Like all things viral on the internet, dances make it to the top of the list every time. This is especially the case if sweet moves and slang are paired together. Yeet, a word that was born out of one boy’s dance moves in 2014, is still relevant on social media today. But, what does yeet mean? The expression doesn’t exactly give it away, but once you know the meaning, you may make it part over your vocabulary (it’s what the kids are saying these days, right?).
Urban Dictionary, an online dictionary for slang words and phrases, is the go-to for terms that are circulating on the web. According to Urban Dictionary, the dance that followed this colloquial term was a trending dance on Vine, a former short-form video hosting service that was discontinued in 2017.
Here’s Lil Meatball’s version of the dance:
The 13-year old boy from Dallas, Texas who started it all had a quick rise to fame in April 2014. He goes by the name of “Lil Meatball” and his rendition of the dance was a challenge to a kid called “Lil Terrio” whose dance moves weren’t up to par.
However, some claim the origins of the word go beyond Lil Meatball. A YouTube account by the name of
“MILIK FULLILOVE” uploaded a yeet dance video in February 2014, but it didn’t get as much attention as Lil Meatball’s video.
How To Use the Word Yeet?
Beyond dance moves, how is the word yeet used?” The word has transitioned into an exclamation of excitement, surprise, or approval.
Per the Urban Dictionary, yeet is “especially used in basketball when someone has shot a three-pointer that they are sure will go in the hoop,” but that’s only on rare occasions.
You may find yourself finding a parking spot closest to the mall’s entrance doors — a perfect opportunity to exclaim “YEET!” Or if you make a basket when tossing a balled-up piece of paper into the trash can across the room. Then again, you may be inspired to follow in the wake of Lil Meatball and show off some yeet-worthy moves.
What Yeet Means — Sources
Here’s The Backstory On The Dance Craze
Urban Dictionary
Lil Terrio’s dance moves