What Is “Cringe”? 7 Key Points to Understand the Term Popular Among Young People

What is Cringe? English Origin Popularized Online

Describes Intense Secondhand Embarrassment

Widely Used Among Young People

In recent years, “cringe” has become one of those must-have words to describe awkward moments with humor and a touch of irony.

But do we really know where it comes from and why young people use it so much?

Cringe: The Trendy Term Among Young People

What Is Cringe?

1. The Origin of the Term «Cringe»: From English to Spanish

“Cringe” comes directly from the English verb to cringe, which means to shrink back in discomfort, as if curling up from sheer embarrassment.

In its figurative sense, it describes that intense emotional reaction of secondhand embarrassment.

Although it may sound strange to Spanish speakers, it’s now practically essential for describing certain awkward moments, especially in conversations among young people and on social media.

2. From Verb to Noun (and Adjective) in Spanish

Unlike English, where to cringe is a verb, in Spanish it’s used as a noun and adjective, which slightly changes its meaning. For example:

“Eso es cringe.”

“Me da cringe.”

These phrases are increasingly common among teens and young adults.

Instead of long explanations like “me da vergüenza ajena” (“it gives me secondhand embarrassment”) or “me incomoda mucho” (“it makes me very uncomfortable”), “cringe” sums it all up in one powerful word.

3. A Viral Phenomenon on Social Media

The rise of the term“cringe” is closely tied to platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter. Videos, memes, and posts labeled as “cringe” go viral, showcasing awkward or forced situations:

Someone acting exaggeratedly to gain likes.

Jokes that fall flat.

Poorly executed dances obviously meant to impress.

This aesthetic of discomfort has created an entire subgenre of “cringe” content that’s consumed and shared with sarcasm or irony.

4. It’s Not Just Embarrassment: Failed Attempts Matter

According to Psychology Today, what triggers “cringe” isn’t simply an unfortunate accident, but the visible, failed effort to impress. It’s the difference between:

Tripping accidentally (not necessarily cringe).

Giving a grandiose speech and ending up ridiculed (very cringe).

The key lies in the obvious intention to please, be cool, or be funny—and failing spectacularly.

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5. The Term Cringe as a Generational Marker

For many young people, using the term “cringe” is also a marker of identity and generational belonging.

Knowing how to use the term signals familiarity with current social codes. Even the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) has explained its origin and usage on social media.

Thus, the word has solidified as a linguistic borrowing, legitimized through everyday use and official recognition.

6. Uses Beyond the Digital World

What Is Cringe? – PHOTO: Envato

Although it was born and popularized online, the word has transcended the virtual realm. Conversations among friends, family gatherings, or school discussions now use the term to describe awkward moments once referred to as “pena ajena” (secondhand embarrassment):

An adult mimicking youth slang.

Couples displaying excessive affection in public.

Pretentious speeches delivered out of context.

The brevity and punch of the term make it irresistible in casual speech.

7. The Social Side: Cohesion and Distance

Finally, the term “cringe” serves an interesting social function.

By labeling something as cringe, people create community: they share the discomfort and align around unspoken social norms.

At the same time, it serves to mark distance:

Between young people and adults trying to imitate them.

Between authentic creators and those exaggerating just to gain views.

The phenomenon doesn’t just describe discomfort—it generates it, shares it, and turns it into collective entertainment.

Ultimately, “cringe” is not just a trendy term: it’s a tool for sharing, identifying, and even laughing at those moments that make us shrink from sheer secondhand embarrassment.

Understanding it helps us navigate today’s social codes more smoothly.

And you—do you remember a situation that made you feel major “cringe”?

SOURCE: Infobae / Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), social media and official publications / Psychology Today: explanations about secondhand embarrassment and “cringe.”