Slang dictionary
gurlfriend
What does gurlfriend mean?
Gurlfriend is an alternative spelling of the word girlfriend typically used by women and gay men as a term of endearment for their platonic friends. Sometimes people use it whether they know the other person or not. It might be used as a fun word to encourage or compliment others, whether they鈥檙e other women or gay men. It鈥檚 also been used as an alternative spelling to describe one鈥檚 actual partner.
Where does gurlfriend come from?
The term gurlfriend has existed since at least the early 1990s, as a fun new way of writing girlfriend, meant in the traditional sense. It stayed that way for some time before seeming to gain an association with referring to one鈥檚 platonic friends. Since at least the 1990s, the sense of gurlfriend as one鈥檚 friend or acquaintance has been going strong. Perhaps the alternative spelling is one way that helps differentiate between platonic and romantic girlfriends.
Examples of gurlfriend
Who uses gurlfriend?
The term gurlfriend is used exactly the way one would expect girlfriend to be used. This includes appearing in both romantic and non-romantic settings. As far as referring to one鈥檚 romantic partner is concerned, the meaning doesn鈥檛 differ at all. In fact, it seems to be just another way to style it, possibly in a way that better fits the online forum it finds itself in.
Alternatively, gurlfriend tends to be used by gay men and straight women. In this case, a gurlfriend can be a personal friend, or could also be a random stranger. It鈥檚 often used as an affectionate label, as women are sometimes inclined to call their friends their gurlfriends. It also functions as a term of endearment or an affectionate for of address often used to encourage or compliment others. If someone likes another person鈥檚 style, they might say, 鈥淚 love your purse, gurlfriend. Where鈥檇 you get it?鈥�
This second set of meanings comes with some problems. When straight women use this term, women who are romantically interested in other women might feel alienated. When straight women use it, it can be disappointing for LGBTQ+ women who may have thought they鈥檇 found someone like them. It also causes these same women to be mistaken as straight when they actually refer to their partners, not their friends. The use of gurlfriend by straight women is sometimes considered a subtle invalidation.
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of gurlfriend like most terms we define on 亚洲网紅露点, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of gurlfriend that will help our users expand their word mastery.