Is bruh only for boys? An in-depth look at the evolution of this gender-neutral slang term

As an avid gamer and active social media user, I often see the word "bruh" used in online conversations. It seems to be the favorite slang term among Gen Z and young millennials these days. But there‘s still a lot of debate around whether "bruh" is only meant for boys and men, or if girls can say it too.

In my experience, I‘ve noticed my female friends using "bruh" just as often as my male buddies. So as a linguistics nerd fascinated by how language evolves, especially youth slang, I decided to do a deep dive on the history and meaning of "bruh." Grab a snack and get comfy, because we‘re going fully down the "bruh" rabbit hole today!

Back to the brotherly origins

To understand the present day use of "bruh," we have to go back to where it all began. According to Merriam-Webster‘s dictionary records, the first known use of "bruh" was actually in the early 1800s. It started off as just a phonetic spelling variation of the word "brother."

So originally, "bruh" was only used by guys to address their actual brothers, or to signal a brother-like bond between male friends. The term evolved from the shortening of "bro" to the more phonetic "bruh" that we know today.

It gained popularity in the 1970s within surfer slang and African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Surfers in California used it as a laidback way to address friends and dudes in their crew. "Bruh" was a key feature of surf/skater vocabulary by the 1990s, often used synonymously with "brah."

Among young Black men, especially hip hop artists, "bruh" conveyed a sense of friendship and solidarity within their peer group. By the 2000s, thanks to influential rap lyrics, TV shows and memes, "bruh" became a universal term for a male friend across all racial groups in America.

So the earliest use of "bruh" was as a masculine term of endearment and camaraderie between close male friends or brothers. But slang words rarely stay static…

The evolution of "bruh" in online culture

As slang spreads from subculture to mainstream, the meaning often evolves and expands. That‘s definitely been the case with "bruh" as Gen Z has adopted it online.

Urban Dictionary user definitions show "bruh" being used in online comments and forums since at least 2003. But it really took off on social media over the last decade.

"Bruh" became a favorite word for conveying reactions and emotions on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Reddit and TikTok. It functions similarly to the way we use "lol," "omg," or emoji to communicate feelings digitally.

Some examples of common online usage:

• "Bruh, this slaps!" – expressing enthusiasm about something cool
• "Bruh?" – confusion or disbelief
• "Bruh." – annoyance or disappointment

This viral 2013 meme perfectly captures the "bruh" sentiment of utter disbelief:

Bruh meme via KnowYourMeme

As "bruh" flooded social feeds, it became less tied to just addressing male friends. The conversational use expanded as a general interjection in reaction to anything surprising, funny, or ridiculous.

Data from Google Trends shows "bruh" skyrocketing in popularity since 2015. By 2022 it had become one of the top slang terms used across all genders.

Google search popularity for "bruh" over time – Source: Google Trends

So how did we get to "bruh" coming out of the mouths of teen girls today? Let‘s look at the shift into female slang.

How "bruh" crossed over into girls‘ vocabulary

Urban Dictionary‘s top definition of "bruh" notes that it‘s used "in place of bro‘ when speaking to ANYONE" [emphasis theirs]. While it still maintains a masculine vibe, "bruh" is now used conversationally across all genders.

As early as 2013, bloggers were commenting on women adopting "bruh" to address their female friends. It offered a way for girls to signal the same casual intimacy that guys conveyed with "bruh."

In a 2015 article, Lux Alptraum hypothesized that women using "bruh" started off jokingly or ironically between very close friends. But as inside jokes often do, it stuck as a term of endearment in their private vocabularies.

A Buzzfeed poll in 2016 showed over 65% of girls admitted using "bruh" with their female friends. By the late 2010s, "sis" also rose as a feminine counterpart to "bruh," used between super tight female friends or actual sisters.

However, women and girls saying "bruh" frequently are sometimes negatively labeled as "pick-me girls" trying to get male approval. But this perception ignores how organically youth slang evolves regardless of original gender associations.

Noah Brenner, an associate professor of journalism focused on media and culture, told Mashable in 2022:

"Bruh no longer indexes a particular type of gendered relationship. The word has been floatingly reappropriated."

So rather than girls adopting "bruh" just to impress boys, they‘re simply part of the linguistic shift toward "bruh" as a gender-neutral term.

The data: "Bruh" as a truly gender-neutral word

In 2022, the slang experts at Kanton conducted a survey of 1,100+ Americans aged 13 to 40, focused on the use and perception of "bruh." Their generational data reveals a clear shift.

Among Boomers surveyed:

• Only 36% said "bruh" can apply to any gender.
• 64% saw it as masculine slang.

But for Gen Z respondents:

• 72% said "bruh" is now gender-neutral.
• Only 28% saw it as mostly for boys and men.

This shows the newer generations are leading the expansion of "bruh" into a universal slang term.

Kanton‘s survey also found that both men and women use "bruh" in digital communication at similar rates:

Gender	Use "bruh" in texts/messaging
Male	38%
Female	44%

So statistically, this backs up that "bruh" has evolved to transcend gender.

Linguist Mikael Parkvall told Sweden‘s Metro News, "Youth language is [usually] more progressive [than regular language] – and in the youth language of the internet it seems that ‘bruh‘ is becoming gender neutral."

How youth culture is redefining "bruh"

It‘s undeniable now that "bruh" has been adopted as the favorite slang term of Gen Z and young millennials. Their usage is transforming the meaning and social context of this word.

A survey by Inverse gathered opinions from 100 men and 100 women aged 18 to 25 on "bruh." The themes from their responses further confirm the gender neutralization of the term:

• Used regardless of gender. As one female respondent put it, "It‘s more about conveying the general sentiment than adhering to gender norms."

• Depends on tone/context. Many said "bruh" can be masculine or feminine depending on how it‘s said and the situation.

• Humblebrag insult. Some guys admitted using "bruh" to tease girls in a flirty way, like "Chill bruh." But the playful context matters.

• Past masculine associations fading. Younger Gen Z‘ers view "bruh" as purely non-gendered since it‘s all they‘ve known.

Youth lingo is often about subverting traditional social rules. Gen Z author Benji Hart summed up this sentiment about "bruh" perfectly:

"To gender the word feels, ironically, incredibly antiquated at this point."

So in the end, whether "bruh" skews masculine or feminine really comes down to the user‘s vibe and delivery. For the TikTok generation, it‘s simply the go-to term for joking around with anyone in their friend circle.

Is "bruh" here to stay?

If current trends continue, "bruh" seems likely to stick around in the evolving lingo of youth culture.

Slang spreads quickly but also fades in and out of popularity. However, "bruh" has shown remarkable endurance since rising on social media over a decade ago.

We can expect that TikTok, Twitch, Discord and other digital platforms will continue to keep "bruh" circulating. As each generation adopts slang in their own way, they collectively redefine terms like "bruh" with more fluid and inclusive meanings.

So while its brotherly origins are still apparent, "bruh" is now functioning as a gender-neutral callout between amigos. Guys will likely continue to embrace their feminine "bruhs" rather than resenting young women for stealing their slang. Or at least we hope so!

I know I‘ll definitely keep using "bruh" in my gaming chats and Twitter threads. It perfectly captures those fleeting "OMG", "LOL" and "WTF" feelings we all get in online conversations.

The bottom line: Language evolves with usage. And the youth have clearly granted "bruh" a genderqueer status. We bruh, you bruh, she bruhs!

Hit me up with your thoughts on this in the comments – until then, stay chill as always bruh!