Sigma: what does it mean in youth slang in simple words

Sigma is a youth term that often describes a certain type of man. They usually do not fit into traditional hierarchies and have traits that are not typical of alpha or beta males. The collective image of the independent guy has become popular thanks to jokes and discussions on social media, but this type of behavior is real.

In this article, we will explain in simple what a sigma boy is in youth slang and where this term came from. We will also tell you about popular thematic memes and famous sigma people.

Who is sigma

A Sigma person is a person who values ​​their independence and uniqueness, so on the way to their goal, such people completely ignore the opinions of others and do not take them into . It is important to note that this is not just a set of some rules of behavior, but also an independent way of thinking, on the basis of which an individual lifestyle is formed.

To understand what makes sigma people special, it is enough to identify their main features:

• They value other people, but at the same time prefer solitude.
• They have leadership qualities, but do not need a team.
• They can calmly deal with any force majeure situation.
• The positive or negative reaction of society does not matter to them.
• Don't throw words around over trifles.
• Always defend their personal opinion.
• They do not seek public approval, but often receive it.
• Self-sufficient - have complete control over finances, hobbies and household chores.
• They are in no hurry to open up to their interlocutor, which makes them seem mysterious.
• Always strive for their goal despite any circumstances.

Taken together, these characteristics help to identify a sigma in a crowd, but it is worth ing that any person is a collective image and several social roles can be mixed in him at once.

What is the difference between alpha, beta and sigma types

Along with sigma, there are other categories in the hierarchy of society, but the most famous are “alpha” and “beta” - let’s summarize all the differences in one table:

Where does the word sigma come from?

Initially, the word "sigma" is the name Greek letter "Σ", which, in addition to the standard alphabet, is used in mathematics to denote a total amount. This term and the names of other adjacent symbols were later used to classify males by character and social behavior. The concept was originally developed for animals, but eventually it began to be applied to humans.

Thus, a slang expression is simply an abbreviation of a phrase "sigma male"By analogy with this, typical alpha (alpha males) and omega (omega males) appeared.

In comics, movies and video games there are heroes named "Sigma" - such characters usually have some unique skills and unusual character, because of which they fail to fit into the group and live according to the usual laws of society.

What does sigma look like

Let's briefly describe what a typical sigma fight looks like in the photo:

1. Comfortable and stylish clothes, usually in neutral tones and without bright colors.
2. toned body type, reflected in an athletic figure, but with moderate development - the main thing is to look healthy and physically active.
3. Face usually expresses confidence and calmness, a little carelessness and relaxation is also acceptable, for example, light stubble.
4. Confident posture, imperturbable look and the absence of unnecessary, attention-grabbing gestures.
5. Accessories emphasize a free image and create image a person who does not strive for social approval.

Coincidences in the listed characteristics do not guarantee that a person is truly a sigma - most of the characteristic qualities are manifested in communication and interaction with the outside world.

Popular memes about sigma

Let's look at the main thematic jokes and tell you which movie the sigma face is from:

• The Sigma Face is a combination of facial expressions Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) demonstrated in the film "American Psycho".
• The sigma face meme denotes a person who expresses a sense of superiority and self-confidence - thus emphasizing his independence and uniqueness.
• It is noteworthy that GIFs with this expression were previously used on the Internet for various types of approving reactions, but after 2022, the term “sigma face” was firmly attached to it.
• The popularity of the meme was picked up and spread by famous bloggers and their fans, thanks to which more and more people began to learn about sigmas - especially through videos on TikTok.
• The expression about sigma can be used both in a serious manner and as a mockery, for example, ridiculing men who try to seem overly smart and masculine.
• From a Kyrgyz blogger Argena Kerimova (Argenby) has a whole series of videos where he shows a typical Sigma Man and teaches others how to become a real Sigma Boy.
• The most popular female blogger who replicates the sigma face is Korean Greppa Cherry.
• At the end of 2024, TikTok and YouTube were conquered by a song "Sigma-boy" - This track is performed by Betsy and Maria Yankovskaya.

Also, many memes feature famous characters who fit the typical sigma type - in the following points we will give examples of such personalities.

Famous Sigma Males from Movies

The sigma male is a collective image, but this personality type existed long before the slang expression appeared. Here is a list of the most popular characters from films who are real sigma men:

• Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) is a successful banker and a confident man who is actually a homicidal maniac, but at the same time communicates freely with different people and outshines everyone around him with his ability to hold his own in any situation.
• John Wick (John Wick) is a calm, reasonable, brutal and determined mercenary known for his professionalism, as well as his love for dogs.
• Tom Shelby (Peaky Blinders) - The observant and cold-blooded leader of the gang does everything to achieve his goal, always keeps his mouth shut, making only balanced decisions.
• Tyler Durden (Fight Club) - A nihilist and founder of underground fight clubs who can convince anyone to abandon social norms and the pursuit of material values.
• Walter White (Breaking Bad) - a determined and willing to do anything chemistry teacher who went through the transformation stage from omega to sigma due to special cruelty and recklessness.
• Nameless driver (Drive) is an extremely charismatic and modest guy, unsuccessfully trying to get out of the criminal web, but his inner core and determination still overshadow all the other characters in the film.
• Bruce Wayne (Batman) is a talented businessman and a real superhero without superpowers, hiding his secret identity behind egocentrism and a luxurious lifestyle.
• Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver) - a relatively independent man, concerned about his appearance, whose empathy and determination make him stand out from other people.
• Tony Montana (Scarface) is a simple and poor guy who became a rich drug lord. He is not afraid to look danger in the eye, because the thorny path to success is often paved with inevitable sacrifices.
• Logan (X-Men) - A mutant and true lone wolf who strives to live by his own rules, ignoring public opinion.

