SELFIE

What Does SELFIE Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

SELFIE means "Self-taken Camera Picture."

More Observations...

A SELFIE is a self-portrait photograph. They are typically taken with a digital camera or camera phone and are often posted on social-media networks (like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). Clearly, people have been taking pictures of themselves for years, but the term SELFIE came to prominence in the early 2000s (due to the popularity of MySpace). SELFIES gained even more popularity in 2010 when the front-facing camera was introduced on the iPhone 4. The increase of SELFIES led to the creation of mobile apps like Instagram and Snapchat. In 2013, the Oxford English Dictionary announced that "SELFIE" was the "Word of the Year." Many celebrities post their SELFIES on social media. Famously, Kim Kardashian released a book entitled "Selfish" to showcase her many SELFIES.

Image for SELFIE

When I write SELFIE, I mean this:

The image shows a woman taking a photograph of herself.

Summary of Key Points

"Self-taken camera picture of oneself" is, by far, the most common meaning for SELFIE when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

SELFIE
Definition:	Self-taken camera picture
Type:	Slang Word (Jargon)
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of SELFIE in Sentences

Here are examples of SELFIE in conversations:

• Tony: Why are you walking so slowly? We have five minutes to get to the party.
• Jordan: Sorry, I was taking a SELFIE.

• Tony: Do you think I should make this SELFIE my profile picture?
• Jordan: Yes! You look nice.

An Academic Look at SELFIE

SELFIE is typically used as a noun (i.e., a naming word). For example:

• Hold on. Let me take a SELFIE.
(Here, SELFIE is being used as a noun.)

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have said something like "self-portait" instead of SELFIE.

Evolution of the SELFIE

Here is a 3-minute video showing how the SELFIE has evolved:

Example of SELFIE Used in a Text

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