- Slang term meaning cool, fashionable, excellent, or enjoyable.
- Strongly associated with the counterculture, hippie movement, and psychedelic era of the 1960s and early 1970s.
Explanation
Origin
- Originated in jazz culture in the 1930s/40s, related to being in the groove (playing well, in sync, enjoying the rhythm).
- Exploded in popularity in the 1960s, becoming a defining word of the era's youth culture.
- Evokes a feeling of harmony, pleasure, and being fashionable in a relaxed, cool way.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal (Contemporary):
- Cool
- Awesome
- Nice
- Great
Slang/Informal (Era-Appropriate):
- Far out
- Hip
- Outta sight (Another 60s/70s slang for excellent)
- Right on (Expressing agreement/approval)
Milder/Standard:
- Pleasant
- Enjoyable
- Fashionable (If referring to style)
- Excellent
Situational Appropriateness
- Extremely informal and very dated slang.
- Almost exclusively used ironically, humorously, or when specifically referencing the 1960s/70s era.
- Using it seriously in a modern context would sound extremely out of place or like a caricature.
- Avoid in all formal and most informal modern settings unless for specific comedic or nostalgic effect.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Low risk of misunderstanding the positive intent (it clearly means something good/cool).
- The main issue is social: using it unironically will mark the speaker as very out of touch with contemporary language or intentionally referencing the past.
Examples
- (Often used with slight irony or nostalgia today)
- That's a groovy song.
- Feeling groovy today.
- What a groovy outfit! (Referring to 60s/70s style)
- Everything's groovy, man. (Meaning everything is fine/cool)
Dialogue
Context
(Looking at old photos)
Anna: Look at Mom's bell-bottom pants in this picture!
Ben: Haha, wow. That's a totally groovy outfit. Very 1970s.
Anna: Right? Peace signs and everything.
Ben: Super groovy.
Social Media Examples
- (Almost always ironic or nostalgic)
- Tweet: Listening to some vinyl records from the 60s. Feeling groovy. ✌️ #retro #vinyl #60smusic
- Instagram caption on a photo wearing vintage clothes: Channeling my inner flower child. Stay groovy! 🌼 #vintagefashion #hippie #groovy
- Comment on a 70s movie clip: Man, everything was so groovy back then.
Response Patterns
- (If used non-ironically, which is rare now) Agreement: Yeah, man., Far out. (Another period slang)
- (More likely today) Acknowledgment of the retro term: Haha, groovy!, smile, or slight chuckle.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Because it's so dated, a common follow-up might be a comment on the word itself: Wow, haven't heard 'groovy' in ages!
- Or simply continue the conversation, acknowledging the retro vibe.
Conversation Starter
- No. A descriptive adjective or reaction.
Intonation
- Often said in a relaxed, laid-back, or slightly cheerful tone.
- Emphasis on GROO-vy. Feeling GROO-vy.
Generation Differences
- Defining slang for the Baby Boomer generation during their youth.
- Gen X and later generations recognize it primarily as historical slang associated with hippies, often through media portrayals (e.g., Austin Powers). Unlikely to be used seriously.
Regional Variations
- Originated in the US but became widely known in other English-speaking countries during its peak popularity due to music and cultural influence.