WAP: The Nasty Acronym That’s Now Common TikTok Slang

It can often seem that you need a translator to understand the majority of TikTok posts.

Abbreviations and acronyms like “moots” (mutual followers), “BBL” (Brazilian butt lift), “BMS” (broke my scale — used to refer to attractiveness, not weight), “IJBOL” (I just burst out laughing), and “dupe” (duplicate, referring to less-expensive knock-off products) are just a few that are ubiquitous on the social media platform.

Much of that shorthand is harmless, but some of it is downright nasty. The meanings of the latter can also be difficult to decipher from the context of the TikTok videos that use it; a good number of the “NSFW” (not safe for work) terms were first used in a song that trended on the app, while others have even more obscure origins.

A good example of a TikTok term you wouldn’t want to have to explain to your parents is “WAP.” Like many others, it comes from a very popular song and video.

What WAP Means on TikTok

Warning: Explicit content ahead.

Cardi B. (featuring Megan Thee Stallion) released a hit song and video in 2020 titled “WAP.” Not only was it incredibly popular, but it debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and set an all-time record for first-week streaming.

The song begins with the lyrics “Whores in this house” — and gets nastier and more sexually explicit from there. The video wasn’t explicit, but it did include extremely suggestive imagery and revealing outfits. Critics found “WAP” patently offensive, while fans praised what they saw as a positive approach to female sexuality.

So, what is “WAP?” It stands for “wet-ass pussy,” referring to sexual arousal and excitement. The lyrics are said by many to be a joyous, extremely explicit ode to women’s enjoyment of sexual activity.

On TikTok, WAP has become a one-size-fits-all (no pun intended) term that’s used in humorous, flirtatious, and sometimes ironic contexts to refer to women’s desires, female empowerment, attitudes, or appearances. It’s usually a positive description.

A WAP dance challenge was born on the app soon after the Cardi B. video was released, and many other rappers have included the term in their songs since then. It’s destined to be part of the language of many TikTok users for years to come.

“WAP” can also stand for “With a Passion,” “Wireless Application Protocol” (an Internet term), “Women Against Patriarchy,” or “Without a Paddle” — but in TikTok content, you can be almost certain that it means “Wet-Ass Pussy.”