Manlet

Meaning

What does Manlet mean?

The phrase Manlet is used to define a short statured male, who is usually trying to compensate for his short height by training to get a strong, muscular body. Usually, this person gets lots of hate from the other males who are tall and skinny or from those who are fat and even from women, who want tall men.

The “Manlet” is often seen as being inferior to other males, and this can lead to low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy. However, it is important to note that not all “Manlets” are trying to compensate for their height, and some even embrace their stature.

“Manlet” is frequently encountered in image macro memes and videos, and is a frequent topic in the dating world, where women can be particularly picky and mean toward men of short stature.

The name of the meme also refers to the Brainlet Wojak format.

manletdown

Origin

What's the origin of Manlet?

“Manlet” started appearing on the internet in around 2012 on the messaging board website 4chan. Later, it spread to various social media websites, like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, where women expressed their disapproval of men who are shorter than 6 feet (or 1.8 meters).

The expression “Manlet” is used to describe a man who is shorter than what society considers to be ideal. The origin of the word is uncertain, but one theory is that it comes from “Man + Let Down”. Alternatively, the “-let” in “Manlet” may also be seen as a diminutive suffix, reflecting the view, according to which, short men are not real men.

In other words, a “Manlet” is someone who is a let-down by not being tall enough.

Despite its negative connotations, some people have embraced the term and use it as a way to poke fun at themselves or others. As with most things in life, how you use the term “Manlet” depends on your own personal preferences.

Spread & Usage

How did Manlet spread?

This term started becoming popular around 2014, when it began to be used more frequently on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and various dating apps like Tinder. As more women become picky or insecure about their potential partners’ heights, this term has been growing in popularity ever since.

Despite its negative connotations, some men have even begun to embrace the term as a badge of honor. There are now various “Manlet pride” groups and communities online where men proudly accept their short stature with humor and positivity.

Regardless of how you feel about the term “Manlet”, it is here to stay. This internet slang has created a unique culture of its own and continues to spread across the web each day.

The expression is often featured in image macro memes, as well as YouTube videos, dealing with the trope of men being rejected by the “fair sex” on account of their stature. Gym motivation videos also often feature memes of “Manlets” being let down by Cupid, using the rage of rejection to fuel the passion towards fitness.

Hi Buddy! I'm the DigitalCultures Lab professor. Is there anything else you want to know? I'll answer immediately 🤓
 

External resources

More interesting stuff