- An informal adverb used primarily to express strong agreement or affirmation, meaning completely, absolutely, or definitely.
- Can also be used as a general intensifier (It was totally awesome).
Explanation
Origin
- Derived from the standard adverb totally (completely).
- Its specific use as a standalone agreement marker (Totally!) was popularized in American youth slang, particularly associated with Southern California Valley Girl and surfer subcultures in the 1980s.
- It has since become mainstream informal English.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- For sure.
- 100%. / One hundred percent.
- Defo. (UK/Aus abbreviation for 'definitely')
- Word up. (Affirmation)
- Totes. (Abbreviation, often seen as cutesy, potentially dated or ironic)
- Big time. (As in Do you agree? Big time.)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Fuck yeah. / Hell yeah.
- Abso-fucking-lutely. (Playful blend)
- Totally fucking agree.
Milder/Standard:
- Absolutely.
- Completely.
- Definitely.
- Indeed.
- Certainly.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal.
- Very common in casual conversations, texting, and online.
- Avoid in highly formal speech or writing where Absolutely, Completely, or Certainly would be more appropriate.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Unlikely to be misunderstood; clearly informal and affirmative.
- Overuse might make someone sound like a stereotype (e.g., the 80s Valley Girl) if not used naturally within their speech pattern.
Examples
- Are you coming to the party? / Totally! (Yes, definitely)
- This heat is unbearable. / Totally. (I completely agree)
- That movie was totally hilarious. (Intensifier: very hilarious)
Dialogue
Social Media Examples
- Reply to a relatable tweet: This is so me 😂 -> Reply: Totally!
- Comment agreeing with an opinion: Best pizza topping is pepperoni. -> Comment: Totally agree.
- Instagram story poll response: Love this song? -> Totally
Response Patterns
- Used as an emphatic yes or strong agreement, similar to Absolutely but more informal.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing Totally!:
- Often reinforces the shared feeling or plan: Totally! It's going to be great.
- The conversation might continue along the lines of the agreed-upon point.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- It's a response.
Intonation
- As an agreement marker, often said with enthusiasm and stress on the first syllable: TO-tal-ly!
- Typically has a falling intonation.
- Can be said more calmly but still implies strong agreement.
Generation Differences
- Strongly associated with Gen X and Millennials who grew up with its popularization, but still widely used by Gen Z.
- Older generations might be less likely to use it as a standalone agreement marker, preferring more traditional alternatives.
Regional Variations
- Very common in North American English (US/Canada).
- Widely understood and used in other English-speaking countries, though perhaps less frequently than in North America.