Boujee
what it means
From "bourgeois", but without the political theory. Boujee describes visible spending and refined taste, and the tone depends entirely on who is saying it.
Luxurious, high-end, expensive in taste — sometimes admiringly, sometimes mockingly.
the origin story
AAVE reshaping of "bourgeois"; Migos' 2016 hit "Bad and Boujee" made the spelling and the word globally famous.
The Migos track pushed it into mainstream English within months. A distinction persists in AAVE between "bougie" (pretentious, class-climbing) and "boujee" (flashy, wealthy), though mainstream use has largely collapsed the two.
in the wild
They serve the water in a wine glass.
Very boujee.
I bought the £9 candle.
Boujee behaviour.
how to use it
- Describing luxurious taste or spending
- Joking about treating yourself
- Casual conversation about places and products
- As a class insult toward people
- In formal writing about class, where "bourgeois" means something specific
- Without noticing the bougie/boujee distinction in AAVE
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