The claim that women only want men who are six foot tall, earn six figures and have a six-inch penis (sometimes a six-pack instead). Often said as a joke, but it reflects the idea that a man's worth comes down to his height, money and body.

The belief that 80% of women are only interested in the top 20% of men, leaving most men with no real chance. Often used to explain rejection, and linked to Hypergamy.

The system apps like TikTok and YouTube use to decide what someone sees next. It's based on what they've watched and lingered on, not what they've searched for, and it's built to keep them watching. Over time, it can serve up more extreme content. Cross-reference: "Recommender Systems: see Algorithm"

A label for a high-status man, seen as dominant, confident and successful, at the top of a social pecking order. The idea is still influential, but boys often use the word itself jokingly.

Opposition to feminism and gender equality, often framed as men being the real victims, or as a "feminist agenda" to hold men back. It ranges from questioning specific policies to open hostility towards women's rights. Cross-reference: "Feminist Agenda: see Anti-Feminism"

A phrase used in some communities to suggest all women share negative traits, often in dating or gender-based conversations.

Slang for agreeing with or backing something, like saying "that's facts". In some online spaces it can also mean saying something seen as bold, especially if it goes against mainstream or feminist views.

A label for a man seen as less dominant or lower in status than an "alpha", usually used as an insult.

A more pessimistic belief, common in some incel communities, that success in dating and relationships is mainly determined by unchangeable features like genetics or appearance. It's often linked to feelings of hopelessness. This extends the red-pill/blue-pill metaphor from The Matrix.

A dismissive term for someone seen as going along with mainstream views about gender and relationships. It suggests they're naive and haven't "woken up" to what the speaker sees as the truth.

The number of people someone has slept with. It's common slang among young people and was around well before the manosphere. In manosphere spaces, it's often used to judge women's worth, a standard rarely applied to men.

Slang for a girl seen as sexually experienced or "out there", sometimes because of how she dresses or what she posts. Usually used to put her down, though in some circles it's lighter.

The claim that schools, media and feminism are teaching boys ideas that are bad for men. Boys may also say that people who disagree with them have been "brainwashed". Cross-reference: "Indoctrination: see Brainwashing"

A fake or second account someone uses so they can't be identified. People use them to troll (post deliberately provocative or hurtful comments to get a reaction) or to say things they wouldn't want linked to their name.

Online shorthand for a man seen as very attractive and effortlessly successful with women, mostly because of his looks. It comes from incel spaces, where "Chads" are seen as winning at dating through genetics rather than effort.

Slang for someone seen as unattractive, as in "she's chopped". "Chopped" is often about someone's face or overall look, and "clapped" can be more about their body, sometimes with a sexual meaning. Often used to rate girls.

An insult for a guy seen as unattractive, overweight or awkward, roughly the opposite of a "Chad". Some boys use it about themselves to explain why girls aren't interested in them.

Short for "coping". Calling something "cope" means you think someone is kidding themselves to feel better about a disappointment. For example, if someone says, "I didn't even want to make the team," a mate might reply, "That's cope."

Slang with two meanings. It's now often used to mean having sex ("we cracked"). It can also mean being very skilled at something, especially gaming ("he's cracked at that game").

A put-down for a man seen as weak, submissive or controlled, often by a woman or by progressive politics. It's also aimed at men who stand up for women. It comes from "cuckold" and is often used as a general insult.

Publishing someone's private information, such as their address or phone number, online without consent. It's sometimes used to harass or intimidate people, including women who speak out online.

Labels for girls or women with a strong online presence ("e-girl" also describes an online style) or who make content on OnlyFans. Not always meant as an insult, but often used to dismiss them as attention-seeking.

An online space where people mostly see and hear views that match their own, so those views get repeated and reinforced. It can happen through what the algorithm shows, who someone follows, or the groups they join. Cross-references: "Filter Bubble: see Echo Chamber", "Feedback Loop: see Echo Chamber"

The belief that women often make up claims of sexual assault or harassment to hurt men. It's common well beyond the manosphere.

Derogatory slang for women that combines "female" and "-oid", suggesting women are robotic or less than human. Rarely heard from teenage boys, but common in incel spaces.

Said about a girl seen as fine to hook up with but not worth a relationship, often because of her perceived sexual history or how she presents herself.

Has two meanings. In the manosphere, "maintaining frame" means staying in emotional control, keeping the upper hand and never showing vulnerability. Among boys, "frame" more often means body size or build, as in being "frame mogged" by someone bigger.

Praising someone too much, or sucking up to them, as in "you're glazing him". The word has a sexual origin: it implies the praise is like a sexual act on that person. That's why it's often used as a homophobic jab when one boy praises or admires another.

Slang for compulsive masturbation while watching porn, often for long stretches. Among boys it's usually used as a joke or an insult ("he's such a gooner").

An approach that puts extreme work, discipline and financial success first, and is often seen as the path to being a "high-value" man. It can bring significant pressure and offer a narrow view of success. Cross-references: "Hustle Culture: see Grind Mindset", "CEO Mindset: see Grind Mindset"

The claim that society is built around women's needs at men's expense, for example in the family courts, media and schools.

The idea that a woman's mind "spins" (like a hamster on a wheel) to explain away her behaviour and avoid blame or accountability. Used to dismiss anything a woman says as excuses. More common in adult online spaces than among teenage boys.

In manosphere terms, a man's value is measured by his wealth, status, looks and confidence. A "high-value man" has all four, and is seen as worthy of women's attention because of them. Many boys aspire to be one. The opposite is a "low-value male".

Slang for girls someone finds attractive, as in "How's the huzz?". It's thought to come from "hoes". Not always meant as an insult, but it can reduce girls to how they look. Usually said about girls rather than to them.

