Stan
An extremely devoted fan; as a verb, to be one.
- Origin: from Eminem’s 2000 song “Stan”; first recorded 2005–10, per Dictionary.com
- On the Slang-o-matic wheel: Gen Z (born 1997–2012). That is who the translator files it under, not a claim that this generation coined it.
What it means
A stan is a fan who admires a singer, actor or other famous person to an extreme degree. Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “someone who admires and follows a singer or other famous person to an extreme level,” and adds the example “There is a difference between being a stan and being a fan.”
It is also a verb. To stan someone is to be a devoted fan of them, as in “I stan this band.” Dictionary.com’s verb definition covers being a fan “of someone or something,” and in our observation people use it for anything they strongly support, from a TV show to a snack.
Where it comes from
The word comes from Eminem’s 2000 song “Stan.” Dictionary.com says it was first recorded in 2005–10 and describes it as a blend of stalker and fan, influenced by that song.
Green’s Dictionary of Slang shows it in the mainstream press by 2017. That year a Guardian columnist wrote that she had to look it up: “it is a wild enthusiast, an off-the-charts believer.”
Who says it now
The translator lists stan under Gen Z by its own convention; the oldest Gen Z were around 20 when the 2017 Guardian column appeared. On the wheel it sits under the idea of liking something, next to the older dig, because it means a fan rather than a friend. In our observation it is used by many ages online.
Tone
Usually playful and affectionate, especially when used about yourself. Because of the song behind it, it can also hint at obsession, and calling someone else a stan can be a way of saying they have gone too far.
What adults hear, what kids mean
An older listener may assume Stan is a person’s name, as in Stanley. A kid who says “I stan her” means they are a big fan, which is usually harmless. If the fandom is taking up all their time or money, that is worth a calm conversation.
How to use it
Noun: “She is a huge Taylor Swift stan.” Verb: “We stan a hardworking teacher.” The plural, stans, often refers to a whole fan base. Cambridge’s examples also mention “stan culture,” the world of very intense fan groups.
Two examples, written by us:
- I have been a stan of that band since their first album.
- Our whole family stans the local bakery’s cinnamon rolls.
How to answer it
If a kid says they stan someone, ask what they like about them; it is an easy way into their interests. If someone calls you a stan, they are probably teasing about how much you love something, and you can laugh and own it.
Same idea, other generations
The Slang-o-matic wheel files Stan under Gen Z for the idea of liking something. These are the words it files under the same idea, by generation. They are related, not always exact translations:
- BoomersDig
- Gen ZStan
Related slang
- Slay (Gen Z): To do something brilliantly or look amazing.
- Fire (Gen Z): Excellent, amazing.
- OMG (Millennials): Short for “oh my God”; an exclamation of surprise or excitement.
Try the slang translatorAll slang by generation
Sources
Meanings and dates on this page come from these dictionaries. Each quote is copied word for word from the linked page.
- Cambridge Dictionary
“someone who admires and follows a singer or other famous person to an extreme level”
“Lady Gaga's devoted fans are the most visible example of stan culture.”
“There is a difference between being a stan and being a fan.”
- Dictionary.com
“to be an overly enthusiastic fan of someone or something.”
“First recorded in 2005–10; blend of stalk(er) (def.) + fan 2 (def.), influenced by the rapper Eminem's 2000 song "Stan"”
- Green's Dictionary of Slang
“an obsessively zealous fan, orig. the song by rapper Eminem (2000); thus v. to follow obsessively.”
“2017 Z. Williams in Guardian 9 June”
“it is a wild enthusiast, an off-the-charts believer”