What Does "Bop" Mean in Slang & Why Is It Problematic for Girls?

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Learn what this slang term means & where it comes from

Co-authored by Bailey Cho Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: August 5, 2024 Fact Checked

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• “Bop” Meaning & Usage
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• Signs of Being a “Bop”
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• Origin & Spread of “Bop”
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• Is calling someone a “bop” problematic?
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• Alternative Meanings of “Bop”
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• Tips

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You may have seen the word “bop” on social media or over text, but what exactly does it mean? This TikTok term usually refers to a woman who posts promiscuous photos on the internet or has a lot of sexual history, but it can also mean something else—depending on how it’s used. In this article, we’ll fill you in on the meaning of a “bop,” including its origin, various meanings, and whether or not it’s problematic.

“Bop” Meaning, According to Gen Z

A “bop” is someone who posts promiscuous photos online or has lots of sexual partners. It’s a misogynistic term that’s used to slut-shame women and is highly disrespectful. On TikTok, many guys have posted videos revealing the signs that a girl is a “bop,” like only hanging out with guys or having a tongue piercing.

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Section 1 of 5:

What does a “bop” mean on TikTok?

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1. A “bop” is someone who posts promiscuous photos or “gets around.” According to Gen Z, a “bop” is someone who posts revealing photos of their body online and has lots of sexual partners (or only hangs out with the opposite sex). The term can apply to men and women, but it’s typically used to slut-shame women. Due to this, most users believe a “bop” is a misogynistic term.

   • “Don’t respond to that bop. He’s so dumb for cheating on you!”
   • “She’s the definition of a bop, dude. Have you ever seen her without 10 guys on her side?”
   • “He had the audacity to call me a bop because I have a lot of guy friends. He got blocked so fast!”
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Section 2 of 5:

Signs of Being a “Bop”

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1. Some people think that if you only have guy or girl friends, you’re a bop. On TikTok, many guys have uploaded videos describing the signs that a girl is a “bop.” Some of the examples are hilariously outrageous, but others are problematic and nonsensical. Here are some examples of what TikTokers classify as a “bop” behavior:

   • She says girls are “too much drama.”
   • She has a tongue ring.
   • She goes out every weekend without you.
   • Her favorite chips are Hot Cheetos.
   • She lives or has lived with her grandma.
   • She’s overly touchy on the first date.
   • She says she’s looking for a “Man of God.”
   • She calls herself a “free spirit.”
   • She gives you the bop lore.
   • She listens to trap music.
   • She never posts you on social media.
   • She has a back tattoo or tramp stamp.
   • She has intense celebrity crushes or idolizes celebrities.

Section 3 of 5:

Origin & Spread of “Bop”

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1. The TikTok definition of “bop” stems from African American Vernacular. The slang term “bop” has been around since the early 2000s, with the earliest mention uploaded to Urban Dictionary in 2005. During this time, a “bop” was used to describe “a female who gives head to anyone.” However, search interest on the meaning of “bop” surged in 2023, after TikTok user @theyhateonbiran1 posted a video explaining what it means to Gen Z.

   • In his viral TikTok, Brian describes a bop as “somebody who posts their body on the internet…or somebody who just be getting around with everybody, who be linking with every dude, who be around all the dudes.”
   • The term “bop” originates from bebop, which is a style of jazz that emerged in the 1940s.
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Section 4 of 5:

Is calling someone a “bop” problematic?

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1. Yes, the term “bop” is problematic because it’s usually directed at women. While the term may apply to both men and women, it most often refers to women who are “promiscuous” or have a lot of sexual history. Many TikTok users have pointed out that calling a woman a “bop” is derogatory and misogynistic, and that someone’s sexual history doesn’t lower their value as a potential partner or as a person in general.

   • Since the term is primarily used to shame or mock someone for their sexual history, it’s not okay to use! Calling someone a “bop” online or in person is immature, disrespectful, and cruel.

Section 5 of 5:

Alternative Meanings of “Bop”

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1. 1
   “Bop” is a slang term that means a good song. Young people, especially Millennials, use “bop” to describe a song that they thoroughly enjoy. It usually refers to a track that has a catchy beat and makes them want to dance.

   • “Camila Cabello’s new single is a BOP!”
   • “His song is a total bop! I can’t wait for the album to drop.”
   • “Did you hear Dua Lipa’s latest album? Every song is a bop.”
2. 2
   “Bop” also describes dancing or shuffling to pop music. In this context, “bop” is a verb for dancing in a fun and lively manner. People typically use it when they’re moving their whole body and bobbing their head to the beat.

   • “He bopped to Kylie Minogue in his bedroom.”
   • “I turned on the radio and bopped to whatever came on.”
   • “My grandparents turned on music and bopped together—it was so sweet.”
3. 3
   A “bop” can refer to a physical blow that strikes someone. Defined as a blow using a fist or club, a “bop” can be used to describe beating someone up. The term “bopped” is also a verb that means hitting someone, so use either form when you’re watching your next MMA fight or preparing for a smackdown.

   • “Did you see that bop? That’s why he gets paid $10 million a fight 😮‍💨”
   • “I threw a nasty bop at that guy’s head because he got handsy with my girlfriend.”
   • “I bopped him after he made those comments—no one disrespects my family and gets away with it.”
4. 4
   Bop is a style of jazz that emerged in the 1940s. Also known as “bebop,” bop music is characterized by complex harmonies, fast tempos, and improvisation. It exploded in popularity in 1945, with key performers like Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, and Thelonious Monk.

   • “Bop music is my favorite 🕺”
   • “I’m fascinated by the chords in bop.”
   • “If you love bop, we can be besties 🤭”
5. 5
   The term “BOP” may stand for “balance of payment.” Also known as the balance of international payments, the balance of payment (BOP) is a statement that records all transactions between a country’s residents and the rest of the world during a specific time period.
6. 6
   “BOP” can also refer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In the United States, the term “BOP” may be short for “Bureau of Prisons,” a federal agency founded in 1930 to provide more progressive and humane care for federal inmates, professionalize the prison service, and ensure centralized administration of federal prisons.
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Tips

• “Bop Girl” is the first single from Australian pop singer Pat Wilson. The song was written by her then-husband Ross Wilson, who was the frontman of the rock bands Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock.
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