What Does Mewing Mean? A Guide for Parents and Teachers
Published
“Mewing” is the name of a jaw-posture trend. Kids mostly use it as a joke: a finger to the lips and a hand along the jaw means “can’t talk, I’m mewing”.
Where “Mewing” Comes From
It comes from an online trend about jaw posture.
How Kids Use “Mewing”
Kids make the gesture to dodge a question or to answer without speaking. “Can you answer the question?” A finger goes to the lips, and the reply is “Sorry, I’m mewing.”
It is the gesture that spread, so many kids who do it could not tell you what the trend is.
What Parents and Teachers Can Do
For parents: it is a joke gesture. This post explains the word and does not cover the trend itself or say anything about how people look.
For teachers: treat it like any gesture that dodges a question. Wait, smile and ask again, and the joke loses its point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “mewing” a bad word?
No. As kids use it, it is a joke gesture and nothing rude.
Why do kids put a finger to their lips?
It is the “mewing” signal. It means “I can’t talk right now”, and it is mostly done to be funny.
Try the Gen Alpha Slang Wheel
Spin a word, guess what it means, then check the answer under the wheel. A quick game for class or the dinner table.
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