Delulu () is an internet slang term used to describe the belief that one can influence one's own destiny through sheer willpower. Derived from the English-language word "

delusional A delusion is a false fixed belief that is not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence. As a pathology, it is distinct from a belief based on false or incomplete information, confabulation, dogma, illusion, hallucination, or some o ...

", the term has its origins in

K-pop K-pop (), short for Korean popular music, is a form of popular music originating in South Korea as part of South Korean culture. It includes styles and genres from around the world, such as pop, hip hop, R&B, experimental, rock, jazz, gos ...

communities where the term ''delulu'' is used to refer to individuals who were in a

parasocial relationship Parasocial interaction (PSI) refers to a kind of psychological relationship experienced by an audience in their mediated encounters with performers in the mass media, particularly on television and on online platforms. Viewers or listeners com ...

with celebrities and had hopes of meeting them someday. The term has subsequently been adopted by

Generation Z Generation Z (or more commonly Gen Z for short), colloquially known as zoomers, is the Western world, Western demography, demographic Cohort (statistics), cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. Researchers and popular me ...

and Generation Alpha, popularized by viral TikTok trends such as the catchphrase "delulu is the solulu", implying that self-confidence is key to achieving one's dreams, however far-fetched. '' Solulu'' and '' trululu'' are slang terms for "solution" and "truth" respectively, and they are modeled after ''delulu''.

Origins

Derived from the English word "

", the term "delulu" has its origins in

internet communities A virtual community is a social network of individuals who connect through specific social media, potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals. Some of the most pervasive virtual communi ...

obsessed with

culture, such as the OneHallyu Forum active around 2013 and 2014. These forums were notorious for their toxicity, and the term "delulu" was often used in a derogatory manner. Used as an adjective or a noun, it referred to individuals who harbored unrealistic hopes of meeting a celebrity of whom they were a fan, indicating a parasocial relationship characterized by delusional beliefs. The term was often also used by users in the context of joking about being deluded themselves. Another significant area where the term "delulu" crops up in K-pop culture is in its use surrounding shipping and

stanning Stanning is a surname which may refer to: * Nick Stanning (born 1971), British target shooter/gunsmith *Heather Stanning Heather Mary Stanning OBE (born 26 January 1985) is a retired British professional rower, a member of the Great Britain Ro ...

cultures, used to refer to fans who latch to any interaction between two celebrities as proof of them dating or being in a relationship of some kind.

Modern usage

Since late 2022, the term has enjoyed a resurgence amongst

and Generation Alpha due to various viral trends on platforms like TikTok and

Instagram Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...

. As of December 2023, TikTok has recorded over five billion views of the hashtag #delulu. Multiple creators have embraced the term "delulu", including incorporating it as part of their short-form videos. The catchphrase "delulu is the solulu" has been coined by influencers, which implies that self-confidence is the solution to career decisions. Despite its derogatory origins, the term has taken on a new meaning. In its modern form, it is used to denote the belief that one can influence one's own destiny through sheer willpower, drawing parallels to the " manifesting" movement kicked off by

Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954), or simply Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', br ...

in the 2000s or the "

fake it till you make it "Fake it till you make it" (or "Fake it until you make it") is an English aphorism which suggests that by imitating confidence, competence, and an optimistic mindset, a person can realize those qualities in their real life and achieve the resul ...

" aphorism prevalent during the 1970s.

References

{{Generation Z slang 2013 neologisms Generation Alpha slang Internet memes introduced in 2022 Internet slang K-pop