the sigma

English

Etymology

Popularized by the "Erm, What the Sigma?" meme around March 2024, although usage dates back to 2023.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

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Adverb

the sigma

1. (slang, humorous) Used for emphasis after an interrogative word or relative pronoun.

   Synonyms: the heck, the hell, the fuck, the skibidi

   What the sigma is he doing to that dog?

   How in the sigma are we meant to stop climate change?

   • 2023 August 7, @SleepyWillow07, Twitter‎^[1]:

     Erm what the sigma ohio🗿🍷 😱 we've lost another one boys 😔😢 Dattebayo 👊

   • 2024 April 30, u/SuhNih, “Been seeing some hypocrisy from my side lately”, in Reddit‎^[2], r/PoliticalCompassMemes, archived from the original on 21 May 2024:

     Erm what the sigma is that pic on the top right

   • 2024 May 6, u/PopTartPlayz, “Trying to get a comment from every country: Part 2!”, in Reddit‎^[3], r/JackSucksAtGeography, archived from the original on 21 May 2024:

     Where the sigma is Russia (my country)

   • 2024 May 20, u/Bendr6565, “After an awful day of ranked, Siege timing has told me to just get off already”, in Reddit‎^[4], r/Rainbow6, archived from the original on 21 May 2024:

     how in the sigma are you still sane with that charm glowing like that