There are also characters who combine several qualities characteristic of different personality types, but at the same time, sigma traits predominate in them:

• Leon (Leon) is a hired killer with a strong moral com who prefers isolation and solitude. When he has to show concern, he shows it with particular coldness.
• Jack Vorobee (Pirates of the Caribbean) - a cunning, selfish and charismatic pirate who lives by his own rules, and his actions do not depend on the circumstances due to unpredictability and a craving for risk.
• Han Solo (Star Wars) - a space pirate and anarchist who is ionate about independence and freedom, but his desire to achieve his goals is fought against an internal conflict against the backdrop of imposed responsibility.
• Severus Snape (Harry Potter) - a true half-blood prince and a gifted wizard, distinguished by his secrecy and independence, as well as the ability to manipulate.
• Riddick (Riddick) is a lone fighter and survivor who disregards social norms because he is too smart and independent to play by other people's rules.
• Michael Corleone (The Godfather) - A calculating leader of a crime family who lives outside the traditional confines and is capable of cunning manipulation.
• Dr. Strange (The Avengers) - A selfish and self-confident superhero who has embarked on a path of self-knowledge, tries to ignore societal expectations regarding his own personality.
• Frank Castle (The Punisher) is a vengeful antihero who acts as he sees fit, without regard for the laws or the opinions of others.
• Arthur Fleck (Joker) is an anarchist with a broken destiny and a multifaceted personality, characterized by serious internal conflict and a desire for isolation.
• Calvin Candy (Django Unchained) - a cold-blooded slave trader and skilled manipulator, cruelly acting solely in his own interests.

Examples of Sigma Women

Sigma can be not only men, but also women. To understand who a sigma woman is in youth slang, you can study the most popular examples of such people - the list includes both fictional characters and real people:

• Coco Chanel — a French fashion designer and founder of the fashion house "Chanel", who created her own style, while turning the idea of ​​women's clothing upside down due to the rejection of traditional norms.
• Joanne Rowling — the author of the Harry Potter book series, who strictly followed the intended goal and achieved success, subsequently fighting off all the attacks of haters, adhering to her own opinion.
• Greta Tunberg — a courageous environmental activist who is taking the path of a lone fight against the climate crisis, standing out from other environmentalists with her special desire for justice.
• Harley Quinn — a character from the DC Comics universe, a multi-layered personality striving for independence, constantly ignoring all traditional expectations of female behavior and skillfully maneuvering in difficult circumstances.
• Greta Garbo — an actress of Hollywood's Golden Age, known for her desire to remain in the shadows despite her immense popularity. She fought for women's rights, challenging established social norms.
• Jodie Foster — a gifted actress and seasoned director whose career has been built on her own through a keen mind and a desire to be independent in her choice of roles.
• Frida Kahlo - A Mexican artist who expresses her positive and negative emotions through art, she stubbornly followed her unique style, regardless of public opinion.
• Meryl Streep - a talented and respected actress, known for her skill and fearlessness in the face of the most difficult and unusual roles.
• Diana Prince — a superheroine from the films and comics "Wonder Woman", who has become a true symbol of female strength, justice and independence.
• Lara Croft — a strong and independent heroine from the Tomb Raider universe who strives for knowledge and single-handedly explores the most dangerous corners of the world.

These famous Sigma women perfectly embody this term, and in their behavior and character you can find many similarities with Sigma Men: they are independent, try to go against social norms to achieve their goal, and also adhere to an unconventional approach to life.

How to become a sigma

In short, becoming a true sigma means developing self-sufficiency and confidence. To copy this behavior model, you can take an example from the famous men and women from the previous point, or try follow the list of rules.

Here are 10 tips to help you figure out how to be a sigma:

1. Strive for independence - this step will help you become a confident person due to self-sufficiency.
2. Set goals and try to achieve them - this will allow you to focus on your desires and move through life in the right direction.
3. Develop critical thinking - confidence in your own opinion will strengthen your sense of freedom and protect you from the imposition of other people's thoughts.
4. Be confident in yourself - This is a key skill that will come in handy in relationships with others or when solving personal problems.
5. Take care of your physical health - feeling good helps you follow other rules and stay in shape.
6. Strengthen your mental health — thanks to emotional resilience, you will be able to cope with any difficulties in life, regardless of the circumstances.
7. Practice self-reflection - you need to be aware of all your own motives and actions in order to better understand yourself in order to avoid destructive patterns of behavior.
8. Build quality relationships — communicate only with like-minded people who share the chosen moral and spiritual values.
9. Maintain a balance between independence and community - interaction with other people should not threaten the position of complete self-sufficiency.
10. Don't stop learning - Be open to new knowledge and ideas to continually enrich your life.

Following these points will help to form the personality of a true sigma, however, each person is unique, so some rules need to be adjusted to suit your personal characteristics.

How to make a sigma face

The sigma meme face can be repeated by both men and women, and there are several variations of facial expressions, but the classic sigma face is considered to be a combination of Patrick Bateman's movements. Below is a video with a key moment from the film "American Psycho":

To replicate Bateman's fake-approving response, try following these instructions by performing three sets of actions in sequence:

If you can't repeat the sigma face on the first try, try practicing in front of a mirror or record your facial expressions on your phone's front camera.

We hope that thanks to this article you learned who sigma is and how they differ from alpha and beta. If you know other famous people who are typical sigmas, then write about it in comments, and tell us how you feel about this classification.