The belief that women are naturally driven to "trade up" to men with more money or status, and will leave if someone "better" comes along.

Short for "involuntary celibate". It originally described someone who struggles to form romantic or sexual relationships. It's now often associated with online communities where loneliness and frustration can turn into deep resentment towards women or society. Boys also commonly use it as a joke or an insult.

Working on how you look, through the gym, skincare, grooming and style. For most boys it's ordinary self-improvement. In manosphere spaces, the aim is often to be more attractive to girls and climb a looks-based "hierarchy". At the extreme end, sometimes called "hardmaxxing", it can include surgery, steroids or other harmful practices.

The belief that men are naturally superior to women and should hold authority over them.

A male influencer whose content promotes traditional, anti-feminist or strongly masculine ideas to young men. Many start with ordinary fitness, money or self-improvement advice, which can be a boy's first contact with these ideas. Content varies a lot between creators, and many make money from their audience through courses, memberships or products. Cross-reference: "Self-Help Gurus: see Manfluencer"

Borrowed from the 1999 film, this term is used to describe mainstream institutions or cultural beliefs like feminism that are seen as manufactured to keep men 'asleep' or controlled.

Added to the end of a word to mean improving or maximising that thing, like "sleepmaxxing" or "moneymaxxing". It comes from looksmaxxing, and is often used jokingly.

Holding the tongue against the roof of the mouth to try to sharpen the jawline. It's popular as an online meme and linked to looksmaxxing, though there's little scientific evidence it works.

Short for "Men Going Their Own Way". A movement of men who step back from relationships with women, seeing them as not worth it. Unlike incels, who want relationships but feel shut out, they present this as a choice. Views range from general distrust of women to avoiding relationships with women entirely.

Being so much better-looking or bigger than someone that you make them look worse by comparison. "He mogged me." It comes from looksmaxxing spaces, but boys now also use it for outshining someone at anything. Being "frame mogged" means being outsized by someone with a bigger build.

Men's Rights Activist (MRA) / Men's Rights Movement (MRM) believe that the modern social structures, the legal system, and cultural norms - including feminism - disadvantage men and boys. They often focus on the family law system or men's health issues including high rates of suicide, self harm or shorter average lifespans.

Someone with mainstream tastes and views. Often used playfully, but in some manosphere spaces it suggests someone who doesn't think for themselves and hasn't "woken up" to what the speaker sees as the truth. Boys may also say "sheep". Cross-reference: "Sheep: see Normie"

A fixation on one particular woman. In some circles it is seen as a weakness, and one that can be solved or avoided by dating several women at the same time and avoiding emotional attachment. Boys more often say someone is "whipped". Cross-reference: "Whipped: see Oneitis"

A community that teaches men lines and tactics to approach and attract women. For some boys it's mostly about building confidence. But much of it treats women as targets to win, and some tactics are manipulative, like "negging" (backhanded compliments meant to lower a woman's confidence).

When someone's beliefs become more extreme over time, to the point where they move from a way of thinking into harmful action. Algorithms that serve more and more intense content can speed this up. Hearing manosphere language doesn't mean a boy is being radicalised.

Content or comments designed to get under someone's skin and provoke a reaction. Creators use it because outrage gets more views and shares. Boys may do it too, saying something provocative or asking a loaded question to get a rise out of a parent or teacher. Whether or not he believes it, the reaction is part of the point: it can earn him a laugh, attention or status with his mates.

Rating people out of 10 on their looks, as in "she's a 4" or "he's a 7". Boys use it about girls and about each other. In looksmaxxing spaces there's a stricter scale called PSL, which started on early incel forums and is used to rank men's faces and bodies.

"Taking the red pill" means believing you've "woken up" to hidden truths about gender, dating and society, usually that society favours women and is rigged against men. It can make someone feel like they're thinking for themselves, unlike everyone else. It comes from the film The Matrix and is a central idea in the manosphere. Boys also use it jokingly, calling someone "red-pilled".

An online forum made up of thousands of communities. Some are where boys find belonging and go deeper into manosphere ideas, often with little moderation.

Short for sexual assault. In some online spaces it is used to joke about or downplay assault, or in debates about false allegations. It is also used seriously in survivor communities, and as a content or trigger warning.

The idea that dating and relationships work like a market, where people have 'value' set by looks, money and status.

Describes a 'lone wolf' sitting outside of the 'alpha' and 'beta' hierarchy while still being high-value. The identity can offer an alternative to feelings of inadequacy associated with being labelled a 'beta', without requiring the dominance associated with the 'alpha' ideal. It's also often used as a meme.

A mocking word to describe a man who treats women with respect or kindness, or tries too hard for their attention. The implicit suggestion is that he's being weak or pathetic. Often used in a similar way to "cuck".

An insult for men seen as soft, emotional, or progressive. It draws on the idea that soy affects male hormones, which is not supported by current evidence. It also plays on a stereotype of progressive men drinking soy lattes and eating plant-based food.

A belief in some online communities that women lose attractiveness and 'value' at a certain age, often said to be around 30.

An acronym for "That Ho Over There". An insult for a girl seen as "easy" or as having a high body count, sometimes because of how she dresses or what she posts online. Some wider online circles use it jokingly or reclaim it.

An online euphemism for suicide, death or killing, used to avoid posts being flagged or removed. It's common across many online spaces, including among young people talking about mental health.

Mocking a man for defending or supporting a woman, usually online, by suggesting he's only doing it to look good or win her approval, not because he cares. Often used alongside "cuck" and "simp".

A common phrase, often used casually or as a joke, to dismiss ideas about gender equality, anti-racism or LGBTIQA+ rights. In some manosphere spaces, it frames social change as having "gone too far". Boys may also say "the world's gone soft". "Woke" originally meant being alert to racial injustice, and was later turned into an insult.