What does SYBAU mean on TikTok? Viral slang term explained

The viral acronym SYBAU has been making the rounds on TikTok, popping up in numerous videos across the platform.

If you’ve seen the acronym SYBAU circulating on TikTok and wondered what it stands for, you’re not alone.

Many videos featuring the term don’t clarify its meaning, leaving viewers confused. Here’s everything you need to know about this viral phrase and how it’s used on the platform.

SYBAU meaning on TikTok

SYBAU stands for “shut your b*tch a** up.” The phrase didn’t originate on TikTok but comes from the Black community and is still most commonly found in those spaces on the app.

At its core, SYBAU is a dismissive insult meant to shut down someone who’s speaking, often in situations where the speaker is deemed annoying or overstepping. It’s a blunt way to tell someone to stop talking, typically used when the person saying it is angry or frustrated.

TikTokers use this acronym in various contexts. It might appear in comments or videos that mock or dismiss content, or in discussions where users recount situations in which they’ve used the phrase themselves.

While the abbreviation is new to many, the full phrase has been around for a long time. Its resurgence on TikTok reflects the platform’s tendency to abbreviate or encode explicit language to evade censorship.

SYBAU is part of a larger trend on TikTok where users abbreviate or create substitute terms for explicit phrases. This approach helps users sidestep the platform’s content moderation and lets them express themselves creatively.

Similar examples of coded language include KAM (Kill All Men), gardening (a euphemism for smoking weed), and “Dior bags” (a code referring to drones in certain contexts).

If there are any other terms or phrases that are confusing you on TikTok, you can check out our guide here to learn all about the most popular terms and acronyms on the app.