The phrase "What the sigma?" is a recent meme and slang expression popular among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, often used humorously or ironically to mean "What the hell?" or "What the heck?"
. It originated from a viral audio clip resembling Squidward from SpongeBob SquarePants saying "What the sigma?" which spread on TikTok and Instagram in early 2024
. Originally, "sigma" referred to a concept of a "sigma male," a term describing a type of man who is independent and does not conform to traditional social dominance hierarchies
. However, in the meme context, "sigma" has lost that literal meaning and functions more as an abstract intensifier or expletive in the phrase, similar to how a swear word might be used to amplify surprise or confusion
. Middle and high schoolers use "sigma" broadly to mean something is the best or to express strong reaction, often detached from its original meaning
. The phrase "What the sigma?" is thus a playful, nonsensical way to question or express disbelief, with "sigma" acting as a humorous filler word without a fixed definition
. In summary:
- "What the sigma?" is a meme phrase meaning roughly "What the hell?" or "What the heck?"
- It comes from a viral TikTok audio clip mimicking Squidward
- "Sigma" originally referred to a "sigma male" archetype but now is used as a humorous intensifier without literal meaning
- The phrase is popular among younger generations as a form of absurdist or ironic humor
