delulu

What does delulu mean?

Delulu is an Internet slang term for “delusional.” In some contexts, it refers to an unapologetic, bold, and often joyously self-confident belief in the likelihood of realizing one’s ambitions.

Examples of delulu

They believe in and live by a sci fi book, I’m not surprised that they’re this delulu and make up weird scenarios.
—@kimmysoko_, Threads, 10 Oct. 2024

I am convinced I could make them fall in love with me given the chance (I am delulu)
—@gabbykaulitz001, X (formerly Twitter), 7 Oct. 2024

As the kids say, you need to be a little bit delulu (or a lot delusional) to get where you want to be. You have to keep believing in yourself and in the possibility.
—Evie Woods, quoted in Image, 17 Jul. 2024

Where does delulu come from?

Delulu is shortened from delusional. To get technical, it features a reduplicated -lu- for expressive effect. The word emerged in the early 2010s among K-pop fandom online (although it may have been coined elsewhere and earlier), where it was especially used as a mild rebuke of opinions about celebrity “stanning” (being an obsessive fan) and “shipping” (hoping for romantic relationships between famous people) seen as irrational, obsessive, or otherwise ridiculous. It spread outside K-pop as a more general term for “delusional” across social media in the early 2020s.

Especially among young women on TikTok starting in 2023, delulu shifted to characterize confidence in achieving one’s aspirations in life—no matter how delusional it may be to think so. This sentiment was playfully captured in the phrases delulu is the solulu (“delusion is the solution”) and may all your delulu come trululu (“may all your delusions come true”), with solulu and trululu modeled on delulu. In this context, it is associated with popular practices such as manifestation and positive psychology.

How is delulu used?

Delulu is commonly used as an adjective much in the manner of calling someone or something “crazy,” as in “My boyfriend is delulu to think he can get away with that behavior,” “I’m so delulu about that actor and her new movie,” or “It’s delulu, but I’m going to apply for that dream job anyways.” Sometimes it can function as a noun, especially in its expanded, positive “self-confident” sense. The word still has currency in the context of fandoms, including K-pop, especially for expressing intense affection towards stars or fictional relationships. It also often appears in the phrase delulu land, akin to la-la land.