“Sigma” – you’ve likely encountered this term floating around the internet, especially if you’re navigating online spaces frequented by younger generations. But what does it actually mean? This article delves into the origins, evolution, and various interpretations of “sigma” in the ever-changing landscape of internet slang.
The Many Faces of Sigma: From Sigma Male to Meme
Initially, sigma emerged as a slang term referring to a sigma male. It described a man whose confident, determined independence was seen as an admirable quality that could lead to success and attract others. However, the meaning of sigma has expanded significantly and is now used in various different ways. Nowadays it can be interpreted as “extremely good,” but it is also widely used as a nonsense term and meme online.
Here are some examples of how sigma is used in online communications:
What the sigma … this is so epic —@nainaizone, X (formerly Twitter), 20 Oct. 2024
Bro, just forget that sigma alpha nonsense. Not every [business] connection [you have] has to be hyper-successful … Go enjoy yourself, make your money, and take care of your community —@neosugar, Threads, 18 Oct. 2024
Someone asked us if it’s skibidi or sigma to bring a pet turtle to the airport & we’re here to answer travel questions but also plz help???? —@tsa, Threads, 26 Sep. 2024
Given the extremity of the sigma grindset – the ripped abs, the glamour muscles, the hard hustle merged with unsettling levels of corporate aspiration – it’s unsurprising that alt-left meme accounts began to create their own parodies last year. —Günseli Yalcinkaya, Dazed, 13 Jan. 2022
The Roots of Sigma: From Alpha to Lone Wolf
The image illustrates a meme associated with the “sigma male” concept, portraying the “sigma grindset” with characteristics of intense overwork, fitness focus, and unconventional ambition.
The term sigma finds its origins in the concept of the sigma male, coined by Theodore Robert Beale, a controversial figure known for his far-right views. Beale envisioned the sigma male as a charismatic and independent individual, an alternative to the more socially dominant alpha male. This classification draws from a pseudoscientific model of social hierarchies, using letters of the Greek alphabet to categorize individuals, mirroring animal behavior. Sigma, the eighteenth letter, was chosen to represent this “lone wolf” archetype.
This concept gained traction in the 2010s, particularly within the “manosphere,” an online community often linked to misogyny and extremist ideologies. Patrick Bateman, the fictional character from the movie American Psycho, became an iconic representation of the sigma male, embodying the “sigma grindset,” a lifestyle glorifying relentless work, physical fitness, and nonconformity as the pinnacle of masculinity.
Sigma Goes Viral: Memes, Music, and “What the Sigma?”
By the 2020s, sigma male, often shortened to sigma, exploded in popularity as an internet meme, particularly with the “Sigma Face” trend in 2022. This meme featured a facial expression inspired by Patrick Bateman, supposedly characteristic of the sigma male.
This is an example of the Spongebob meme “What the sigma?”, where a cartoon character from SpongeBob SquarePants popularised the expression.
In October 2023, sigma experienced another surge in popularity thanks to a TikTok song and video titled “Sticking Out Your Gyatt for the Rizzler (Fanum Tax).” The lyrics, a parody of overused internet slang like gyatt, skibidi, and Fanum tax, included the line “I just want to be your Sigma.” This contributed to sigma evolving into a more general slang term signifying “excellent,” based on the admirable qualities associated with sigma males. The nonsense question, “What the sigma?” gained traction in April 2024 after a video featured a cartoon character from SpongeBob SquarePants using the phrase. The term then infiltrated middle school classrooms as a humorous way to confuse teachers and other adults, highlighting its adoption into mainstream internet culture.
Sigma Today: Irony, Criticism, and Brain Rot
Today, sigma continues to be used in reference to the sigma male archetype, especially in online content offering advice or portraying examples of how to embody this persona. However, much of its usage is now ironic, critical, or found within discussions surrounding toxic masculinity, a concept closely linked to the original sigma male idea.
Sigma has also evolved into a slang term synonymous with “cool,” although it’s more commonly encountered as a humorous exclamation in the phrase what the sigma or as a nonsensical term often labeled as “brain rot,” stereotypically associated with the digital habits of Generation Alpha. The definition of sigma continues to shift as online culture evolves.
