used by the main character, Archie Bunker
, as a dismissive response to his wife, Edith Bunker
.
The English translation of Michel Houellebecq
's 1994 novel Extension du domaine de la lutte
, which describes the chronically disaffected life of a computer programmer, was titled "Whatever".
In some cultures, the semantic content of "whatever" can also be communicated using a hand gesture that of extending the forefingers and thumbs of both hands, and letting the thumb-tips touch, forming three acute angles that suggest the shape of the letter "W"; this gesture may be made against the gesturer's own forehead, similarly to the "L" of the 'Loser' gesture
.
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
term meaning "whatever you say" or "I don't care what you say". The term is used to dismiss a previous statement and express indifference and is usually considered offensive and impolite. In the late 20th century and early 21st century, the word became a sentence in its own right; in effect an interjection
Interjection
In grammar, an interjection or exclamation is a word used to express an emotion or sentiment on the part of the speaker . Filled pauses such as uh, er, um are also considered interjections...
, it is used as a passive-aggressive conversational blocking tool, leaving the responder without a convincing retort. Anything they do or say can simply be blocked by the retort of "whatever".
History
Prevalent among the affluent "valley girlValley girl
Valley Girl is a stereotype leveled at a socio-economic and ethnic class of American women who can be described as colloquial English-speaking and materialistic...
s" of California in the 1980s, it was known to be offensive as in saying, "I don't think what you are saying is relevant" (as used in the film Clueless), according to slang expert Tony Thorne
Tony Thorne
Tony Thorne is a British author, linguist and lexicographer specialising in slang, jargon and cultural history. He is a leading authority on language change and language usage in the UK and across the anglosphere....
, who first recorded it there. It was a term used by WAGs
WAGs
WAGs is an acronym, used particularly by the British tabloid press, to describe the wives and girlfriends of high-profile footballers, originally the England national football team. The term came into common use during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, although it had been used occasionally before that...
- the wives and girlfriends of movie stars and producers but picked up as part of the code of the 'valley girls'. When said by valley girls it is usually said while making a "W" with the hands. The word is mentioned in the 2008 thriller film Lakeview Terrace
Lakeview Terrace
Lakeview Terrace is a 2008 American thriller film directed by Neil LaBute, co-produced by Will Smith, written by David Loughery and Howard Korder, and starring Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington. Jackson plays a racist LAPD sergeant who terrorizes his new next-door neighbors...
and described in racial terms of white people doing/taking whatever they want regardless of the morality of their actions.
Abbreviations
A common abbreviation is Whatevs, invented by Cian, but an even more common form of the abbreviation is Whatev. It is a way of showing one's indifference in slang form. It is an example of "slang of the slang."A shorter version, "Evs", made it into American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop consciousness when used by Australian rocker Toby Rand
Toby Rand
Toby William Lloyd Rand is an Australian singer best known for being lead singer of Rock band, Juke Kartel and his appearance on Rock Star: Supernova. He is the lead vocalist for Melbourne rock band Juke Kartel....
on the American reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series Rock Star: Supernova.
In internet slang
Internet slang
Internet slang is a type of slang that Internet users have popularized, and in many cases, have coined. Such terms often originate with the purpose of saving keystrokes. Many people use the same abbreviations in texting and instant messaging, and social networking websites...
it is sometimes abbreviated as "w/e".
An example of the word used in a sentence is as follows; "Whatever Nicole. That's like, your problem, man."
Cultural impact
In Marist CollegeMarist College
Marist College is a private liberal arts college on the east bank of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, New York. The site was established in 1905 by Marist Brothers, and the college was chartered in 1929...
polls of 2009 and 2010, whatever was voted as the phrase that is "most annoying in conversation."
On the TV show All in the Family
All in the Family
All in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, a new show, Archie Bunker's Place, picked up where All in the Family had ended...
which premiered in 1971, 'whatever' was frequently used by the main character, Archie Bunker
Archie Bunker
Archibald "Archie" Bunker is a fictional New Yorker in the 1970s top-rated American television sitcom All in the Family and its spin-off Archie Bunker's Place, played to acclaim by Carroll O'Connor. Bunker is a veteran of World War II, reactionary, bigoted, conservative, blue-collar worker, and...
, as a dismissive response to his wife, Edith Bunker
Edith Bunker
Edith Bunker is a fictional 1970s sitcom character on All in the Family , played by Jean Stapleton. She was the wife of Archie Bunker , mother of Gloria Stivic, mother-in-law of Michael "Meathead" Stivic, and, after 1975, grandmother of Joey Stivic...
.
The English translation of Michel Houellebecq
Michel Houellebecq
Michel Houellebecq , born Michel Thomas, 26 February 1958—or 1956 —on the French island of Réunion, is a controversial and award-winning French author, filmmaker and poet. To admirers he is a writer in the tradition of literary provocation that reaches back to the Marquis de Sade and Baudelaire;...
's 1994 novel Extension du domaine de la lutte
Extension du domaine de la lutte
Extension du domaine de la lutte is the debut novel of French writer, Michel Houellebecq, which was published in 1994 in France and in 1998 in the UK by Serpent's Tail, and released in 1999 as a film .-Plot introduction:It is a...
, which describes the chronically disaffected life of a computer programmer, was titled "Whatever".
In some cultures, the semantic content of "whatever" can also be communicated using a hand gesture that of extending the forefingers and thumbs of both hands, and letting the thumb-tips touch, forming three acute angles that suggest the shape of the letter "W"; this gesture may be made against the gesturer's own forehead, similarly to the "L" of the 'Loser' gesture
Loser (Hand gesture)
The loser is a hand gesture made by extending the thumb and index fingers, leaving the other fingers closed to create the letter L, interpreted as "loser", and generally given as a demeaning sign. Sometimes this is accompanied by raising the hand to the giver's forehead, and sometimes it is done as...
.