The term might seem harmless or even playful, its popularity raises an important question: Is ‘delulu’ trivialising real mental health conditions. Picture: Alex Green /Pexels
Earlier this year, social media platforms, particularly TikTok, were captivated by the slang term "delulu". Originating from the K-pop fandom and subsequently taking over Gen Z vocabulary, "delulu" is shorthand for “delusional”.
From viral videos to humorous memes, the phrase has been widely used to describe someone who harbours unrealistic fantasies, often about celebrities or unachievable goals.
But while the term might seem harmless or even playful, its popularity raises an important question: Is "delulu" trivialising real mental health conditions, especially delusions?
What does "delulu" really mean?
The term "delulu" generally refers to people who are overly optimistic or unrealistic about their chances with someone they idolise, like a favourite pop star or actor.
According to a “USA Today” article, the term took off in K-pop circles, where fans might believe they have a special connection with their favourite idol, despite evidence to the contrary.
For instance, a fan might be convinced that their favourite singer is secretly in love with them because they made eye contact during a concert.
In a broader sense, "delulu" has evolved to describe anyone who has an unrealistic or overly optimistic belief about something, from relationships to personal success.
Some users on TikTok even use it in a semi-positive, motivational sense — akin to the mindset of "fake it till you make it."
@maximbadyofficial Are you delulu shirt is also next to the delulu is not the solulu shirt
♬ original sound - Maximbady
But here’s where the term begins to tread dangerous waters.
While "delulu" may seem like a fun, harmless slang, it’s derived from a serious mental health term: delusional. And this is where the line between pop culture and mental health starts to blur.
The clinical definition of delusions
In psychology, delusions are classified as a key symptom of several severe mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and some forms of bipolar disorder.
According to the American Psychological Association, a delusion is defined as a fixed, false belief that is resistant to reason or confrontation with actual facts. These beliefs can have a profoundly negative impact on an individual's ability to function in daily life.
For example, someone experiencing a paranoid delusion might believe that they are being watched or persecuted, despite clear evidence that this is not the case.
@tshenolom27 All my delusionalists gather here! #foryoupage ♬ original sound - Paballo “Ironwoman” Kgware🦿
Even when presented with irrefutable proof, a person suffering from delusions will typically hold onto their belief. This is a far cry from someone casually daydreaming about marrying their favourite pop star or visualising their future success.
Pop culture misrepresentation
The pop culture appropriation of psychological terms is not new. Words like "bipolar", "OCD" and "ADHD", have similarly been misused in everyday language, often reducing complex mental health conditions to oversimplified adjectives.
When someone says, "I’m so OCD," because they like things to be tidy“, or "I’m so bipolar" when they have a mood swing, they are inadvertently minimising the real struggles that people with these conditions face.
The same applies to "delusional" and, by extension, "delulu". While someone casually calling themselves "delulu" for fantasising about meeting their idol might seem harmless, it detracts from the serious nature of delusions as a mental health issue.
Real delusions are not something one can control or summon at will. They are often deeply ingrained, arise subconsciously, and can severely disrupt a person’s life.
"Delulu" as a coping mechanism?
Interestingly, some TikTok users have repurposed "delulu" into a term that emphasises positive thinking and perseverance.
In this context, people who call themselves "delulu" are not necessarily disconnected from reality but instead, are adopting a mindset of relentless optimism.
@couturecash #wizardliz #wizardlizmindset #wizardlizadvice #delulu ♬ origineel geluid - F.E.M.A.L.E
This can be seen as similar to “manifesting”, where individuals act as though they’ve already achieved their goals to encourage a positive outcome.
Its biggest limitation is that it still confuses voluntary optimism with involuntary delusions. A person who is "faking it till they make it" knows deep down that they haven’t yet achieved their goal, but they’re choosing to act as if they have.
In contrast, someone experiencing a true delusion lacks this insight. Their belief is not a conscious choice but rather a symptom of a deeper psychological issue.
Why language matters
Language shapes how we understand the world and, importantly, how we understand mental health. Using terms like "delulu" casually may seem like no big deal, but it contributes to the ongoing trivialisation of mental health conditions.
This is not to suggest that every use of "delulu" is harmful or that we should police every instance of slang.
Rather, it’s a call to be more thoughtful about the language we use, especially when it comes to mental health.