Vibe

Vibe (noun / verb / everyday talk)

(Also heard as: Right vibe, Bit of a vibe, Ruining the vibe)

Definition: How a place or person feels to be around. If you’re vibing, you’re just kicking back, enjoying a tune, or getting on well with someone.

Pronunciation: /vaɪb/

Where It Comes From: Just short for “vibrations.” Started way back with jazz players and 60s hippies talking about picking up good or bad feelings from folk. British rave culture and dance clubs kept it going in the 90s, and now it’s just the default word for describing any sort of mood.

How People Actually Use It: Used for pretty much everything. It’s what you say when a pub has good tunes and isn’t too packed, when an outfit looks spot on, or when a mate turns up in a foul mood and drags everyone else down with them.

Examples in the Wild:

• “That beer garden by the river is a proper vibe when the sun’s out.”

  Translation: That pub garden has a great atmosphere in good weather.

• “Not up to much, mate—just sat on the sofa vibing to some garage.”

  Translation: I’m just relaxing at home listening to music.

• “He wouldn’t stop complaining about the queue and ruined the whole vibe.”

  Translation: His constant moaning killed the fun mood for everyone.

Similar Slang: Mood, Atmosphere, Buzz, Energy, Feeling, Chilling